Shannon Whitworth

Overview

The coast is calling, and Shannon Whitworth is packed and ready.  If her first two albums were cross-country treks (and they were, taking her across the U.S. and Canada in support of Chris Isaak and the Tedeschi-Trucks Band), High Tide is a trans-Atlantic voyage. Leaving all preconceptions of the banjo-wielding songstress behind, Whitworth's new adventure steers into waters both familiar and refreshingly new.  Since her days as the anchor voice and songwriter of lauded N.C. ensemble The Biscuit Burners, Shannon Whitworth has attracted international attention with her passionate presence and a talent that's evident within moments of taking the stage.  Whitworth's swoon-inducing style found its first showcase in her Asheville-produced solo debut, 2007's No Expectations. Followed by 2009's critically-acclaimed Water Bound (an album that drew comparisons to Emmylou Harris' Wrecking Ball), Whitworth garnered praise in outlets ranging from People magazine to Garden & Gun. Her honest reinterpretation of 'Americana,' a la Mark Knopfler meets Norah Jones and the ghost of Julie London, has garnered Whitworth prime appearances from Philledelphia Folk Festival to Yosemite's Strawberry Music Festival to Nashville's own Ryman Auditorium.  Back home last year after endless months traveling coast-to-coast, Whitworth took time to relax on her Brevard, N.C. farm, painting in her barn-cum-studio and letting songs come naturally to her. Organic and pure in its origins and execution, High Tide is poised to outfit Whitworth's vessel for a figurative ocean crossing.From the first rolling rhythms, it's evident that this album charts new waters. A Gibson SG joins Whitworth's quiver of acoustic guitar, banjo and ukelele, and for the first time, the band is her own. Whereas her first two efforts utilized seasoned Nashville studio pros, High Tide calls upon the people who know her music best, from producer Seth Kauffman (Floating Action) to bassist Bill Reynolds (Band of Horses).  Just as her music stems from Appalachian roots (she's a favorite at MerleFest) but sheds its traditional skin at the door, High Tide begins with a journey to the sea that takes rest stops in reverb-drenched jazz and indie rock along the way, setting the mood for a tight but playful expedition.