Album Notes

Nothing stays the same...We are all touched by the curses and blessings of change. From a change of mind, to a change of heart, to a change of place and plane, the well-crafted songs on Wil Maring's second solo CD "The Turning of a Century" examine this broad concept from its many angles, holding it up to the light, and digging deep into the heart.

A 1998 winner of Merlefest's "Chris Austin Songwriting Competition", Wil Maring continues stylistically with "The Turning of a Century" where she left off with her first well-received solo release, "An Ocean From Home", confidently teetering between the genres of bluegrass, country and folk, with dashes of old-time, Celtic, and even pop elements. The eleven originals and one bluegrass standard on this CD showcase her warm, intimate vocal style, the honest, heartfelt lyrics and penetrating melodies of her songs. These, along with the superbly supportive instrumental work, and immaculate production combine to create a pillowy acoustic world with no hard edges and no sharp corners- a comfortable world that the listener is hesitant to leave after the last song fades to silence.

"The Turning of a Century" unites some of Nashville's top acoustic players, including Stuart Duncan on fiddle and Rob Ickes on dobro, with past and present members of Wil's band Shady Mix. Wil and her musical partner, mandolinist and fiddler Mark Stoffel, founded Shady Mix back in 1989 in her southern Illinois hometown of Carbondale. In 1992 the couple relocated to Mark's homeland, Germany, found talented new "Shady Mixers" and have since been performing up to 120 concerts per year for audiences all over Europe, becoming one of Europe's top acoustic acts. In the autumn of this year, however, the winds of change will blow the couple back across the Atlantic to settle once again in Illinois. They will leave their European home behind, but not without leaving more than just a trace.

"I think Wil is one of the most talented singer/songwriters around… love her music." - Carl Jackson, Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter/producer

"Wil is a talented, sensitive singer and writer, one of those rare individuals who lives her music and makes just the right choices when crafting it. She deserves a bigger audience. " - Tim Stafford, Grammy winner and founder of award-winning band Blue Highway, former member of Alison Krauss and Union Station