Biscuit Burners personnel change

FP's Wintergrass coverage is coming soon, but I didn't want to wait to pass on one tidbit I picked up at the festival. Probably my favorite of all the young string bands is the Biscuit Burners. The Burners weren't on the bill at Wintergrass, but their bass player and vocalist Mary Lucey was sitting in with Uncle Earl (and will be touring with them for the next month or so). Mary told me that the band has undergone a substantial personnel change, with Shannon Whitworth (banjo, vocals) and Jon Stickley (mandolin) moving on. Replacing them are Odessa Jorgensen (fiddle, vocals) and Wes Corbett (banjo). The rest of the band--Lucey, Billy Cardine (dobro) and Dan Bletz (guitar) remains the same.

Mary said that the new members are fantastic additions who have helped to inject new energy into the group. I will look forward to seeing them on the circuit later this year. (The band has a full slate of festivals on its tour, including Suwannee Springfest, Gettysburg Bluegrass, Grey Fox, Rockygrass, Podunk Bluegrass, Chilliwack Bluegrass and Sisters Folk festivals.) Nevertheless, Whitworth's sultry vocals are going to be sorely missed.

The good news for Shannon's fans is that she will continue performing as a solo artist. Her MySpace page lists a bunch of upcoming gigs, including some smaller festivals in North and South Carolina as well as one in Maine. She has such a beautiful and unique voice, so I'm sure we'll soon be hearing great things about her.