- [Announcer] This program from the Annual Summer Music Festival at the Redlands Bowl is made possible by support from: these Inland Empire civic-minded organizations concerned with the cultural life of our communities, the citizens of the Inland Empire that patronize the bowl, and viewers like you supporting local public television in the Inland Empire.

Thank you.

(bluegrass music) ♪ I had an uncle named Matthew ♪ ♪ He was his father's only boy ♪ ♪ Born just south of Colby, Kansas ♪ ♪ He was his mother's pride and joy ♪ ♪ Yes, and joy was just a thing that he was raised on ♪ ♪ Love was just a way to live and die ♪ ♪ Gold was just a windy Kansas wheat field ♪ ♪ Blue was just the Kansas summer sky ♪ ♪ And all the stories that he told me ♪ ♪ Back when I was just a lad ♪ ♪ And all the memories that he gave me ♪ ♪ And all the good times that he had ♪ ♪ Growing up a Kansas farm boy ♪ ♪ Life was mostly having fun ♪ ♪ Riding on his daddy's shoulders ♪ ♪ Behind the mule, beneath the sun ♪ ♪ Yes, and joy was just a thing that he was raised on ♪ ♪ Love was just a way to live and die ♪ ♪ Gold was just a windy Kansas wheat field ♪ ♪ Blue was just the Kansas summer sky ♪ ♪ Well, I guess there were some hard times ♪ ♪ And I'm told some years were lean ♪ ♪ They had a storm in '47 ♪ ♪ Twister came and stripped 'em clean ♪ ♪ He lost the farm, he lost his family ♪ ♪ He lost the wheat, he lost his home ♪ ♪ But he found the family bible ♪ ♪ His faith as solid as a stone ♪ ♪ Yes, and joy was just a thing that he was raised on ♪ ♪ Love was just a way to live and die ♪ ♪ Gold was just a windy Kansas wheat field ♪ ♪ Blue was just the Kansas summer sky ♪ ♪ So he came to live at our house ♪ ♪ And he came to work the land ♪ ♪ He came to ease my daddy's burden ♪ ♪ And he came to be my friend ♪ ♪ So I wrote this down for Matthew ♪ ♪ It's for him this song is sung ♪ ♪ Riding on his daddy's shoulders ♪ ♪ Behind the mule, beneath the sun ♪ ♪ Yes, and joy was just a thing that he was raised on ♪ ♪ Love was just a way to live and die ♪ ♪ Gold was just a windy Kansas wheat field ♪ ♪ Blue was just the Kansas summer sky ♪ ♪ Yes, and joy was just a thing that he was raised on ♪ ♪ Love was just a way to live and die ♪ ♪ Gold was just a windy Kansas wheat field ♪ ♪ Blue was just the Kansas summer sky ♪ (audience applauding) ("Jaxon Point" by Caleb B. Smith) (audience applauding) - The name of our band is Balsam Range and we all hail from western North Carolina.

We took our name from the Great Balsam Range.

The Balsam Range Mountains is the backbone of our area.

It's where the Blue Ridge Parkway meets the Great Smoky National Park.

Give you idea of where we are.

A lot of heritage associated with our style of music from the Appalachian Mountains.

And we just felt like Balsam Range was a fitting for what we play and what we do and what... We're proud of our area, so we took our home mountain range as a name.

(bluegrass music) ♪ I got a lotta highway to travel ♪ ♪ Gotta little lady on my mind ♪ ♪ I'm already pullin' over and callin' Caroline ♪ ♪ I gotta be in Bowling Green by morning ♪ ♪ It's gonna be a lonely midnight ride ♪ ♪ The only thing that keeps me goin' is callin' Caroline ♪ ♪ Lord, I wish this road was over ♪ ♪ You know the highway never ends ♪ ♪ I'll keep huggin' this old shoulder ♪ ♪ Till I'm in her arms again ♪ ♪ If I had another way to make a living ♪ ♪ I wouldn't ever leave that girl behind ♪ ♪ But for now I'll keep a rollin', callin' Caroline ♪ (bluegrass music) ♪ Well, I wish this road was over ♪ ♪ You know the highway never ends ♪ ♪ I'll keep huggin' this old shoulder ♪ ♪ 'Til I'm in her arms again ♪ (Buddy laughs) (audience cheering) ♪ If I had another way to make a living ♪ ♪ I wouldn't ever leave that girl behind ♪ ♪ But for now I'll keep a rollin', callin' Caroline ♪ ♪ But for now I'll keep a rollin', callin' Caroline ♪ ♪ Callin' Caroline ♪ Yeah.

