Surefire Heats Up With Release Of New CD

By Sherrie Norris

Just hours before the recent performance of Surefire Bluegrass Band at the Hayes Center in Blowing Rock, the amazing young group’s latest CD arrived. If early sales are any indication, a spokesperson stated, it’s sure to be a hit, just like the group itself.

Taking their audience by storm in every venue they play, the awesome foursome has put the “tradition” back in bluegrass. Their combined musical talent, incredible skills and stage presence are reminiscent of days gone by – when bluegrass was bluegrass and everyone knew it.

Having won the inaugural Hayes Grass competition earlier this year, which garnered them an opening spot for Lonesome River Band and their own concert in November, Surefire is on its way to the top of the music industry – its schedule showing up this month in a bluegrass publication that features only the best in the business.

With young, multi-talented prodigy Robby Norris on mandolin (and anything else he puts his hands to), Tom Isaacs, a true banjo sensation, the incredible tenor and guitar playing John Bryan and the amazing senior member Tim Norris on bass, the group has begun attracting attention of big names in the music world.

With a schedule that’s filling up by the day, Surefire has been invited to close out this year’s events at the popular Carter Fold in Hiltons, VA on Saturday, December 13. In the meantime, they are quickly gaining a dedicated fan base at area events such as the Mountain Music Jamboree in Glendale Springs and are already booked for numerous 2009 headlining festivals including Appalachian Mountain Music Fest in Boone, Music Fest ‘n Sugar Grove, Ola Belle Reed Homecoming Festival in Lansing, High Country Bluegrass Festival in Boone, as well as numerous private functions.

The group’s debut recording “The Old, Old House,” released on Christmas Eve, 2007, helped introduce a fresh new talent and versatility that quickly took hold. From that point, the group’s popularity has practically exploded in the bluegrass arena.

Surefire’s second recording is now available and disappearing from the shelves at a rapid pace. Meet Me By The Moonlight features 12 cuts of the same hard-driving, high-lonesome bluegrass/gospel favorites that we’ve come to love and identify as having been written just for Surefire, despite the fact that most have been recorded countless times by other artists through the years.

Included on the CD are such favorites as One Kiss Away From Loneliness, What Would You Give in Exchange For Your Soul and Goin’ to Georgia. The strong lead and harmony vocals on this project will be a pleasant surprise for all who listen.

The band’s energy and enthusiasm that fans have come to expect on stage carries over well into the recording. It’s not only a must-have for bluegrass fans in the area, but will make great Christmas gifts for those hard-to-buy-for people on your list.

Don’t’ wait another day before stopping by Appalachian Music Shoppe in Boone for your copy, or see one of the members of Surefire – while supplies last.

Keep watching for an upcoming DVD of Surefire that was recorded live during their recent concert at the Hayes Center.

The Surefire Bluegrass Band may be contacted by e-mail at surefirebluegrass@localnet.com or by calling Tom Isaacs at (828) 297- 1727.