Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes has long been renowned as a prolific instrumentalist, earning two IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year awards as well as a Grammy for her work with Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway. But on her latest album I Built a World, the Charlottesville native unlocks an impressive new sound: her voice.
"This is the first album I've ever sung lead on. Singing is something I'd always thought I'd do at some point and in 2020 I had the time and space to finally find my voice," Bronwyn says. Even as the pandemic halted touring and so much else, vocal lessons kept her focused. "It's funny," she jokes of the timing, "you put a mask on me and suddenly I want to sing."
I Built a World marks her first vocal album, but Bronwyn has been a musician since before she can remember. "Apparently, I saw two girls busking on the street playing fiddles when I was three," she explains with a laugh, "and I pointed to them and said, 'I will do that.'"
As a child, music lessons gradually transitioned into public performances, with a particular emphasis on Irish music after her family relocated to Charlottesville, Virginia. And her lifelong musical education continues to shape her work today. A background in dance makes her a captivating and energetic live performer. An on-stage collaboration with fellow Charlottesville native Dave Matthews taught her how a crowd could feed your energy. And attending Berklee during the early years of its American Roots Music program offered inspiration from classmates like Sierra Hull and Alex Hargreaves—as well as an introduction to Tuttle and most of Bronwyn’s Golden Highway bandmates. "My favorite bluegrass musicians today are the ones who are rooted in traditional music, but don't really see any boundaries," she says. "It's as if they draw from a traditional bluegrass vocabulary, but use it to say what they want to say."
Clay Street Unit
Hailing from Denver, Colorado, Clay Street Unit mixes the Newgrass spirit of the Rocky Mountains with the country-folk traditions of the Appalachians. The result is a modern, amplified version of American roots music that blurs the borders between genre and geography, driven forward by drums, sharp songwriting, and the chemistry of multiple road warriors who've shared countless hours on stage. Mandolinist Scottie Bolin, bassist Jack Kotarba, banjo player Jack Cline, pedal steel guitarist Brad Larrison, drummer Brendan Lamb, and singer/guitarist/ringleader Sam Walker don't just nod to their influences; they reshape them into something new. With a follow-up to the band's career-launching EP, A Mighty Fine Evening, on the horizon, Clay Street Unit are staking their claim as torchbearers of something both fresh and familiar, nodding to the foundations of American music while sharpening their own progressive edge.
Showtime is 7pm. Doors open at 6pm.
Live music is held outdoors in the rain or shine. No refunds. If the music must be canceled due to weather safety issues, your ticket is good for the rescheduled date or another live music event of equal value.
All ages show. Leashed-pet-friendly.
No outside food or beverages. Water bottles okay.
Food available for purchase from JULES BISTRO
Bring a chair or blanket.