One of today's finest acoustic bands, Balsam Range, is headlining at the Durango Bluegrass Meltdown, April 17-19. To give you a preview, KSUT will feature their latest recording, 'Five' on Friday, April 17 at 12 noon.
Balsam Range received numerous top honors in the 2014 IBMA Awards, including Entertainer of the Year. Balsam Range was also honored at Vocal Group of the Year. Buddy Melton was named Male Vocalist of the Year, and Tim Surrett received a Mentor Award. The band’s fifth album, 'Five', made its Billboard Chart debut at #4 and remained on the chart for an impressive 6 weeks. Balsam Range consistently tops radio airplay lists with its history of top singles.
Five gifted friends comprise Balsam Range, all of whom hail from Western North Carolina. Tim Surrett delivers entertaining MC work as well as seasoned lead and harmony singing. Tim plays bass and he will occasionally share his talents on the resonator guitar. He charms with spontaneity, wit and professionalism. A stellar fiddler, Buddy Melton is also one of the most gifted tenor voices in Bluegrass and Americana today. His range and tone give Balsam Range its identifying sound. With his envied guitar style, Caleb Smith has been called “one of the top young guns of guitar.” He sings with both power and control, delivering a high energy song or a tender ballad with equal vocal skill. Darren Nicholson is a gifted mandolin player and harmony singer with tremendous enthusiasm for American heritage music. Grammy Award winner Marc Pruett brings more than 40 years of entertainment experience to the group. He brilliantly complements the ensemble with the intuitive, traditional three finger style that has made him one music’s most admired banjo players.
