Steve Wilson’s Wilson Banjo Co. Releases New Single Issaqueena.
Instrumentation in Bluegrass music has always been at the forefront of the genre’s sound. To honour that tradition, Wilson Banjo Co. has announced their latest instrumental single Issaqueena. The track is led by band founding member Steve Wilson and also features world-class musicians Michael Cleveland, Alan Bibey, Richard Bennett, Glen Crain and Ethan Burkhardt all performing on the track.
Issaqueena is available for download and/or streaming here.
After Glen and I finished the song and were talking about song titles, he said how it sounded to him like rushing water or a waterfall. My wife suggested we name it after our famous local waterfall here in Oconee County, SC, called Issaqueena Falls. There’s a great Cherokee Indian legend behind the name of course, which one could receive as either tragic or romantic, so it definitely suits a bluegrass song. The amazing musicians on this track really tell a vibrant and exciting tale with each part and we couldn’t be more proud of how the collaboration turned out – Steve Wilson.
Issaqueena is an upbeat track that was written by Wilson alongside Glen Crain. It stays true to the group’s defined sound, which centers around arrangement by studio veteran Steve Wilson. The falls are named for a legendary Cherokee girl who is said to have leaped from the top of the falls with her lover, either an Oconee brave, a white trader named Allan Francis, or a white silversmith named David Francis. In the story, Issaqueena and her lover either die together or they land on a ledge out of sight of hostile tribesmen and eventually live happily ever after. Fans who are subscribed to Banjo Newsletter can also get the tabs for the song which was featured in the May 2021 issue, where Wilson graced the cover.
The release comes on the heels of the South Carolina based banjo extraordinaire’s recent nomination for Best Studio Producer / Engineer at the upcoming Upstate Music Awards. It’s set to take place on March 27th in Greenville, S.C. at the Peace Center’s Gunter Theatre where all the winners will be revealed, learn more from this link.
Following the success of their 2021 full-length sophomore album Six Degrees of Separation, Wilson Banjo Co. has continued to turn heads, with plenty of chart action to match. This week alone, they have THREE songs inside the Top Ten on Roots Music Report’s Traditional Bluegrass Song Chart (“She Is A Gambler,” “When the Crow Comes Down” and “Colors of My Life.”). Over on the Traditional Bluegrass Album chart, the full album reached a new peak of No. 7 this week, after already charting consecutively for an impressive 36 weeks. They’ve also seen a recent resurgence of their previous No. 1 Bluegrass Today Gospel Chart single “Ain’t No Grave,” which many may recognize as it was previously made famous by Country icon Johnny Cash. Wilson Banjo Co.’s version currently sits at No. 4 on Bluegrass Today’s Gospel Weekly Airplay Chart.
Issaqueena Credits:
| Guitar: Richard Bennett Fiddle: Michael Cleveland |
Banjo: Steve Wilson Mandolin: Alan Bibey |
Reso Guitar: Glen Crain Bass: Ethan Burkhardt |
To keep up with all things Wilson Banjo Co. check out their official website. While there you’ll be able to browse music, check out their latest news, and keep up with the band.
Why on earth didn’t Sarah at least play fiddle on this?? No offense at all intended but there ain’t a lot of people following you guys because Steve Wilson is cute and who gives a rip about Michael Cleveland (besides Mrs. Cleveland)? There are LOADS of bluegrass bands around but there’s only ONE Sarah. Don’t overestimate your talent without her. Sarah has always been your ace in the hole. I’m not even a bluegrass fan but I’ve followed you guys for several years because of her. Now tighten up and tell Sarah I love her.