PRESS
“Mountain Smoke — Roads Well Traveled As I plopped Mountain Smoke’s Roads Well Traveled into the CD player, I dreaded the worst, having been burnt out by a glut of third-rate bluegrass (with jam bands running a close second). I was surprised how much I liked — nay, loved — this album. Maybe enough time has passed that I can enjoy this truly American art form once again. How can songs like the Brooks & Dunn cover “Brand New Man” or the redemptive “Wild Horses” not make you fall in love with this Oklahoma group? The original “American Dream” is a patriotic spiritual that isn’t cloying or hateful — no boots in people’s behinds here — and a sweet cover of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s “Teach Your Children” brings the biggest smile to my face. But the true star of the show is the masterful medley of three traditional tunes —“Bill Cheatham,” “Devils Dream” and “Boil Them Cabbage Down” — that’ll have any house party getting down, cabbage not included. Now that I’ve broken through the bluegrass barrier again, could jam bands be far off? Let me crack open this bootleg of The String Cheese Incident at the Maui Volcano, Day 4, and I’ll get back to you.
Louis Fowler, Oklahoma Gazzette
Mountain Smoke- Their new release, "Sing and Dance Again," is a mixture of folk, bluegrass and a little gospel. The beauty is how they coexist in just the right mix. The band, known for their tight harmonies and impeccable musicianship, also demonstrates their lyrical prowess in the eight original songs. The entire CD is a fun listen. Pick one up, you'll love it!
Meridith Beeby Edmison, Outlook Magazine
What do you get when you mix wild and wooly weather, great national and international artists, charming venues in the city of Guthrie, and a pet goat in the campground? In a word, fun. The first four years may have been a little spontaneous for some, but no one can argue that they were boring. Featuring a veritable who's who of bluegrass and country from the national scene, the first four years treated festival goers to an amazing variety of music for the mere price of an OIBF ticket. National performers included Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, John Hartford, Sam Bush, Willie Nelson, Mountain Smoke, Jerry Douglas, Tim O'Brien, Darrell Scott, Chris Hillman, the Dillards, and Laurie Lewis. International performers included Holland natives the Hillbilly Boogiemen, Druha Trava from Czechoslovakia, Helmut and The Hillbillies from Germany, and the Japanese Bluegrass Band.