Biography

Songs From The Road Band
Traveling Show
(Lucks Dumpy Toad Records)

Songs From The Road Band is a “side project” but don’t be misled by the moniker, its more a misnomer than an appellation of accuracy. Side projects can sometimes be throw–offs, something to fill time between the “real jobs”. Such is not the case with this band. The group is comprised of Charles R Humphrey III (Steep Canyon Rangers), Andy Thorn (Leftover Salmon), Mark Schimick (Josh Daniels/ Mark Schimick Project), Jon Stickley (Jon Stickley Trio), Sam Wharton, Phil Barker & Bobby Britt (Town Mountain), Andrew Marlin (Mandolin Orange), a veritable who’s who of North Carolina bluegrass and folk-roots bands.

Songs From The Road Band formed in 2004 when Charles Humphrey pulled its members together to record songs he'd written while traveling the roads with the Steep Canyon Rangers. The guys began their musical friendships in Chapel Hill, NC where Charles Humphrey, Andy Thorn, Jon Stickley, Mark Schimick and Bobby Britt often jammed together. Their first album was simply "Songs From The Road." The sophomore album Songs From The Road Band "As The Crow Flies" was released in 2009. The band members are all fully engaged in their respective bands but have been playing and recording together, whenever schedules permit, for over 10 years.

The 14 songs on Travelling Show were written by Charles R Humphrey III and co-writers: Shawn Camp, Phil Barker, Charlie Chamberlain, Mark Bumgarner, and Sam Gutheridge. From the opening title track through to the closer, “By The Banks” the album is a reflection of where these accomplished troubadours were in their lives at the time these songs were rendered. It’s the kind of album that unfolds when a band of close knit friends gather in support of one another and the songs they created together. At turns Wistful, hopeful and always soulful Traveling Show is an album ready to take its place among the great “side projects” of our time.

FCC Clean

Recommended Americana tracks:

Traveling Show
Silk and Lace
Token of Love
Virginia Lee

Recommended Bluegrass tracks:

Hillbilly Wedding Day
Two Blue Roses
Thompson Flood
Sing To That Mule