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Southern Rail Press Page


email:  SouthernRail.BluegrassBand@gmail.com




Photos

First a composite photo, three variations of contrast, each in color and B&W.

IMG1 ColorIMG2 ColorIMG3 ColorIMG1 B&WIMG2 B&WIMG3 B&W

All photos above © Stephen Ide.


These three photos © Dan Groth.


A live shot from Wolfeboro, NH, by Ken Tibert.




Press Release

Southern Rail has been delighting acoustic music audiences, coast to coast, for decades. Southern Rail's bluegrass is high energy exuberant fun with stunning harmonies, irrepressible good humor and sparkling banjo, guitar and mandolin. The group has 11 recordings to their credit, one of which (a special all Bluegrass Gospel compilation) was nominated for a Gospel Album of the Year award by the International Bluegrass Music Association. Two of the band's members, guitarist Jim Muller and bassist Sharon Horovitch, were recently inducted by the Rhode Island Bluegrass Alliance into their Bluegrass Hall of Fame.


Personnel

JIM MULLER, Guitar and Lead Vocals
Jim was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. Jim is the band's principal lead singer and songwriter. Jim's rich, distinctive lead vocals and offbeat humor have become one of the group's trademarks. A guitarist for over 40 years, he is also known for his polished flat-picking and rock-solid rhythm. Jim is also a respected staff-writer for Bluegrass Now Magazine (Rolla, MO). His regular feature onsound reinforcement, titled "Plugged In", has received a great deal of international attention.

SHARON HOROVITCH, Acoustic Bass and Harmony Vocals
Aggressive, creative and irrepressible, Sharon is known for her limber bass work, infectious smile and her tireless energy on stage and off. She also sings tenor and high-baritone harmonies. Sharon started playing bass while a grad student at MIT, and she never looked back. She also handles Southern Rail's booking and publicity. Sharon and Jim are co-founders of Southern Rail.

RICHARD STILLMAN, Banjo and Harmony Vocals
Rich has been playing bluegrass banjo for over 30 years. He has founded or been involved with of a number of influential bluegrass bands, and also has numerous studio recording credits with other New England folk artists. Rich was New Jersey banjo champion in 1983, as well as the 2002 and 2003 New England banjo champion. He is a six-time winner of the annual banjo contest held at Lowell, Massachusetts (1985-1995). Rich has been a regular on the faculty of Banjo Camp North, has taught bluegrass banjo classes for Boston Bluegrass Union, and is an adjunct faculty member of Tufts University.

JOHN TIBERT, Mandolin and Harmony Vocals
Hailing from Northboro, MA, John started playing guitar at age 14. But once he heard Dave Grisman on"Old and in the Way", his life was never the same. He's been addicted to bluegrass ever since. He's a prolific songwriter and also has taught mandolin for over a decade. John's mandolin playing is fluid, lyrical and from the heart, and his superb bass vocals are a powerful addition to the group's signature quartet harmonies.

Southern Rail members can be reached by email at SouthernRail.BluegrassBand@gmail.com.



Quotes and Record Reviews


Simply outstanding! - Top rating by Cybergrass
Beautiful quartet singing...a pure winner. - SPBGMA's Bluegrass Music News
First rate bluegrass...precise harmonies, sharp instrumental work...soaring and lush. - Boston Herald

The vocal harmonies are exquisite and the musicianship is impeccable.
- Radio Star, Ireland

The best Gospel CD I've ever heard! - WXCF, Clifton Forge, VA

Bluegrass Gospel at some of its most heartfelt emotion. Beautiful. - WTSR, NJ

The phones went nuts over this! - KVML, CA

A genuine jewel. - Beringen Country Radio, Belgium

One of the most original and exciting groups in bluegrass. - Powe'r Pickin', CO

Jim Muller has one of the most distinctive voices in Bluegrass today. It is the typeof voice from which bluegrass legends have been made. - Bluegrass Now, Rolla, MO

Beautiful and creative arrangements, emotionally knife-edged. - Twangin' Country Magazine, CA

The musicianshop is superb, the vocals rich, and the energy fun. Excellent! - New England Performer Mag.

One of the most significant groups in contemporary bluegrass...on the cutting edge of creativity. - Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine, VA

Unplugged and untamed! One of the hottest groups on the cicuit! - Chico News & Review, Chico, CA

There's a renewed exuberance in SOUTHERN RAIL's harmonies and playng that seems to emanate frommeticulous attention to composition and a sheer joy in picking. - Dirty Linen Magazine, Baltimore, MD.

Southern Rail's musical arsenal is formidable. - Worcester Magazine, Worcester, MA

Southern Rail's music shines! - Richmond Times Dispatch, Richmond, VA

The songwriting is fantastic. You're a smash in Houston! There hasn't been a slowdown of requestsfor Southern Rail. - KPFT-FM, Houston, Texas

Southern Rail brims with contemporary energy, harmonies and nuance while featuring lots of originalmaterial...A bluegrass band with the total package of style, material, vocals and picking. They standready for an international breakout. - Bluegrass Canada Magazine

Invigorating picking, riveting harmonies. They have a real hit on their hands. - Patriot Ledger, MA

A talented, polished group... strong tight harmonies, and a good dose of creativity to give itall their own stamp. - Victory Review, Boney Lake, WA

There's warmth and depth in a SOUTHERN RAIL performance. The joy and talent in their musicwill make people happy for a long time. - Worcester Telegram & Gazette, MA



Southern Rail usually brings their own sound reinforcement system and stage lights.



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