Standing on the precipice of a new and exciting venture, the band members of Lovers Leap decided to jump. Under the shadow of the towering rock outcrop in Hot Springs, NC, from which their name was inspired, their sound took flight and soared through the mountain air. Their first encounter was set up by a festival producer as a musical blind date between GRAMMY-nominated bassist Shelby Means (Sally & George, formerly of Della Mae), acclaimed singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mary Lucey (formerly Biscuit Burners), award winning guitarist and songwriter Joel Timmons (Sally & George, Sol Driven Train), and slide guitar pioneer, songwriter and producer, Billy Cardine (Acoustic Syndicate and formerly Biscuit Burners). The quartet felt an immediate musical chemistry, which insisted on being pursued like a flirtatious lover.

The collaboration between these two musical couples has yielded a rich sonic harvest and an eponymous debut EP, set for release in April 2019. The 6 song collection builds on the band’s firm foundation in acoustic roots music, while guiding the listeners into wordly rhythms and dobro daydreams. As seasoned musicians, Lovers Leap has captured their unique chemistry in an alluring debut project sure to grab the attention of the roots music scene and beyond.

Individually, the members of Lovers Leap have each made an impact on the evolving Americana music scene. Means began singing and playing upright bass as a young’un in a family band on the high plains of Wyoming. These talents led her to Nashville where she landed a GRAMMY nomination with distaff bluegrass powerhouse Della Mae. Timmons, as a founding member of Charleston, SC’s brass-forward jam band Sol Driven Train, has cultivated a grass roots following through the band’s two decade long commitment to touring, sonic playfulness, danceable rhythms, and musical independence. Timmons and Means teamed up in 2017 as husband and wife duo, Sally & George, and released their critically acclaimed debut album, Tip My Heart. Lucey, a founding member of The Biscuit Burners, helped propel the band to international attention with her powerful singing, bass playing and songwriting. She also played with Uncle Earl alongside John Paul Jones for their album release tour. Cardine has been hailed as a slide guitar pioneer and innovator, taking the Dobro with him into unchartered genres, teaching around the world and performing from the jungles of India to New York’s Carnegie Hall in addition to being a producer and composer. As a founding member of The Biscuit Burners and current member of Acoustic Syndicate and Rapidgrass he continues to show off his chameleonesque voice on all things slide. He has collaborated with greats such as Debashish Bhattacharya and Jerry Douglas.

Two of North Carolina’s veteran bluegrass musicians join forces with some of the Triangle area’s most versatile musicians to create modern, American, acoustic music featuring the full range of their talents as composers and arrangers. The band is on tour regionally and nationally in 2017 in support of their new album, Hold Your Head Up High on Robust Records.