Nashville-based country singer and songwriter Brit Taylor is embarking on a nostalgic journey back to her roots with the release of her latest single, ‘Saint Anthony,’ and the forthcoming bluegrass album, ‘Kentucky Bluegrassed,’ set to launch on February 2.
After a stellar 2023 marked by the release of her critically acclaimed Sturgill Simpson-produced album, ‘Kentucky Blue,’ and her Grand Ole Opry debut, Taylor is ready to captivate audiences with her unique blend of traditionally inspired country music infused with a modern bluegrass twist. The eight-song album, featuring three original tracks and five reimagined songs from ‘Kentucky Blue,’ pays homage to Taylor’s East Kentucky upbringing, offering a soulful combination of classic bluegrass elements and contemporary country vibes.
The release of ‘Kentucky Bluegrassed’ is perfectly timed, coinciding with the one-year anniversary of Taylor’s acclaimed ‘Kentucky Blue’ project. The album is available for pre-save on all streaming platforms, while exclusive vinyl and CD editions can be obtained through Taylor’s website here. To celebrate the album’s release, Taylor will perform live at the iconic Station Inn in Nashville on February 8 and at The Burl in Lexington, KY, on February 10.
Taylor, accompanied by her talented musician husband Adam Chaffins, seamlessly blends traditional bluegrass with her poignant voice and storytelling prowess. “Saint Anthony,” one of the original tracks on the album, exemplifies classic bluegrass storytelling, narrating the tale of a man who sailed away on whiskey wings and a determined woman seeking him with a heartfelt plea to Saint Anthony, the patron saint of the lost and found. The song captures everyday life with regret, yet carries an uplifting energy synonymous with classic bluegrass.
Reflecting on the inspiration behind ‘Saint Anthony,’ Taylor shared, “I learned about Saint Anthony one day when I was hunting for a lost belt, and a good friend told me to ask Saint Anthony to help me find it. So I did. A couple of days later, I started singing ‘St. Anthony, won’t you help me find my keys.’ Not only did I find the keys, I started thinking about what a cool song it could be, especially about a man who has run off, and his wife is asking St. Anthony for help. It reminded me of my grandparents’ courtship and love story – my Pawpaw Hillard was a bit wild in his drinking days, and my Mamaw was always hunting him down.”
Producing her inaugural bluegrass album, Taylor turned to her husband, Adam Chaffins, who played bass and provided backup vocals. The album features a stellar group of bluegrass musicians, including Rob Ikes, Stewart Duncan, Dominick Leslie, Seth Taylor, and Matt Menefee, resulting in a rare and brilliant collection of bluegrass mountain music.
‘Kentucky Bluegrassed’ fulfills a dream for Taylor, following the successful release of two traditionally based country music albums. Taylor shared her excitement about the project, stating, “Taking songs from ‘Kentucky Blue’ and grassing them up was so much fun. The band was on fire, and the first five songs went so quickly we even had time to cut three brand new songs. I absolutely love what [Producers] Sturgill Simpson and David Ferguson did with ‘Kentucky Blue,’ so it was really fun getting to revisit those songs and to reimagine them in a completely different way.”
