Named BEST ALBUM in the bluegrass category at the 2004 Just Plain Folks Music Awards!
Big Medicine plays string band music of the rural South: old-time melodies and mountain harmonies, ancient ballads and archaic fiddle tunes, heart songs, hollers, hymns, and a touch of early bluegrass music-it's a kind of music capable of remarkable power, nuance, and timeless appeal, balm for the modern maladies of the soul.
Members of this award-winning band are of the best-known and most exciting musicians on the contemporary old-time music scene: Kenny Jackson (fiddle, guitar, banjo, and vocals), Jim Collier (mandolin, guitar, fiddle, and vocals), Joe Newberry (banjo, guitar, and vocals, and LaNelle Davis (bass, guitar, vocals).
These folks have learned by ear and by heart at the wellspring of old-time music, from elder masters, relatives and friends, field recordings, and old 78 rpm records of so-called "hillbilly" music-yet their music comes out sounding like nobody but Big Medicine, whether they're playing traditional material or a newly composed song or tune. Deeply rooted, musically compelling, and from the heart!
Since its release, Big Medicine's debut CD Too Old To Be Controlled has been praised by reviewers, fans, and colleagues--AND Too Old to be Controlled was awarded Best Album honors in the Bluegrass Category at the 2004 Just Plain Folks awards ceremony!
"The combination of their instrumental talents, considerable as they are individually, add up to a whole that's greater than the sum...Too Old to Be Controlled radiates good times and the joy of sharing music for no other reason than the sheer fun of it." John Lupton, Sing Out!
" This band is an example of experienced players who have learned the music, its shapes, colors, and forms, and, not being content to just play it, have taken these shapes and colors to form their own music within the genre...They nail the fiddle tunes, they sing and play a wide range of songs, and do it all equally well." Bob Buckingham, Old-Time Herald
"Big Medicine does it all, and they do it well." Jim Nelson, No Depression
"These four North Carolina musicians join together their impressive individual talents to brew up some of the most spirited old time and classic style bluegrass being played today. If you need a lift, a pick me up, friends, this is the tonic that'll do ya. Keith Weston, WUNC-FM Radio
"Played with precision and joy by one of North Carolina's most accomplished old-time string quartets." Jack Bernhardt, Raleigh News & Observer
"Their competent musicianship and obvious love and respect of old time music shines through on every cut. This band has the capability of opening new musical doors to folks who may be unfamiliar with traditional southern rural music.." B.J. Weikert, Rockzilla
"These folks play old-time country music that is right on the money - vocally, instrumentally, and emotionally. Listening to the cuts on their recent CD gives me the same feeling of satisfied elation as I get from those great, inspirational performances of 60 and 70 years ago."
Mac Benford, Highwoods String Band, Woodshed All Stars
"The quality of musicianship, the choice of tunes, the amazingly tight band energy, the authenticity of styles, the glorious harmonies, all impeccable." Fan email
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