COUNTRY, BLUEGRASS, AMERICANA AND ROOTS MUSIC
Established in 1997 in Historic Bell Buckle, TN
Branded Bluegrass
Branded Bluegrass is a band from central Indiana with a catalog of music deeply rooted in traditional bluegrass and gospel, with a flair for some contemporary bluegrass, classic country and even a little bit of rock 'n roll now and then. Audiences are sure to enjoy their diversity, tight harmonies, energetic stage show, and charismatic personalities.
Band members have resumes including time spent playing with distinguished bands and artists such as Jimmy Martin, Marty Raybon, Doyle Lawson, James Monroe, IIIrd Tyme Out, Mac Weisman, just to name a few. Branded Bluegrass is inspired by traditionalists including Flatt and Scruggs, Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin, and Larry Sparks, as well as newer bluegrass acts like Blue Highway, NewFound Road, The Lonesome River Band.
FEATURED RELEASES: Mama's Kitchen Table
Photography by Valerie Smith
GoodFellers
NEW!
Bell Buckle Records welcomes contemporary bluegrass band, "The GoodFellers".Expect the unexpected when it comes to the GoodFellers! Their award-winning traditional bluegrass chops don't tell the whole story. With a sound shaped by various musical backgrounds and highlighted by rock flavored vocals, the band moves seamlessly through different styles making each GoodFellers song unique and entertaining. They have fun when they play and it's infectious.
Rooted in bluegrass, inspired by rock vocals and with an ever-expanding set list that draws from most musical styles, each GoodFellers show promises to be unique and entertaining. Versatility bolstered by award-winning musicianship has made the GoodFellers in demand all along the East Coast and beyond.
The GoodFellers have traveled throughout the USA, Canada, and Europe, constantly redefining their own unique Newgrass sound. Along the way, the band has recorded and performed thousands of songs from all music styles.
"Dirty Laundry" features the popular Don Henley song with the rich, earthy voice of Teddy Barncastle backed by the dynamic GoodFella's harmonies and arrangement.
The video was shot in North Carolina by Valerie Smith of Bell Buckle Records. They had a lot of fun recording the video and given the political and media climate, Valerie felt that it was a perfect release for the month of November during elections.
New Releases!
GoodFellers/ To Love Somebody
Beautiful, acoustic with dynamic vocals
Daniel Crabtree /He'll Change Your Life
#4 on Gospel Charts!
Lynna and JIM WOOSLEY
NEW RELEASE! THE FALL
“Jim and Lynna Woolsey are two of my favorite songwriters and singers-and a vital part of the Woodsong Farm Writers Community for two years. They have more than talent and determination. They have that magical quality of being tuned in to real life, attention to the small stuff, and open heartedness that makes for great songs, and great friends.”
— Louisa Branscomb, performer, instructor; Grammy-winning composer. Founder, Director Woodsong Farm Songwriter Retreat
Inspiration for The Road That Brings You Home came from years of living. Each song tells a story in our lives. They are a collective testimony of more than a century of lives lived and learned through the good, the bad, and the ugly. Memories and adversities are recorded in each line and melody. These songs are inspired by the unspeakable joy that comes from the realization that we are not in control, that every life is a gift to be treasured.
Performing together for nearly three decades, Jim and Lynna finally decided it was time to make a professional CD with professional musicians. They called Randy Kohrs and the rest is history. Randy not only produced/engineered, but also play resonator guitar & sang harmony on this CD. Mike Sumner co-produced and played banjo. Clay Hess added great mandolin tracks, Mark Fain added an awesome upright bass track, and Tim Crouch outstanding fiddle tracks. "It's been a lifelong dream to produce an album of our original material", said Jim.
Born into a family of musicians, Jim began playing with a popular local band The Patoka Valley Boys when he was just fifteen years old. Soon after, he and Lynna met and married, she also started playing and singing in the same band. In 1979, a documentary was made about the band and is still posted on folkstream.net. Tough, Pretty or Smart which was produced for public television by Dick Cane and Dillon Buston.
As a single act or in a band, Jim has shared the stage with acts like The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Andy Williams, Marty Robbins, etc Both Jim and Lynna have won various bluegrass awards for Old Time Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin as well as many band titles. In 2002 and 2003, our band Fields of Home, won first place in the Indiana Pickling and Fiddling Contest. Jim and Lynna have performed together at the Bluebird Café in Nashville and Goldie's Opera House in Owensboro. They also won the Kentucky Fried Chicken Talent Hunt, in 1989. Jim also appeared on You Can Be a Star and much more.
"Community is very important to us and we often give benefit performances. We also sing at churches in the tri-state, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. We love being able to lend a hand to the community that has supported us over the years and those in need of help," comments Lynna. We are dedicated to getting our music heard and performing as much as possible, and are looking forward to performing for you!
“Obscure old gospel mountain music or contemporary tunes seldom really click with me. An exception would be some of the little gems that Indiana songwriter Jimmy Woolsey has penned.”— Dan Tackett - BluegrassJournal.com
“‘Bittersweet’ is less bitter than sweet. That’s a fact. The new CD sounds excellent top to bottom and Jimmy is one killer songwriter. Can’t tell you how good it is to hear new material. Something crucial to the future vitality of our music.” — Cary Allen Fields, WICR-FM, Indianapolis
Mara Levine
Chart-Topping Folk Performer Mara Levine, whose latest album Facets Of Folk hit #1 on the Folk Alliance International Folk DJ charts and had nine songs featured among the Top 20. She has released a new video "Reap What You Sow"
Valerie Smith/Bel Buckle Records & Midnite Mountain Records
From a Distance
Recorded with Claire Lynch and Irene Kelly, this song still remains on the top of the Grassicana charts for over 20 weeks. It was produced by Mike Pokalsky and engineered at Treehouse Studios with Tim Carter.
Partners with bell buckle records
Chad Darou, "Raising the Bar"/Midnite Mountain Music
Daniel Crabtree, "The Storyteller in Me"/Codel Records
Daniel Crabtree, "The Storyteller in Me"/Codel Records
Featured song, "Heaven" with Cia Cherryholmes and "Just a Few Old Memories" with Dave Adkins (Produced by Chad Darou/ Executive Producer and co-producer, Mike Pokalsky)
Daniel Crabtree, "The Storyteller in Me"/Codel Records
Daniel Crabtree, "The Storyteller in Me"/Codel Records
Daniel Crabtree, "The Storyteller in Me"/Codel Records
Featured song, "Piedmont Train" and "Don't Trust a Man Who Always Smiles"/Produced by Donna Ulisse and Engineered by Scott Vestal
It is HERE!
The straggle is live
Listen to The Jakob's Ferry Straggler's newest release "The Straggle is Live"
Jakob's Ferry Stragglers presents a new single, "9 to 5"
Song Information
Many people asked us if Jakob's Ferry Stragglers would record their cover version of 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton...here it is!
LIBBY EDDY: FIDDLE/LEAD VOCAL
GARY ANTOL: GUITAR/ HARMONY VOCAL
JODY MOSSER: DOBRO/VOCALS
NIKO KREIDER:
UPRIGHT BASS/VOCALS
RAY BRUCKMAN
MANDOLIN/FIDDLE/VOCALS
PRODUCED BY GARY ANTOL
MIXED AND MASTERED BY WILL SHANKS
METIER MASTERING AND RECORDING STUDIOS
(Located in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia)