An up-and-coming Nashville band is heading to the Camellia City this month. Mountain Heart is slated to perform at 7 p.m. Saturday night, January 21 at the historic Ritz Theatre downtown.

The band, with a musical style described as a mix of Indie/grunge/Americana, was originally formed in 1998. The current lineup includes frontman Josh Shilling, violinist Molly Cherryholmes of the five-time Grammy nominees “Cherryholmes,”Jeff Partin, Seth Taylor and Aaron Ramsey.   

Mountain Heart’s latest release “Blue Sky” is said to blend R&B, country and jazz with the band’s bluegrass roots to create a high-energy, soulful sound.

In the April 2016 issue of “Rolling Stone,” a review of their album described Mountain Heart as managing to “straddle the line between complete reinvention and staying true to their roots — there’s a palpable electric current running through ‘Blue Sky,’ while still maintaining the relaxed, festival-ready pulse they’ve become.”

John Lawless of “Bluegrass Today” wrote this in March 2016: “We’ve written a few times recently about the return of Mountain Heart – a reformed and refocused edition of the group, with a new, even-more-aggressive sound, and a youthfulness and energy they hope can win them a spot in the music world where fans of bluegrass, country, and jamgrass music meet…”

Mountain Heart and its various members have been nominated for ACM and CMA awards as well as Grammys. These musicians have shared the stage with the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd, George Jones, Montgomery Gentry, Brad Paisley, Alison Krauss, Levon Helm, John Fogerty and many more. 

GAAC Director Nancy Idland is excited to welcome Mountain Heart to town as the third production of the arts council’s 2016-17 performance season.

“I know this will be a great and refreshing change from football, football, football,” Idland says. “I invite you to come out on Saturday night to listen to this band and make some memories with a group that is on their way up. And don’t forget–there is always a fabulous post-performance party for your enjoyment. Plan to attend our ‘Cabin in the Icy Mountains’ themed party! It all happens on January 21!”