Northern Lights (bluegrass band)
Encyclopedia
Northern Lights was an American
Progressive bluegrass
band formed in 1975 in New England
, which musical career spanned more than three decades. . Known for a progressive style of bluegrass playing, the band went through a number of line-up changes through the years and included such personalities as Alison Brown
or multiinstrumentalist Jake Armerding
, son of founding member Taylor Armerding, who started playing with the band full-time at age of 14, but played occasionally when he was 12. As of 2009, there is no founding member left in the group. Guitarist Bill Henry, who joined the band in 1982 assumed the leadership role and Northern Lights continue to play without interruption as a quintet, consisting of two generation of musicians - Bill Henry, John Daniel and Alex MacLeod as well as young players Eric Robertson and Mike Barnett.
The band has issued 10 studio and 1 live recording with Vassar Clemonts. Most of which are, unfortunately, out of print today. From 1990's "Take You to the Sky
," to recently-released One Day
(Fifty-Fifty Music), the band has fused an eclectic mix of traditional roots music, rock, country, soul and gospel with the high, lonesome vocal sound and instruments of bluegrass. Three of their records also reached the top ten of Bluegrass Unlimited’s National Bluegrass Survey.
The Northern Lights have decided to disband during early spring 2010. Their final show was on March 13, 2010 at Rose Garden in Mansfield.
. She remained in the Northern Lights lineup for the next two years.
After Allison moved back to California in 1986, banjoist Mike Kropp took her spot to remain with the band for the next 17 years. Around this time, the band started to enjoy more recognition as a strong progressive bluegrass band, playing in different festivals together with well-known artists such as Tony Rice
, Mark O'Connor, Jerry Douglas
or Peter Rowan. This would help the band to sign with Flying Fish Records
and record their next three CD's under this label.
Most part of its history Northern Lights performed as a quartet and hired guest fiddlers such as Alison Krauss
, Matt Glaser
or Vassar Clements
. Jake Armerding
, son of band's mandolinist Taylor, started to play with the band occasionally at the age of 12 (in 1990), joining the band full-time 2 years later. The band recorded their two highly acclaimed records with Jake, Wrong Highway Blues
in 1994 and Living in the City
in 1996. Jake left in 1999 to pursue his own music, as well as Mike Kropp in 2000 and Taylor Armerding in 2003. These have been the most significant changes to the band line-up so far. Bill Henry took over the lead role and the band recorded New Moon and their latest album, One Day
in 2008.
.
Several NL alumni were on hand there to help us celebrate the end of a New England institution, including Taylor Armerding, Mike Kropp, Jeff Horton and Dave Dick.
Recorded under Flying Fish Records
Recorded under Red House Records
Recorded under Prime CD Records
Recorded under Fifty Fifty Music Music
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Progressive bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
band formed in 1975 in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, which musical career spanned more than three decades. . Known for a progressive style of bluegrass playing, the band went through a number of line-up changes through the years and included such personalities as Alison Brown
Alison Brown
Alison Brown is an American banjo player and guitarist known for a soft nylon-string banjo sound. She has won and has been nominated on several Grammy awards and is often compared to another banjo prodigy, Béla Fleck for her unique style of playing...
or multiinstrumentalist Jake Armerding
Jake Armerding
Jake Armerding is an American folk musician and multi-instrumentalist from Boston, Massachusetts. He plays mostly acoustic string instruments like the mandolin, acoustic guitar, and fiddle. In 1990, Jake began playing with Northern Lights occasionally. He joined the band full-time in 1992 and was...
, son of founding member Taylor Armerding, who started playing with the band full-time at age of 14, but played occasionally when he was 12. As of 2009, there is no founding member left in the group. Guitarist Bill Henry, who joined the band in 1982 assumed the leadership role and Northern Lights continue to play without interruption as a quintet, consisting of two generation of musicians - Bill Henry, John Daniel and Alex MacLeod as well as young players Eric Robertson and Mike Barnett.
The band has issued 10 studio and 1 live recording with Vassar Clemonts. Most of which are, unfortunately, out of print today. From 1990's "Take You to the Sky
Take You to the Sky
Take You to the Sky is the fourth album by the progressive bluegrass band Northern Lights..-Track listing:# Northern Rail 4:42# Hold Whatcha Got 2:57# The Roseville Fair 3:29# Early Morning Riser 3:40...
," to recently-released One Day
One Day (Northern Lights album)
One Day is the final studio album by the progressive bluegrass band Northern Lights. 5-string banjo is back in the group sound, as Mike Kropp returns as a guest player for this album.-Track listing:# Short Time Going 3:21...
