Bluegrass music has long been the keeper of tales, often of struggle, hardship, and, yes, disaster. From train wrecks to mining tragedies, these somber narratives are woven into the very fabric of the genre. Few bands understand this legacy better, or execute it with more finesse, than Balsam Range.
Balsam Range’s consistent ability to select and deliver compelling material is no accident. Since their formation in 2007, the 2018 International Bluegrass Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year has consistently proven themselves to be one of the genre’s most decorated and respected acts.
Their recent release The Pacific is more than just another single from Balsam Range; it’s a masterclass in bluegrass storytelling - Country Music News
The group has garnered 13 critically acclaimed albums on the heels of 13 IBMA awards including vocal group of the year, two songs of the year, male vocalist of the year and bass player of the year. Mandolin player, Alan Bibey is a 2 time IBMA Mandolin Player of The Year and a 9 time SPBGMA Mandolin Player of The Year .
Balsam Range has left audiences spellbound while headlining major festivals from coast-to-coast, selling out venues across the nation and in multiple appearances at the Grand Ole Opry.
The band collaborated with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra Ensemble to record the album Mountain Overture. The album debuted on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart at #5 and the Classical Crossover Chart at #6 and nominated for an IBMA collaborative song of the year.
Their album Mountain Voodoo debuted at #4 on the Billboard Bluegrass Albums Chart and remained on that chart for 45 weeks. Three singles from that album reached #1 on the Bluegrass Today Chart, including Blue Collar Dreams, which spent three consecutive months at the top. The follow-up album, Aeonic debuted at #1 on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart and spent 46 total weeks on the chart. In 2023 a new album, Kinetic Tone featured multiple #1 songs.
Balsam Range has recently released 3 new songs; When It Comes to Loving You , The Pacific and Virginia Girl.
Balsam Range also tours with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra and Atlanta Pops Orchestra ensemble; highlighting songs from their album Mountain Overture and more.
Irish singer/songwriter Chloë Agnew gained fame for her integral part as one of the original and youngest members of the internationally acclaimed music group Celtic Woman. Born in Dublin, Ireland Chloë recorded her first album at the age of 12 and her second at the age of 14 when she was approached to join Celtic Woman.
To date Chloë is featured on a total of 14 Celtic Woman albums, with songs recorded in English, Gaelic, Latin, Japanese, Italian and German. The albums have sold more than eight million copies worldwide, all of which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s World Music chart. With the famed group she performed in sold-out concerts from Carnegie Hall-NYC, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Radio City Music Hall to arenas in Europe, Japan and Australia . She has performed with Celtic Woman on the US TV shows Dancing with the Stars, Regis and Kelly, The Today Show, Good Morning America and countless others.
Chloë has performed with IBMA award winning bluegrass Entertainer of the Year Balsam Range and John Driskell Hopkins of Zac Brown Band. Touring her solo show Chloë Agnew: ReImagined has brought her to many PAC’s, concert series, theatres, music venues and festivals throughout the US and Europe.
Her début solo single Love is Christmas, entered the Top 10 in the iTunes music charts. Her Christmas single From Me To You debuted at #14 on the Irish iTunes chart and at #4 on the Irish iTunes Christmas chart.
Currently Chloë Agnew has had her original music placed on the NBC show Found’ and along with her acoustic duo partner Brian McGrane a song placed in the newly released Irish movie “Kathleen is Here.” Chloë continues to write original music for sync.
Chloe nows brings to the stage a new version of herself. Her original music has caught the eye of thousands of followers as she remains true to her Irish roots while bringing a fresh new contemporary sound that emanates the soul of Ireland and forges ahead into the music of today.
Chloë is also available with Symphony Orchestra.
Choë Agnew Original Song - Light Years
The Joe Gransden 16-piece big band is quickly becoming one of the busiest groups on the jazz scene. Originally formed in 2009 Joe and the band have continued to build momentum and are performing numerous shows around the country. He has released 14 CDs under his own name including Close To My Heart produced by saxophone great Kenny G, and his recent release Go Getta, featuring a saxophone solo by Kenny G.
