The International Bluegrass Music Association Entertainer of the Year Balsam Range’s ninth album Aeonic debuted at #1 on the Billboard Bluegrass Album Chart, further showing why they’re one of the most vital artists in the roots genre. The album also debuted at #8 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Chart, #26 on the Americana/Folk Chart and #33 on the Current Country Chart.
With arresting songs full of humanity, dynamic performances graced with subtleties, and material that is both personal and profound, Aeonic features music that would be powerful in any genre, but is made all the more compelling through this Western North Carolina band’s acoustic music mastery.
“What an incredible honor to see Aeonicdebut on the Billboard chart at #1!” says Buddy Melton, Balsam Range vocalist and fiddle player. “I could not be more proud of the project or of the individuals that worked so hard to make this project come to life. And most importantly, a big thanks to all the supporters! What an awesome way to start off the new year.”
Scott Wagner, senior vice president of Crossroads Label Group adds, “We’re very excited for this #1 album debut. In today’s market, they’re not easy to come by. We’re proud of Balsam Range for putting in the time and effort to create music that resonates so powerfully with their audience.”
Since its release, Aeonic has been featured by the Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone Country and Billboard.com.
“The modern vocal approach of all of this band’s singers, which avoids slavish mimicking of old-school high, lonesome vocals, plus the spacious quality of the sound production throughout, makes it very clear this album is for 2019, not 1949. The musical approach and the material both make this a record that should satisfy a wide audience.” —Barry Mazor, Wall Street Journal
“Balsam Range crosses plenty of boundaries, hitting a deft balance between the revered traditions of old-school bluegrass and the hopped-up eclecticism of contemporary newgrass.” —David Menconi, Rolling Stone Country
“Aeonic, which the dictionary defines as ‘lasting for an immeasurably or indefinitely long period of time,’ seems a fitting album title for a band that has spent more than a decade building one of the most successful careers in bluegrass music.”
—Deborah Evans Price, Billboard.com
Listen to Aeonic HERE.
About Balsam Range
The 2018 International Bluegrass Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year, Balsam Range, has become one of the genre’s most award-winning acts. Since forming in 2007, the group has garnered 13 IBMA awards on the heels of 8 critically-acclaimed albums. Balsam Range has left audiences spellbound while headlining major festivals from coast-to-coast, selling out venues across the nation and in multiple appearances at the Grand Ole Opry. The band collaborated with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra Ensemble to record 2 albums, the second of which, Mountain Overture, debuted on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart at #5 and the Classical Crossover Chart at #6. Their previous outing, Mountain Voodoo, debuted at #4 on the Billboard Bluegrass Albums Chart and remained on that chart for 45 weeks. Three singles from that album reached #1 on the Bluegrass Today Chart, including “Blue Collar Dreams,” which spent three consecutive months at the top. The band most recently claimed the #1 radio chart spot with their single “The Girl Who Invented The Wheel.” In addition to winning Entertainer of the Year, Balsam Range vocalist Buddy Melton won IBMA’s Male Vocalist of the Year and bass player Tim Surrett won IBMA’s Bass Player of the Year in 2018.
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