Della Mae might be the hottest band to come out of Nashville in a very long time…and I don’t mean that in a salacious, chauvinistic way just because it’s a quartet made up of four lovely ladies (that do have a little bit of sass, swagger, and attitude). When I say hot I’m talking about music. I’m talking about the licks, the riffs, and the breakdowns, because this Americana band is absolutely killing it as far as irrefutable musical proficiency goes.
The group is made up of four women, Kimber Ludiker on Fiddle, Celia Woodsmith on vocals, Shelby Means on bass, Jenni Lynn Gardner on Mandolin, and Courtney Hartman on guitar.
Their music draws from a broad spectrum of influences that includes (but is not exclusive to) Appalachian folk music and traditional bluegrass. The ladies were bred and the band was formed in the north (Boston, to be exact), but they could ignore the call of the south, as it was heard all over the music they made. So the band migrated to Nashville, where they still reside and operate out of all intents and purposes.
The band formed in 2009 and they immediately had a palpable synergy that made it clear Della Mae was a sum far greater than its parts. Their debut album, “I Built This Heart,” was well received in the industry, and was a definitive statement from a band on the rise. It was their second album, “This World Oft Can Be,” that set them apart from the pack. It was stuck at the top of countless year end lists, the critics fawned, and countless awards and nominations followed, including at Grammy nomination.
Last month Della Mae released their latest, self-titled, album to much lauded critical acclaim. They are currently on the road supporting the record and will be performing in Louisville on June 15th, at New Vintage. Tickets are onsale for $7 and the show begins at 8:00 PM.
Photo courtesy of Della Mae