“Beautiful voices, compelling songwriting, and expert musicianship: listeners encounter all of these attributes from the very first song of Rebecca Frazier’s album When We Fall. With this record, the Virginia-born musician roars back from a personal tragedy and a ten-year recording absence. Frazier and her superlative band, including her husband John, join Bob for a performance from Nashville’s SiriusXM Studios.” For more info, visit Bob Edwards Show site, here!

East Side Story, a wonderful indie bookstore at 5 Points in East Nashville, hosts a bi-monthly series called “East Side Storytellin’.” Store owner Chuck Beard, pictured below, is an amazing force in our little community! I had the pleasure of singing songs from “When We Fall” for the Mad Donna’s presentation on April 15, alongside readings by Skip Nipper, author. Great news is that “When We Fall” is now available at East Side Story, so you won’t have to travel far if you’re interested in picking up your personal copy. 🙂

It was like a fairytale visit to Arandelle in the movie “Frozen” this weekend, leaving the dogwood blooms and daffodils and entering a land of frosty climes and icy snow-covered lakes! And yet, we managed to have one of our best tours, ever! I owe it to friendly folks in Minnesota, who never fail with their good cheer and amazingly happy spirits.

Began our journey in Maple Lake, where bluegrass is alive and well and very, very happy.

Lonely Pines Concert Series MBOTMA

MBOTMA Cabin Fever Festival, Duluth MN

Next stop, headlining Cabin Fever Festival in the charmingly magical city of Duluth. If you’ve never been, it’s time to remedy that! (By the way–great Pho can be found!) Our team of amazing guys included Daniel Rice, master sound engineer & snowball fighter.

Onward to Stillwater, where we met the awesome Pocahontas County Boys. Loved ’em. Thanks to Phil Neussbaum for the “Bluegrass Review” interview & taping. Lastly, thanks to my mother-in-law, Dr. Pamela, for babysitting all weekend! <3

Fun times in Indy, y’all! Thanks to Do317 Lounge for such a cool night in a sweet vibey room. We (heart) Woody Pines! This trio really put it on & we loved their music. (yeah, Brad Tucker!)

At year’s end, Bluegrass Situation published ‘Looking Back: Our Top Picks of 2013.’ “…Rebecca Frazier’s ‘When We Fall’ is the best bluegrass album of 2013….Frazier easily stands in the ranks of Alison Krauss and Rhonda Vincent, and her compelling lyrics transport us through the pain of loss, love’s disappointments, and the hope of healing….Every song on this beautiful album reveals a facet of Frazier’s musical brilliance.” ~HC

Engine 145, 12/27/13

“Best of Bluegrass (and Its Offshoots)” Top 25 albums of 2013. Surprised shock when we scrolled down and found ‘When We Fall’ at #9! “This thunderbolt of simplicity reminds us how powerful music can be when you focus on, well, the music. Frazier confidently avoids frills and fuss, allowing us to bask in shining vocals, crisp, inventive instrumentation and intelligent songwriting. Nearly all of the 12 songs onWhen We Fall are originals, but Frazier’s… [songs] pack more than enough hook to knock down genre barriers.” –PW, Engine 145 

2014 is here. Fabulous! A few moments stand out from a blessed ’13.

1. In February, I signed a contract with Compass Records for ‘When We Fall,’ my first nationally released solo project. What an honor to be affiliated with this fine group of talented music professionals.

2. In March, we began performing with banjo man Kyle Tuttle. What an ace! He’s a spirited, hard-working person…and a pretty dang good musician to boot. Yay.

3. Also in March, Shari Lacy of GoodStuff PR signed on to promote ‘When We Fall.’ What a find! Features in Bluegrass Unlimited, Bluegrass Today, Engine 145, and many more; cover of Japanese ‘Moonshiner’ down to feature in the University of Michigan LSA Magazine and reviews in every possible publication….She’s brilliant.

