NASHVILLE, TN. (Top40 Charts/ Lotos Nile Media) - The recent momentum of roots-rockers Yarn shows no sign of unraveling as the band celebrates eight first round GRAMMY nominations and a 2008 "Artist of the Year"
Roots Music Association Award nomination. Empty Pockets, the band's
September 2008 release and sophomore effort, earned nominations in the general field for "Album of the Year" and "Best New Artist." In addition, the Brooklyn based quintet secured a "Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album" nomination.
The track "You Don't Love Me Anymore" is up for "Song of the Year," "Best Country Song," and "Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals," while Yarn's collaboration with "New Bohemian" Edie Brickell on "I'm Down" garnered nods for "Record of the Year" and "Best Country Collaboration with Vocals."
Empty Pockets features cameos from the affecting fiddler and vocalist Caitlin Cary (Tres Chicas; Whiskeytown), the aforementioned Brickell, bluegrass and rock fiddle wizard Casey Driessen (Sparrow Quartet) and veteran newgrass banjo virtuoso Tony Trischka.
In addition to the attention from the Academies, Yarn has signed a management agreement with Rob Loyot of Perriello Productions. Loyot most recently helped steer the radio and critical success of fellow Americana band, Girls, Guns and Glory. The addition of more support is the perfect next step with Empty Pockets at No 12 and moving up the chart at Americana Radio, as reported this week by Radio and Records.
Yarn, which features lead singer and songwriter Blake Christiana, Trevor MacArthur on guitar and harmony vocals, Andrew Hendryx on mandolin, Rick Bugel on bass, and Jay Frederick on percussion, has developed into a nationally touring band. But the process of Yarn coming together took place in the hard-working, regular landmark stands and New York clubs. As the band's name suggests, which references both the handmade and the saga, they reflect on crafted, storytelling songs. Ben Sisario in The New York Times recently wrote about the Brooklyn music scene: "A new generation is making music that is indefinably eclectic and complex, and finding acclaim around the world." Yarn too is finding their larger acclaim as more and more are turned onto what their passionate following up and down the East Coast already knows. Check it out.