Renowned for the hard bop of his trumpet, Joe Gransden’s singing voice has been compared to Chet Baker. For the past two summers Joe’s big Band has been invited to perform at Dizzy’s Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center and a recent appearance this July with his Quartet. In addition to Dizzty’ Club and The Blue Note Joe has enjoyed accolades from sold-out audiences in Performing Arts Centers, music venues, jazz clubs and festivals all across the country
Joe’s band can be seen with several guest artists including the legendary blues singer Francine Reed, Kenny G. and with Zac Brown Band’s John Driskell Hopkins.
Currently Joe offers several shows with Big Band, Quintet and Quartet including: The Good Life: The Artistry of Tony Bennett, Land of Make Believe: The Music of Chuck Mangione, Accentuate the Positive: The Songs of Johnny Mercer, So, This is Christmas with Joey and Chloë, feat. original Celtic Woman, Chloë Agnew.
Whether it’s with his Big Band, Quintet, Quartet or Duo, Joe Gransden delivers an evening of unparalleled entertainment and musicianship.
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“Joe has the inate ability to connect with an audience. His singing and trumpet playing are world class. Throw in his 16-piece big band and you have something very special.” - Smokey Robinson
“Joe is a young man with and old soul and a classic voice. He is a great new talent with a wonderful sense of humor to boot. And don’t forget, he plays a hell of a trumpet!” - Clint Eastwood
Joe Gransden
Chloe Agnew and Brian McGrane, Irish singer-songwriters first joined forces in 2017, an era during which releasing covers of popular songs on Youtube had gained significant momentum. After releasing a well-received cover of Coldplays Everglow, one cover turned into many. In 2021 Agnew and McGrane released their first original track Somebody Just Like You which went straight to the sad hour playlist curated by Spotify setting an official partnership in motion.
The Brave Collide, an Irish pop folk duo aspires to reintroduce a simple musical concept to a generation who may have forgotten the power of a performing duo. A free-flowing creative process helps them to write songs that connect to the soul of their listeners. The unique musical strengths that have brought them individual success; Chloe as a member of the international sensation Celtic Woman and solo projects and Brian, a sought after producer, singer-songwriter and keyboard player with groups such as Celtic Thunder and The Celtic Tenors, comes together in a synergy with the result being a powerful collision of art that carves it's own space in todays musical climate.
The Brave Collide represents the bravery of stepping out of your comfort zone, taking creative risks and baring your soul to the audience in the process. It is also a nod to the ever-evolving music industry into which the artists are forced to take brave leaps into the unknown in order to reap the rewards.
In addition to Spotify acknowledging the duo on their playlist for their first original release, The Brave Collide has garnered 10,000 monthly listeners during their first year as a duo.
Their ner release Cherokee Avenue is the first single to be released off of their upcoming album.
Cherokee Avenue - New Release
We don't get to repeat even one minute of our time here, but what if you could relive all the youthful energy and sonic celebration that was 1980s New Wave & FM Radio Pop: right here, right now?
Electric Avenue’s sound is so close to that of the original artists that in 2019 Warner Music issued a cease-and-desist for using Tears for Fears original recordings on their social channels. After hearing the complete live recording of Electric Avenue’s performance, Warner Music issued an apology to the band. Update: It happened again with Elektra Records (Howard Jones) and Mute records (Depeche Mode) in 2022. The band won all three.
What started out as a one-off gig in 2012, has turned into: 100 shows a year across the US; cruising international waters with The Walking Dead Cast (and fans), Kid Rock, The Impractical Jokers, and Pitbull; being joined on stage by Bobby Kimball (Lead singer of Toto), Little River Band, Talk Talk, Pat Benatar, plus other entertainers living out their 80s rock star dreams; and flying internationally to perform for clients and corporations. In 2019, Electric Avenue was hand selected as 'America's Best 80s Band' and flown to Asbury Park, NJ to help Bruce Springsteen, Gurinder Chadha, and New Line Entertainment launch the 80s centric feel-good music film of the summer, 'Blinded by The Light'.
