Rolling Stone's lede was about as perfect as it can get so we're just going to pass it along: "The family that picks together sticks together." Such was the magazine's description of the forthcoming album from Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn, two standout banjo performers who've been married for five years. The pair got started as part of the Sparrow Quartet in 2005 but this year's album, simply titled Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn, will be their first album strictly as a couple.
Rounder Records reports that the album will focus on traditional music from the Bible Belt, including both gospel tunes and murder ballads. That might sound like standard fare for banjo pickers, but those familiar with Sparrow Quartet know that the couple are open to experimenting with foreign influence. Fleck made it clear in a statement that the album would be strictly banjo however in terms of instruments used.
"We didn't want any other instruments on there, because we're into this idea that we're banjo players, and that should be enough," he said. "Sometimes, when you add other instruments, you take away from the ability of the banjo to show all its colors, which are actually quite beautiful."
The pair also have a tour looming for September:
09/17: Derry, NH @ Stockbridge Theater
09/18: Brownfield, ME @ Stone Mountain Arts Center
09/20: Plymouth, NH @ Flying Monkey
09/21: North Adams, MS @ FreshGrass
10/03: Raleigh, NC @ Wide Open Bluegrass
10/05: San Francisco @ Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
10/12: Charleston, SC @ Southern Ground Music Festival
10/17: Mobile, AL @ Saenger Theatre
10/18: Live Oak, FL @ Magnolia Fest
10/19: Black Mountain, NC @ Lake Eden Arts Festival
10/22: Markham, ON @ Flato Markham Theatre
10/23: Rutland, VT @ Paramount Theatre
10/24: Troy, NY @ Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
10/25: Frederick, MD @ Weinberg Center for the Arts
10/28: Kutztown, PA @ Schaeffer Auditorium
10/29: New York City @ Symphony Space
10/30: Cambridge, MS @ Sanders Theatre
10/31: Washington DC @ Lisner Auditorium (with Del McCoury & David Grisman)
11/01: Portland, ME @ Merrill Auditorium (with Del McCoury Band)
11/08: Nashville @ (TBA)
11/28-29 @ San Francisco @ SF Jazz Center Miner Auditorium
01/16: Steamboat Springs, C) @ Strings Music Festival
01/17: Grand Junction, CO @ Avalon Theatre
01/19: Beaver Creek, CO @ Vilar Performing Arts Center
01/20: Durango, CO @ Community Concert Hall
02/20: Springfield, Ill @ Sangamon Auditorium
02/21: Naperville, Ill @ Wentz Concert Hall
02/22: Green Bay, WI @ Weidner Center
04/11: Pittsburgh @ Carnegie Lecture Hall
04/12: New Bedford, MA @ Zeiterion Performing Arts Center