(Fifty-Fifty Music), the band has fused an eclectic mix of traditional roots music, rock, country, soul and gospel with the high, lonesome vocal sound and instruments of bluegrass. Three of their records also reached the top ten of Bluegrass Unlimited’s National Bluegrass Survey.
The Northern Lights have decided to disband during early spring 2010. Their final show was on March 13, 2010 at Rose Garden in Mansfield.
History
The Northern Lights began its history in 1975, when Bob Emery, Marty Sachs and Dan Marcus asked mandolinist Taylor Armerding to join them in their progressive bluegrass efforts. This line-up recorded their first self-titled album in 1976, however, the group split in 1977. After five years, they re-formed again, at the urging of Joe Val, Taylor contacted banjoist Alison BrownAlison Brown
Alison Brown is an American banjo player and guitarist known for a soft nylon-string banjo sound. She has won and has been nominated on several Grammy awards and is often compared to another banjo prodigy, Béla Fleck for her unique style of playing...
. She remained in the Northern Lights lineup for the next two years.
After Allison moved back to California in 1986, banjoist Mike Kropp took her spot to remain with the band for the next 17 years. Around this time, the band started to enjoy more recognition as a strong progressive bluegrass band, playing in different festivals together with well-known artists such as Tony Rice
Tony Rice
Tony Rice is an American acoustic guitarist and bluegrass musician. He is considered one of the most influential acoustic guitar players in bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, newgrass and acoustic jazz.Rice spans the range of acoustic music, from traditional bluegrass to jazz-influenced New...
, Mark O'Connor, Jerry Douglas
Jerry Douglas
Jerry Douglas may refer to:*Jerry Douglas , actor, who was on The Young and the Restless for 25 years*Jerry Douglas, country/bluegrass musician*Jerry Douglas , director and writer of adult films such as, Score...
or Peter Rowan. This would help the band to sign with Flying Fish Records
Flying Fish Records
Flying Fish Records was a Chicago-based eclectic blues and country record label. It was founded in 1974 by Bruce Kaplan, former president of the University of Chicago's Folklore Society....
and record their next three CD's under this label.
Most part of its history Northern Lights performed as a quartet and hired guest fiddlers such as Alison Krauss
Alison Krauss
Alison Maria Krauss is an American bluegrass-country singer, songwriter and fiddler. She entered the music industry at an early age, winning local contests by the age of ten and recording for the first time at fourteen. She signed with Rounder Records in 1985 and released her first solo album in...
, Matt Glaser
Matt Glaser
Matt Glaser is an American jazz and bluegrass violinist. He served as the chair of the string department at the Berklee College of Music for more than twenty-five years. He is now the founder and artistic director of Berklee's American Roots Music Program....
or Vassar Clements
Vassar Clements
Vassar Clements was a Grammy Award- winning American jazz, swing, and bluegrass fiddler. Clements has been dubbed the Father of Hillbilly Jazz, an improvisational style that blends and borrows from swing, hot jazz, and bluegrass along with roots also in country and other musical...
. Jake Armerding
Jake Armerding
Jake Armerding is an American folk musician and multi-instrumentalist from Boston, Massachusetts. He plays mostly acoustic string instruments like the mandolin, acoustic guitar, and fiddle. In 1990, Jake began playing with Northern Lights occasionally. He joined the band full-time in 1992 and was...
, son of band's mandolinist Taylor, started to play with the band occasionally at the age of 12 (in 1990), joining the band full-time 2 years later. The band recorded their two highly acclaimed records with Jake, Wrong Highway Blues
Wrong Highway Blues
Wrong Highway Blues is album by the progressive bluegrass band Northern Lights..The band plays as a quintet for the first time on this album, as Jake Armerding, son of mandolinist Taylor Armerding, joins the band on violin and harmony vocals...
in 1994 and Living in the City
Living in the City (Northern Lights album)
For the similarly titled 1974 Stevie Wonder song, see "Living for the City"Living in the City is album by the progressive bluegrass band Northern Lights...
in 1996. Jake left in 1999 to pursue his own music, as well as Mike Kropp in 2000 and Taylor Armerding in 2003. These have been the most significant changes to the band line-up so far. Bill Henry took over the lead role and the band recorded New Moon and their latest album, One Day
One Day (Northern Lights album)
One Day is the final studio album by the progressive bluegrass band Northern Lights. 5-string banjo is back in the group sound, as Mike Kropp returns as a guest player for this album.-Track listing:# Short Time Going 3:21...
in 2008.
