“Golden Shoals bridge the sometimes distant worlds of traditional bluegrass and old time music together. With one foot steeped in tradition and the other focused on fresh songwriting, Golden Shoals are helping to further the narrative of American Roots music and introducing the traditions of our past to a whole new generation of listeners.” - Kris Truelsen, WBCM Radio Bristol
PRESS PHOTOS
Photo by MIKE DUNN
Photo by Andy Wickstrom
Photo by Kaitlyn Raitz
bio
Golden Shoals is a fiddle and guitar duo with a "rousing old-time-style music that’s fueled by acerbic modern-day wit” (-No Depression Magazine). They are no strangers to traditional music, having placed in contests including Clifftop (3rd place 2023, 4th place 2022), Mount Airy, The Grand Masters Fiddlers Championship and Galax. Often switching instruments between fiddle, two guitars, and banjo, their original songs have been compared to Gillian Welch, with the added edge of instrumental prowess informed by energetic old time and bluegrass recordings.
Initially brought together by a mutual love of American folk music, Golden Shoals' sound has expanded to include country, Americana, Indie and Experimental influences, allowing them to move more freely beyond genre boundaries with their songwriting while still emanating a deep understanding of Old-Time and Bluegrass music. Ever inspired by the enduring spirit of traditional Appalachian mountain music, their songwriting comes across as simple, honest, and fresh to the ears. The listener can expect the polished technique of conservatory training, in tandem with the grit, drive, and soul of musicians like Roscoe Holcomb or Ola Belle Reed.
Direct Support and Co-bills: Sierra Ferrell, Willi Carlisle, The Brother Brothers, The Steel Wheels, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, Ricky Skaggs, Michael Daves, Tatiana Hargreaves, The Tillers, Twisted Pine, and Po' Ramblin' Boys.
Discography:
Jimmy Beam Ain't My Friend - Single, October 2023 Bitter - Single, September 2023 Treading Water/Ain't No New Orleans - Singles, November 2022 Cowboy Songs - Singles, August 2022 Tune Hash - LP, March 2022
Golden Shoals - LP, May 2020
Milkers and Hollers - LP, September 2018
Reasons To Run - LP, February 2017
Is This Goodbye?/Slow and Steady - Singles, November 2015
Nothing If Not Young - EP, October 2014
Festival Resume:
IBMA official showcase artist in Raleigh, NC - September 2023 Finster Fest in Summerville, GA - September 2023 SC Fiddle Championship in Pickens, SC - September 2023 Campbell Bay Music Fest in BC, CAN - June 2023
Cowichan Valley Bluegrass Festival in BC, CAN - June 2023 Blackpot Festival in Lafayette, LA - October 2022
Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival - October 2022
Green River Festival - June 2022
Baltimore Old Time Music Festival - March 2022 Americanafest - September 2021
The Summer HOOT - August 2021
Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival in Alaska - July 2021
Tottenham Bluegrass Festival in Tottenham, Ontario - June 2020 (postponed)
Nelsonville Festival in Ohio - June 2020 (postponed)
Bluegrass Jamboree in Germany - November/December 2019
Blackpot Festival in Lafayette, LA - October 2019
Omagh Festival in Northern Ireland - September 2019
Wide Open Bluegrass in North Carolina - September 2019
South Carolina State Fiddler's Championship - September 2019
High Point Arts Festival - September 2019
Supertone Music Festival in Hudson, NY - July 2019
Major's Creek Folk Festival in New South Wales, AUS - November 2018
Kangaroo Valley Music Festival in New South Wales, AUS - October 2018
Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival in New South Wales, AUS - October 2018
Old Tone Music Festival in Hillsdale, NY - September 2018
Watermelon Park Bluegrass Festival in Berryville, VA - September 2018
Portland Old Time Gathering in Portland, OR - January 2018
Bellingham Folk Festival in Bellingham, WA - January 2018
Whispering Beard in Friendship, IN - August 2017
Blackpot Festival in Lafayette, LA - October 2016
4th Annual Americana Hootenanny in Cotuit, MA - September 2016
Bellingham Folk Festival in Bellingham, WA - January 2016