(audience applauding) (bluegrass music) ♪ Richest man in the graveyard ♪ ♪ Got a big ol' house and a big ol' yard ♪ ♪ Trophy wife and a bunch of cars ♪ ♪ And a nice portfolio ♪ ♪ Richest man in the graveyard ♪ ♪ Worked real hard, came home late ♪ ♪ Two kids in bed, cold dinner plate ♪ ♪ Said, some day I'll slow down ♪ ♪ Some day rolled around ♪ ♪ A hundred dollar bill folds in half just like a ten ♪ ♪ A fiddle plays "Amazing Grace" just like a violin ♪ ♪ And you could get there in an old truck ♪ ♪ Or new Mercedes-Benz ♪ ♪ But we're all goin' out the same way that we came in ♪ ♪ We're all goin' out th5 same way that we came in ♪ (bluegrass music) ♪ Rich5st man in the graveyard ♪ ♪ Got a big ol' marble headstone ♪ ♪ Bunch of nice words chiseled on ♪ ♪ He's a-lyin' right beside ♪ ♪ The poorest man in the graveyard ♪ ♪ In a box that still ain't paid for ♪ ♪ Bet they hang out after dark ♪ ♪ And pretend to drink a beer ♪ ♪ Sayin', how'd we end up here ♪ ♪ A hundred dollar bill folds in half just like a ten ♪ ♪ A fiddle plays "Amazing Grace" just like a violin ♪ ♪ And you could get there in an old truck ♪ ♪ Or new Mercedes-Benz ♪ ♪ But we're all goin' out the same way that we came in ♪ ♪ We're all goin' out the same way that we came in ♪ ♪ With nothin' ♪ ♪ So why in the world are we always worried about nothin' ♪ ♪ For nothin' ♪ (bluegrass music) ♪ A hundred dollar bill folds in half just like a ten ♪ ♪ A fiddle plays "Amazing Grace" just like a violin ♪ ♪ And you could get there in an old truck ♪ ♪ Or new Mercedes-Benz ♪ ♪ But we're all goin' out the same way that we came in ♪ ♪ We're all goin' out the same way ♪ ♪ That we came in ♪ (bluegrass music) (audience applauding) (bluegrass music) ♪ Here's to the trains I missed ♪ ♪ The loves I lost ♪ ♪ The bridges I burned, the rivers I never crossed ♪ ♪ Here's to the call I didn't hear ♪ ♪ The signs I didn't heed ♪ ♪ The roads I couldn't take ♪ ♪ The map that I just wouldn't read ♪ ♪ It's a big ole world and I found my way ♪ ♪ From the hell and the hurt that led me straight to this ♪ ♪ Here's to the trains I missed ♪ (bluegrass music) ♪ Well, I've been a clown, I've been a fool ♪ ♪ And I pushed on every chance ♪ ♪ I searched far and wide ♪ ♪ tried to crawl out of God's hand ♪ ♪ There's stones I didn't throw ♪ ♪ And hearts I didn't break ♪ ♪ And the little hope I held onto ♪ ♪ With a silver shining thread of faith ♪ ♪ It's a big ole world and I found my way ♪ ♪ From the hell and the hurt that led me straight to this ♪ ♪ Here's to the trains I missed ♪ (bluegrass music) ♪ Here's to the place I found ♪ ♪ The love I know ♪ ♪ The earth and the sky that I call home ♪ ♪ Here's to the things I believe bigger than me ♪ ♪ And the moment I find myself ♪ ♪ Right where I'm supposed to be ♪ ♪ It's a big ole world and I found my way ♪ ♪ From the hell and the hurt that led me straight to this ♪ ♪ Yeah, it's a big ole world and I found my way ♪ ♪ From the hell and the hurt that led me straight to this ♪ ♪ Here's to the trains I missed ♪ (bluegrass music) Yeah.

