Old Salt Union stopped by Compass Records headquarters after an appearance on Music City Roots to ink the deal.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: GARRY WEST (COMPASS CO-FOUNDER), ALISON BROWN (COMPASS CO-FOUNDER), RYAN MURPHEY (BANJO), JOHN BRIGHTON (FIDDLE), ROB KINDLE (GUITAR), JESSE FARRAR (UPRIGHT BASS) AND JUSTIN WALLACE (MANDOLIN)
Compass Records is pleased to announce the addition of Old Salt Union to the roster.
The band had this to say about the signing, “We’ve been on the road for the past four years in search of a label that handles themselves with the integrity, professionalism, and generosity that Compass Records offers. After traveling to every corner of this country, we’ve finally come home. Old Salt Union is extremely excited to embark on this new journey to expand the reach of our music. We have total faith that Compass will steer us in the right direction. Onward and Upward!”
Established in 2012, Old Salt Union recorded their debut album a few months after inception, immediately setting off on a regime of non-stop touring, honing their sound and finding inspiration.
“I’ve never seen a string band turn a roots music festival into a rave until I witnessed Old Salt Union live!. This is a band that knows how to please a crowd and they are inventive, spirited players to boot. We are proud to be associated with them and look forward to introducing their music to fans far and wide,” says label co-founder Garry West.
In 2015 Old Salt Union captured first place at the FreshGrass band contest in North Adams MA, winning a $5,000 prize and a day at Compass Sound Studio with producer/label co-founder Alison Brown. Their working relationship was very kismetic from the start.
Brown says, “The guys came in with a new song and together we fleshed out an arrangement that borrowed inspiration equally from New Grass Revival and Fleet Foxes. I loved the band’s open-minded approach to recording as well as their enthusiasm for experimenting with new ideas. It was such a great day that it made perfect sense to think about how we could work together on a larger scale.”
The track that Brown produced will be included on the band’s upcoming Compass Records debut which will be announced later in 2017.
2017 TOUR DATES
January 26th – The Parlor Room – Northampton, MA
January 27th – The Skinny Pancake – Burlington, VT
January 28th – Waterhole – Saranac Lake, NY
January 29th – Caffe Lena – Saratoga Springs, NY
February 4th – Winter Roots – Mchenry, IL
February 10th – Rose Music Hall – Columbia, OH
February 17th – Old Rock House – Saint Louis, MO
February 22nd – Belly Up, Aspen, CO (supporting Sam Bush)
February 23rd – Cervantes’ Other Side – Denver, CO
February 25th – Winter Wonder Grass – Steamboat Springs, CO
March 3rd – Two Brothers Roadhouse – Aurora, IL
March 16th – Barley’s Taproom, Knoxville, TN
March 17th – Birth Place of Country Music, Bristol, TN – “Radio Bristol Premiers”
March 18th – Rabbit Hole, Charlotte, NC
March 23rd – Muddy Creek Cafe, Winston-Salem, NC
March 25th – Talmadge Bridge – Savannah, GA
March 28th – Eddie’s Attic – Decatur, GA
March 30th – Spinning Jenny, Greer, SC
March 31st – Isis Music Hall, Asheville, NC
April 28th – Some Kind of Jam – Summit Station, PA
May 1st – Bill Monroe Music Park Campground – Morgantown, IN
May 1st – John Hartford Memorial Festival – Nashville, TN
May 2nd – Bill Monroe Music Park Campground – Morgantown, IN
May 2nd – John Hartford Memorial Festival – Nashville, TN
June 1st – John Hartford Memorial Festival – Bean Blossom, IN
June 2nd – John Hartford Memorial Festival – Bean Blossom, IN
July 15th – Northwest String Summit – North Plains, OR