Electric Avenue have performed with Paul Simon, Loverboy, Emmy Lou Harris, Idina Menzel, Daniel Lanois (U2, Peter Gabriel, Dylan), Brian Blade, Lionel Richie, Little River Band, Michael Malarkey (Vampire Diaries), Daughtry, Zac Brown Band, Player, Sarah McLachlan, RENT (our singer performed the role of Roger Davis for 550 shows 2001-2004), Paula Cole, Tracy Chapman, Bobby Kimball (Toto) Kristian Bush (Sugarland), Edwin McCain, Robbie Dupree, Rita Wilson, Lindsay Ell, B-52s, Boston, Collective Soul, Mother's Finest, Sister Hazel, Yanni, Boyz II Men, & many more…
Every sound. Every nuance. Every time.
In 1945 French immigrant Albert Coleman accepted the position of Musical Director for WSB Radio in Atlanta, Georgia and formed an orchestra that would include Atlanta’s best musicians and be available for radio dates, public concerts and free performances for the benefit of young people and aspiring musicians. Albert established his first Atlanta Pops in 1945 and led the ensemble for 53 years through appearances in Atlanta and the Southeast.
In his long career, AlbertColeman also served as Music Director for Chet Atkins and Boots Randolf and performed with many of the major symphony orchestras in the United States and Europe. During this time the Pops recorded two CD’s entitled Hooked on Country with music arranged for the orchestra by Chet Atkins.
The Atlanta Pops has expanded its roll in music by touring throughout the Southeast & Midwest to performing arts centers, arts associations, colleges & universities and for corporate and private events. The orchestra performs a wide variety of programs that includes themed concerts and guest artists.
The current conductor, Dr. Jason Altieri was appointed in 2010and has brought the Atlanta Pops into a new era with exciting innovative programs and guest artist opportunities that continue to entertain and educate audiences both nationally and internationally.
The Pops features a broad range of guest soloists and talent including Chloë Agnew, of Celtic Woman, John Driskell Hopkins of Zac Brown Band, award-winning bluegrass group BalsamRange, Broadway stars, rap artists, worldwide gospel singers and more.
The Atlanta Pops Orchestra has recorded a Christmas album with JohnDriskell Hopkins of Zac Brown Band; In the Spirit, A Celebration of the Holiday featuring guest artists The Indigo Girls, bluegrass group Balsam Range and Broadway’s Laura Bell Bundy. In
the spring of 2018, the Atlanta Pops Orchestra Ensemble traveled to Merlefest to perform with Balsam Range launching their collaborative recording Mountain Overture . Balsam Range consistently has songs in the top ten of the blue grass charts as well as in the top ten on the Billboard blue grass chart garnering an IBMA Collaborative Song of the Year nomination.
The Atlanta Pops Orchestra presents a sponsored concert series at the 1200 seat Oxford Performing Arts Center, Oxford, AL. The Bernardi Family Pops Series has brought to their audience performers such as Broadway stars Sutton Foster and Mandy Gonzalez, Dennis DeYoung of Styx, David Phelps, Johnny Mathis, blues songstress Oleta Adams, tenor Timothy Miller and many others.
In 2024 the Atlanta Pops Orchestra partnered with Atlanta Symphony Hall Live and the City of Atlanta and OPUS Productions to create three shows from the ground up for rap artists; T.I., Gucci Mane and Rick Ross which were presented at Atlanta Symphony Hall. In addition, the Atlanta Pops was recently the backing orchestra at Atlanta Symphony Hall for folk artist Gregory Alan Isakov and Grammy award winning global artist Angelique Kidjo.
Atlanta based associate conductor Michael Giel manned the helm for the Atlanta Symphony Hall Live performances.
The Atlanta Pops Orchestra is celebrating their 80th in 2025.
