Day: February 1, 2023

Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley announce new album Living In A Song

Living In A Song will be out February 10, 2023. Photo: Google

American roots music has seen its fair share of beloved duos over the years—from The Monroe Brothers and Flatt & Scruggs to modern-day pairs like Milk Carton Kids and The War and Treaty—but few leave audiences as amazed as Grammy Award nominees Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley. Built on the interplay of Ickes’s Dobro and Hensley’s six-string guitar, the only thing outshining the virtuosity of this group’s instrumental performances is their singing and songwriting prowess. On February 10, Ickes and Hensley are set to release a new full-length album via Compass Records, Living In A Song. Featuring ten original tunes plus two timeless covers, and focusing on a classic country sound as heard in contemporaries like Chris Stapleton, Jamey Johnson, Sturgill Simpson, and Jason Isbell, Living In A Song is a love letter to a bygone Nashville and an in-depth look at the wonderful interplay between two masters of their craft. (Rob Ickes/Trey Hensley, 2023)

Ickes and Hensley shared a sneak peek of “Living In A Song,” the album’s title track which grew out of their experiences as touring musicians. According to Hensley, the song practically wrote itself after a long day on the road driving through Ohio. When Hensley digs into the lyrics there is no question that he has lived the story he is telling, lifted up even further when Ickes’ tenor harmony enters the chorus. Fans can check out “Living In A Song” and pre-order or pre-save Living In A Song ahead of its February 10 release.

Their brand new album Living In A Song clearly illustrates the breadth of the musical vision of Grammy Award nominees Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley and their depth as practitioners of their craft. It is no wonder that between them they are two of the most sought-after musicians in Nashville. Ickes co-founded the highly influential bluegrass group Blue Highway and has been an A-team Nashville session player and performing musician for decades, with credits including Vince Gill, Earl Scruggs, Merle Haggard, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, and Alison Krauss. Hensley, a three-time IBMA Guitar Player of the Year nominee, has been called “Nashville’s hottest young player” by Acoustic Guitar magazine and his soulful baritone vocals have received widespread notice as well. Influenced by repertoires as diverse as The Allman Brothers Band, Ray Charles, Merle Haggard, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Hensley has shared stages with artists such as Johnny Cash, Steve Wariner, Peter Frampton, and Old Crow Medicine Show.

Living In A Song track list:
Living In A Song
Deeper Than A Dirt Road
Backstreets Off Broadway
Way Downtown
I’ve Given All That I Can Take
Moonshine Run
Just Because
I’m Working On A Building
Is The World Still Turning
Louisiana Woman
I Thought I Saw A Carpenter
Thanks

Catch Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley on tour (more dates to be announced soon):
February 10 – Johnson City, TN – The Down Home
February 16 – Knoxville, TN – Barley’s
February 17 – Cartersville, GA – The Booth Museum’s Boots & Saddles Pre-Gala Party
February 18 – Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic
February 22 – Washington, DC – City Winery
February 23 – Philadelphia, PA – City Winery
February 26 – Portsmouth, NH – The Music Hall Lounge
February2 7 – New York, NY – City Winery
March 24 – Raleigh, NC – Private Event
March 31 – Phoenix, AZ – MIM: Musical Instrument Museum
April 1 – Tucson, AZ – Tucson Folk Festival
May 11 – Athens, AL – Fiddlers Concert Series
October 14 – Williamsburg, KY – River Stomp Bluegrass Festival

Book of the week: ‘Ruby’s Diner’ by Tanya Hilson

‘Ruby’s Diner’ by Tanya Hilson. Photo: Amazon

***** Update *****

“Ruby’s Diner” is also available on audible. Check out some reviews for this title. 

Tanya Hilson loves the joy of storytelling and writing. Her passion for writing started at a young age and has stayed with her throughout her life. Being dyslexic, she never thought in a million years that she would be writing screenplays, stage plays, or children’s books. She likes to write because it humbles her within, it is therapeutic, and sharing her stories with others brings her joy. A passionate humanitarian, she also runs a nonprofit organization called WeLiveOn2, which supports low-income families by teaching them computer literacy and job readiness skills, as well as helping those who have been previously incarcerated obtain employment. She has written several books, including “Back Porch Neighbors,” “Back Porch Secrets,” “Ruby’s Diner,” “Human Collateral,” “Shadow Eyes,” “Shadow Eyes 2,” “Where’s My Child,” “John’s Hidden Truth,’ and “My Cousin Sue.” She received an accolade for “Human Collateral” from Coverfly.  For fans of urban fiction, there is “Ruby’s Diner,” the story of Ginger Garcia and her efforts to break free of her previous life. (Tanya Hilson, 2023)

Connect with the author: Facebook – This That Production; This That Production Book Club

“Never give up on a DREAM, for others cannot DREAM for you.” – Tanya Hilson

“Ruby’s Diner” – Desperate to break free from the shackles of sex trafficking and life on the streets, can Gigi find the willpower to leave her past behind, or will that monkey continue to ride her back?

Deceit, resentment, and revenge cast a long shadow over this Chicago diner. Homelessness and the misconceptions that come with it sit heavy on the shoulders of many, including one young lady, Ginger Garcia. Desperate to break free from life on the streets, she is embraced into the God-loving arms of Ms. Ruby and her dynamic group of diner employees. Each with their own share of misfortune, and triumphs, they come together to help lift Gigi up and provide her with a strong foundation from which she can work towards her dreams. But her strength and loyalty are tested when Gigi’s past catches up to her. Will Gigi move forward, or will Gigi slip back into life on the streets? “Ruby’s Diner” pushes its audience to look at their own perceptions of sex trafficking, homelessness, substance abuse, and the things that tie them together, life!

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