New Jersey Folk Festival in New Brunswick, NJ - April 2015
3rd Annual Americana Hootenanny in Cotuit, MA - August 2015
Bluegrass On the Bogs in Hanson, MA - May 2015
New England Americana Festival in Cambridge, MA - September 2014
Reviews:
Accolades:
2023 - IBMA official showcase artist in Raleigh, NC
2023 - Third place Traditional Fiddle at the Grand Masters Fiddle Championship
2023 - Third Place Traditional Band at The Appalachian Stringband Festival (“Clifftop”)
2022 - Fifth Place Fiddle at Mount Airy, NC Fiddler's Convention
2022 - First Place Fiddle at Surry County Fiddler's Convention in Dobson, NC
2022 - First Place Folk Song at Surry County Fiddler's Convention in Dobson, NC 2022 - Second Place Band at Surry County Fiddler's Convention in Dobson, NC 2022 - Third Place Guitar at Surry County Fiddler's Convention in Dobson, NC 2022 - Fourth Place Traditional Band at The Appalachian Stringband Festival (“Clifftop”) 2021 - Official Showcase Artists at Americanafest in Nashville, TN
2019 - Official Showcase Artists at the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)
2019- Second place band at Upper East Tennessee Fiddler's Convention
2019 - Second place Old Time Fiddle at Upper East Tennessee Fiddler's Convention
2018 - Third place Traditional Band at The Appalachian Stringband Festival (“Clifftop”)
2018 - Second place Old Time Fiddle at The Appalachian Stringband Festival (“Clifftop”)
2017 - First place band at the South Carolina State Fiddler’s Championship in Pickens, SC
2017 - Official Showcase Artists for the South East Regional Folk Alliance
2017 - Official Semi-Formal Showcase Artists for the North East Regional Folk Alliance
2017 - Fifth Place fiddle at the Mount Airy, NC Fiddler’s Convention 2017 - Tenth Place in Old Time Fiddle at the Old Fiddler’s Convention in Galax, VA
2016 - Scholarship recipients at the Augusta Heritage Center
2016 - Scholarship recipients at Blackpot Camp
2016 - Fourth place in Flatpicking guitar competition at the Mount Airy Fiddler’s Convention
2014 - Nominated in the BIG RED Nominees “Favorite Local Duo” by Red Line Roots
Press:
"I had only ever heard Amy and Mark play fiddle tunes, so I knew they had great instrumental and vocal skills. I'm the kind of guy that tends to listen only to traditional music, so I wasn't sure what to expect when I got a copy of their new CD. Surprise! I was delighted to discover that I really liked their original songs, too. Everything -- the instrumentals, vocals, songwriting, arrangements, and quality of recording -- is just wonderful. Congrats to Amy and Mark on a great new release."
-Brad Leftwich (Tom, Brad and Alice, Hogwire Stringband, The Humdingers)
"Golden Shoals weave together timeless melodies and virtuosic playing with just enough scrappy energy to keep things from getting too precious. It's a fresh and distinctive blend that can only earned the hard way - through thousands of miles and hundreds of nights on the road." -Patrick Coman, WUMB's Local Folk
"Grads of the Berklee College of Music, Mark Kilianski and Amy Alvey not only have top-notch chops, they've crafted a top-notch sound that's pleasantly refreshing...The soundscapes are rooted in Old-Time music but with a contemporary feel that keeps the songs fresh and exciting. In short, this is happy music played by happy people with feeling." -Brad Kolodner WAMU's Bluegrass Country
“Golden Shoals takes the best of two separate fantastic artists and melds them into something that is even greater than the sum of their parts. The band’s roots dig deep into the hills of Appalachian folk tunes and fiddle driven melodies. They blend two voices and instruments harmonious in a way that is…for lack of better phrasing, perfect harmony. Simple and relatable, but the musicianship of both of these artists is anything but simple.” - Red Line Roots
Workshops Offered at Camps and Festivals:
Old Time Fiddle, Flatpicking Guitar, The Wide World of Old Time Guitar, Songwriting, Harmony Singing
Mark and Amy have taught these subjects as one-offs and week long sessions at CDSS American Week, Blackpot Camp, Cowichan Valley Bluegrass Festival, Dare to be Square, Shakori Hills Grass Roots, John C Campbell Folk School, and others.