4. In April, the great Brad Paul (formerly of Rounder) kicked off the ‘When We Fall’ radio campaign. Success by all measures! #6 on Bluegrass Today monthly chart and #3 in Roots Music Report Bluegrass chart–both spin count based. Brad also had success with Americana and Folk formats for this record, and I was blessed to appear live on Sirius XM, numerous nationally syndicated radio shows, radio tours and phone interviews (and am still doing them!). Go Brad!

5. On May 28, ‘When We Fall’ hit the streets. Thanks to fans across the country and a spirited pre-sales campaign, the album scored #16 on Billboard Soundscan TOP BLUEGRASS ALBUM CHART! Right next to Punch Brothers & Steel Drivers (15) and Claire Lynch (18) & Gibson Brothers (17)!  Really?!

6. May 28 also kicked off the Rebecca Frazier and Hit & Run Southeast Album Release Tour with Coffee, Country & Cody right here at WSM 650 AM in Nashville. We found smiles on faces of fans –old and new– in TN, GA, SC, NC, and VA!

7. June 14 brought our full-house CD Release show at Station Inn (and an awesome Top Pick article in the ‘Nashville Scene’–-plus the beginning of our run with Brian Arrowood, fiddle champ with chops that make us grin!

8. July was sunny with radio tours, local festivals, and an awesome 8-day Colorado tour-complete with Gold Hill Inn CD Release Party and 3 festivals, & 2 concert series. Back in Nashville, we received a “great Hit & Run” shout-out at the Ryman Auditorium (Grand Ole Opry with Ralph Stanley) from Jim Lauderdale! What?

9. September’s highlight: our appearance on Music City Roots in Nashville, alongside Jim Lauderdale Bluegrass Band (and cool cluster-plucking grand finale…) earning us the quote “East Nashville Real Deal Bluegrass” from the respected journalist Craig Havighurst.

10. October! Fabulous DC/Southeast Tour (including WAMU Bluegrass Country-we were the first band in their BRAND NEW studio!), Song of the Mountains Nationally Syndicated PBS Taping, and auditioning insanely talented bass player, Royal Masat. He’s in!

11. Also in October-a LOVELY interview on Sirius/XM with Kyle Cantrell “Track by Track” for Bluegrass Junction, AND a California tour, including feature on renowned ‘Folk Scene’  on KPFK and Citybilly in Los Angeles, plus KSON Bluegrass Special in San Diego.

12. In November, we joined forces with Steel Drivers, Abigail Washburn, Brad Folk, and others to support Lyons Musicians Relief Fund at 3rd & Lindsley. Thanks, Robby Hecht, Annie Klaver, AJ Trott for this!

13. December Joy! We performed on Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour in Lexington KY: a nationally syndicated broadcast that will potentially reach millions of homes…and released our Video EPK which was featured in Bluegrass Today on December 5! Quite a feat after collecting video footage all year long.

14. New Year’s Eve: Meantime, I found out that ‘When We Fall’ had been placed at #9 on the Top 25 Albums of the Year for Engine 145. Blown away to learn that Bluegrass Situation printed in ‘Looking Back: the Best of 2013: “Rebecca Frazier’s ‘When We Fall’ is the best bluegrass album of 2013.” The album made “Best of 2013” Lists of DJ’s across the country, like David Smith’s ‘Red River Ramble’ on North Dakota Public Radio and Judith Burnette’s Blue Ridge Country Radio, Galax VA.

Music & family (& friends like you): what else could make a person feel more blessed? 2014 is kicking off, as tour dates are getting confirmed for a great year. We’ve joined forces with Crescendo Artists of Boulder, Colorado, for our booking, and we are excited to see you somewhere in the country! Thank you for reading. ~RF

Is it possible to live up to this? December brings (overly) kind words from Maverick Magazine, UK’s leading independent country music magazine. “This woman’s voice is a nearly perfect bluegrass instrument—both powerful and delicate…I’d never heard her before and she is in a league of her own with a voice that falls somewhere between Alison Krauss and Rhonda Vincent without sounding at all like either.” Thank you, Maverick!

Today I traveled to Lexington KY with the band for our appearance on Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour. We had a great time getting to know Michael Johnathon who was insightful and so passionate. Enjoyed picking with special guest Vickie Vaughn on bass!