Harpeth Rising returns to Niles

Published 12:07 pm Monday, June 29, 2015

Submitted photo.

Submitted photo.

NILES, Mich. — Since their formation in 2009, Harpeth Rising has been building a reputation by breaking down musical boundaries. Their virtuosic instrumentals of banjo and violin mixed with cello and foot percussion create an exciting and unique blend of musical genres that include folk, rock, bluegrass, and roots music.

Their original lyrics, conveyed through powerful three-part vocals, are both gritty and poignant. The all-female group met while studying classical music at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and were united — and continue to be driven by — their eclectic musical interests.

Within one year of their formation and their move to Music City, they were voted ‘Best Local Band in Nashville’ by the Tennessean. Harpeth Rising has been touring both nationally and internationally for four years with performances that include the Kerrville Folk Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival, London Folk Festival, Blissfest, Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour, Music City Roots, The Bluebird, and ROMP Music Festival.

The trio has recently relocated to Louisville, Kentucky to be closer to their southern Indiana roots and join the growing eclectic musical and cultural landscape of the region.

After an impressive discography of four studio albums in four years, Harpeth Rising released their first live album in November of 2014. The album consists entirely of performances at The Dreaming Tree Coffeehouse in Baptistown, New Jersey and includes both original songs and previously unrecorded covers the trio’s fans had been requesting.

A unique feature of their live shows, Harpeth Rising’s covers range from Led Zeppelin to Pete Seeger with unparalleled freshness and originality. The trio’s most recent studio album, ‘Tales From Jackson Bridge,’ reached No. 6 on the Folk DJ Charts and No. 15 on the EuroAmericana Charts.

While ‘Tales From Jackson Bridge’ remains true to Harpeth Rising’s folk and classical roots throughout, it expands on their blues, Latin, and rock influences and adds in some new flavors such as Texas Swing and Gypsy Jazz.

This constant innovation combining old and new genres of music, technical mastery, and heartfelt sensibility has earned Harpeth Rising the distinction of one of the most engaging and dynamic new groups in folk music today.

The trio will be returning to Niles to perform at the Riverfront Park Wonderland Stage on Wednesday, July 8 from 5 to 9 p.m. The concert will be interspersed with exciting raffle giveaways and more. Harpeth Rising has performed several years for the Niles Bluegrass Festival, as well as for the Niles Summer Concert Series, and Riverfest.

The concert is free and more information is available at www.harpethrising.com.