Spring Creek flows Friday at MerleFest

Since forming five years ago, Spring Creek has emerged as the hottest young band among the newest generation of pickers in the Rocky Mountain bluegrass scene.

In 2007, the Lyons, Colorado-based foursome rocketed onto the national stage when they became the only group to ever capture the band competitions at the Telluride and RockyGrass Festivals in the same year. Since those celebrated wins, the band has toured extensively, solidifying their status as lively and skillful performers.

Spring Creek signed with Rebel Records last fall and will be unveiling their label debut, Way Up on a Mountain on May 5.

They will perform at MerleFest on April 24 at 1 p.m.

Way Up on a Mountain projects a sound that derives its inspiration from the soul of the Rocky Mountains but maintains its footing in the Appalachian hills and piedmont of the bluegrass heartland. Drawing from the same creative wellspring that produced traditional bluegrass bands, such as Hot Rize and Open Road, the album bursts with a freshness that is guaranteed to earn Spring Creek a spot among Colorado’s bluegrass innovators.

Equally, Way Up on a Mountain demonstrates the band’s keen mastery of traditional bluegrass and their deep respect for its Appalachian origins. The resulting product is a sound that is both traditional and original, daring yet indebted to the forefathers of bluegrass. Way Up on a Mountain is certain to win the hearts of listeners in the bluegrass heartland as well as those of the genre’s ever-broadening fan-base worldwide.The album’s content flows just like a spring creek should: a perfect blend of fast and slow currents. On “Another Lonesome Night My Dear” bassist Jessica Smith delivers resonant, heartfelt vocals over fast-paced string interplay, while banjo player Chris Elliott contributes a smooth baritone harmony on the chorus. The following track, “Tangled in the Pines,” moves at a much slower pace complemented by measured, mournful vocals and blues-tinged Dobro riffs.

Throughout the album mandolin player Alex Johnstone, guitarist Taylor Sims and Elliott provide deft, tasteful instrumental leads. The eight original compositions feature candid lyrics that balance customary bluegrass with contemporary themes. Additionally, the album features material by Ricky Nelson and Bill Monroe – the homage to Monroe highlighting Spring Creek’s respect for the legends of bluegrass. IBMA award-winning fiddler Michael Cleveland contributes his masterful work on several tracks.

Prior to Way Up on a Mountain, Spring Creek released two independent albums, Rural & Cosmic Bluegrass and Lonesome Way to Go. The track “High Up in the Mountains” off of the former won an Independent Music Association’s Vox Populi Award.

Spring Creek will perform Sunday at 12:45 p.m. on the Creekside Stage at MerleFest.