Beloved

Powerful and soulful, Magnolia Mountain embraces and explores That Midwestern Thing in a big-tent-Americana juggernaut that draws from rock, southern soul, folk, country, bluegrass, blues, and rockabilly. But no matter where they take it, 'they have the rare ability to inhabit any branch of Roots music and still sound unmistakably like Magnolia Mountain.' (Brian Baker, CityBeat). Armed with three lead singers, an encyclopedic knowledge of American music and gorgeous 2-, 3-, and 4-part close harmony vocals, Magnolia Mountain will appeal to fans of roots music, old and new. Drawing from the deep well of American music, Magnolia Mountain takes different genres, finds the common thread within, and translates them into their own original songs that both pay tribute to the past and carve out their own place in today's musical landscape. The band is led by songwriter Mark Utley on vocals and acoustic and electric guitar. Mark is joined by vocalists Melissa English and Renee Frye, guitarist Jeff Vanover, keyboardist Dusty Bryant, bassist Victor Strunk, and drummer Todd Drake. Magnolia Mountain plays regularly around the greater Cincinnati area, performing Mark's original songs as well as an eclectic selection of covers that range from the Staple Singers to Son Volt, from Buddy Miller to the Flying Burrito Brothers, and from Hank Williams Sr., to the Drive-By Truckers. They are at home in quiet 'listening rooms', rowdy bars, and anywhere in between. Magnolia Mountain has been nominated for Cincinnati Entertainment Awards in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 (including four nominations in 2010: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year [for Redbird Green], Best Folk/Americana act, and Best Singer/Songwriter [Mark Utley]), in addition to performing at the 2009 CEA awards ceremony. Mark was also nominated for Singer/Songwriter in 2012 and performed along with Renee at the 2012 CEA awards ceremony. Along with performing at venues as the Southgate House, Madison Theater, Northside Tavern, The Comet, Leo Coffeehouse and The Crow's Nest, they've also taken part in festivals such as Twangfest 14 (in St. Louis), the Whispering Beard Folk Festival, MidPoint Music Festival, Rabbit Hash Old Timer's Day, EdenSong, The Ohio River Way Paddlefest, Rivertown Breakdown, Music for the Mountains, and Metamora Old Time Music Festival. Magnolia Mountain has also played a Studio 89 session live on WNKU radio and a live session on KDHX-FM in St. Louis.