Photo by Scott Preston
Lydia Loveless with Magnolia Mountain
2/15/15
Southgate House Revival, 111 E 6th St, Newport, KY
8pm doors, 9pm show, $10 adv, $12 dos, Buy Tickets
Powerful, soulful, and rootsy, Cincinnati, Ohio’s MAGNOLIA MOUNTAIN embraces and explores “That Midwestern Thing” in a big-tent-Americana juggernaut that draws from rock, southern soul, folk, country, bluegrass, blues, and rockabilly. But no matter where they take it, “they have the rare ability to inhabit any branch of Roots music and still sound unmistakably like Magnolia Mountain.” (Brian Baker, CityBeat).
Magnolia Mountain have released four albums (including two double albums) between 2009 and 2013. They were nominated for Cincinnati Entertainment Awards every year from 2008 to 2014 (including four nominations in 2010: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year [for Redbird Green], Best Folk/Americana act, and Best Singer/Songwriter [Mark Utley]), in addition to performing at the 2009 CEA awards ceremony. Mark was also nominated for Singer/Songwriter in 2013 and 2014 and performed along with Renee Frye at the 2013 CEA awards ceremony.
The band’s musical range is evidenced in past live performances with the likes of Ralph Stanley, Sam Bush, Eilen Jewell, Glossary, Birds of Chicago, Jason & the Scorchers, Chatham County Line, Robert Ellis, Shivering Timbers, Wussy, and many others. Magnolia Mountain has also played a Studio 89 session live on WNKU radio and a live session on KDHX-FM in St. Louis. Their 2014 performance at the Queen City Balladeers’ 50th Anniversary concert was filmed and has been shown many times on Cincinnati’s PBS affiliate WCET.
Magnolia Mountain went on a brief hiatus in November 2013 following the loss of a few key members, combined with Utley’s decision to focus more on Bulletville. The latest edition of Magnolia Mountain made its debut one year later as part of a show honoring local music icon (and former MM member) David Rhodes Brown’s 50th year in show business. The new lineup is currently rehearsing new songs, and are slated to open for old friend Lydia Loveless at the Southgate House Revival in Newport, KY on Sunday, February 15th, 2015.