.
Disbandment
After some three decades of bringing bluegrass to the Northeast and beyond, Northern Lights decided to close up shop. Band's last official show was at the Rose Garden in Mansfield, MA on March 13.Several NL alumni were on hand there to help us celebrate the end of a New England institution, including Taylor Armerding, Mike Kropp, Jeff Horton and Dave Dick.
Discography
Recorded under Revonah Records:- Northern LightsNorthern Lights (album)Northern Lights is the self-titled debut album by the progressive bluegrass band Northern Lights, recorded in 1976 under the Revonah Records label.-Track listing:-Personnel:* Taylor Armerding - mandolin, vocals* Bob Emery - guitar, vocals...
(1976) - Before the Fire Comes DownBefore the Fire Comes DownBefore the Fire Comes Down is the second album by the progressive bluegrass band Northern Lights.-Track listing:* A-1 Before the Fire Comes Down* A-2 Used To Be* A-3 Back On My Mind* A-4 Kudzu On The Move* A-5 Portland* A-6 Tossing And Turning...
(1983) - On the EdgeOn the Edge (Northern Lights album)On the Edge is the third album by the progressive bluegrass band Northern Lights.-Personnel:* Taylor Armerding - mandolin, vocals* Bob Emery - bass, vocals* Bill Henry - vocals, guitar* Mike Kropp - banjo, guitar-External links:*...
(1987)
Recorded under Flying Fish Records
Flying Fish Records
Flying Fish Records was a Chicago-based eclectic blues and country record label. It was founded in 1974 by Bruce Kaplan, former president of the University of Chicago's Folklore Society....
- Take You to the SkyTake You to the SkyTake You to the Sky is the fourth album by the progressive bluegrass band Northern Lights..-Track listing:# Northern Rail 4:42# Hold Whatcha Got 2:57# The Roseville Fair 3:29# Early Morning Riser 3:40...
(1990) - Can't Buy Your WayCan't Buy Your WayCan't Buy Your Way is album by the progressive bluegrass band Northern Lights..- Track listing :# Can't Buy Your Way 4:56# My Only One 3:57# Lighthouse 4:13# When the Time Had Fully Come 2:46...
(1992) - Wrong Highway BluesWrong Highway BluesWrong Highway Blues is album by the progressive bluegrass band Northern Lights..The band plays as a quintet for the first time on this album, as Jake Armerding, son of mandolinist Taylor Armerding, joins the band on violin and harmony vocals...
(1994)
Recorded under Red House Records
Red House Records
Red House Records is an American independent record label specializing in folk music and is based in St. Paul, Minnesota.The label was originally created in 1981 by Greg Brown as a method to distribute his own music, and is named for a farmhouse in Iowa where he was living...
- Living in the CityLiving in the City (Northern Lights album)For the similarly titled 1974 Stevie Wonder song, see "Living for the City"Living in the City is album by the progressive bluegrass band Northern Lights...
(1996)
Recorded under Prime CD Records
- Three August NightsThree August NightsLiving in the City is a live album by the progressive bluegrass band Northern Lights. After departure of Jake Armerding, the band plays as quartet with guest fiddler, Vassar Clements...
(2000) - Another Sleepless NightAnother Sleepless NightAnother Sleepless Night is a live album by the progressive bluegrass band Northern Lights. Taylor Armerding, the last founding member, left the group after this album to support his son Jake Armerding on his career...
(2001)
Recorded under Fifty Fifty Music Music
- New MoonNew Moon (Northern Lights album)New Moon is an album by the progressive bluegrass band Northern Lights. In 2003, three members of Northern Lights, Taylor Armerding, Dave Dick and Christ Miles, left the group, leaving Bill Henry to build a new band from the scratch...
(2005) - One DayOne Day (Northern Lights album)One Day is the final studio album by the progressive bluegrass band Northern Lights. 5-string banjo is back in the group sound, as Mike Kropp returns as a guest player for this album.-Track listing:# Short Time Going 3:21...
(2008)
Band lineups
| 1975–1977 |
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|---|---|
| 1977 |
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| 1977–1982 |
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| 1982–1984 |
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| 1984–1987 |
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| 1987–1990 |
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| 1990–1992 |
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| 1992–1996 |
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| 1996–1999 |
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| 1999–2000 |
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| 2000–2002 |
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| 2003–2006 |
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| 2006–2008 |
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| 2008–2010 |
|