(audience applauding) Now, when our band came together in 2007, it really just came together as a fun thing to do.

We got together, the five same original guys, we got together just to jam.

It was a fun social thing for the five of us.

We found ourselves kind of off the road.

We'd play with different groups.

Marc had been playing with Ricky Skaggs, Tim was with gospel groups, and everybody had been doing different things and kind of found ourselves a little downtime and at home, and we just got together for the fun of it.

We really had no intention of creating a band and do anything other than having some fun.

And we played three or four or five times in somebody's kitchen, just for the fun.

And then somebody ended up getting a show and said, "Hey, you got this show, would you like to play it?"

And next thing you know, it's coming on 15 years.

So you know, this, like a lot of things, the greater things in life kind of find you.

We didn't try to put this together.

And it's because of that, I think, this has been from day one just a fun thing what we've made, and it's kinda taken us from western North Carolina to California.

(bluegrass music) ♪ Eighteen commencement day ♪ ♪ Friends moved on but she stayed in Eldorado ♪ ♪ Married the boy next door ♪ ♪ Work first shift by the interstate ♪ ♪ Selling hot coffee and giving out change ♪ ♪ for the payphone ♪ ♪ Never needed too much more ♪ ♪ And everyday someone would ask ♪ ♪ Why don't you leave us all behind ♪ ♪ She looked up, just kinda laughed ♪ ♪ Said, don't you think it crossed my mind ♪ ♪ But there ain't nobody waiting down in Arkansas ♪ ♪ And I don't know no one in old Baton Rouge ♪ ♪ Ain't no way I'm going down to Wichita ♪ ♪ And leaving Eldorado Blue ♪ (bluegrass music) ♪ Harvest moon, the radio ♪ ♪ Shooting stars on a gravel road miles from nowhere ♪ ♪ It don't get no better than that ♪ ♪ City lights burn bright, they pull you in ♪ ♪ Blind your eyes to what matters ♪ ♪ You won't catch me in none of that ♪ ♪ And this old town shuts on down ♪ ♪ With the setting of the sun ♪ ♪ The life I lead's the one for me ♪ ♪ but it ain't for everyone ♪ ♪ But there ain't nobody waiting down in Arkansas ♪ ♪ And I don't know no one in old Baton Rouge ♪ ♪ Ain't no way I'm going down to Wichita ♪ ♪ And leaving Eldorado ♪ ♪ Ain't nobody waiting down in Arkansas ♪ ♪ And I don't know no one in old Baton Rouge ♪ ♪ Ain't no way I'm going down to Wichita ♪ ♪ And leaving Eldorado Blue ♪ ♪ And leaving Eldorado Blue ♪ (audience applauding) (bluegrass music) ♪ Miles and miles of hard ground ♪ ♪ 'Til you lay your body down ♪ ♪ Soon as morning rolls around ♪ ♪ And gone again ♪ ♪ Kind of free and kind of trapped ♪ ♪ Wanna cry but gotta laugh ♪ ♪ It all kind of overlaps ♪ ♪ When you're out here in the wind ♪ ♪ A little older and younger than you ought to be ♪ ♪ Seen too much, not as much as you thought you'd see ♪ ♪ Some men see a hill and feel like they just ought to be ♪ ♪ On the other side ♪ ♪ The good Lord made the rambler ♪ ♪ But the devil taught him to ride ♪ (bluegrass music) ♪ You're makin' 20, you're savin' 10 ♪ ♪ 'Til you get that ache gain ♪ ♪ You'll spend whatever you gotta spend ♪ ♪ To take away your blues ♪ ♪ 30 days is awful long ♪ ♪ When the road you're ridin' on ♪ ♪ Makes you weak instead of strong ♪ ♪ And you got somethin' to lose ♪ ♪ A little older and younger than you ought to be ♪ ♪ Seen too much, not as much as you thought you'd see ♪ ♪ Some men see a hill and feel like they just ought to be ♪ ♪ On the other side ♪ ♪ The good Lord made the rambler ♪ ♪ But the devil taught him to ride ♪ (bluegrass music) ♪ A little older and younger than you ought to be ♪ ♪ Seen too much, not as much as you thought you'd see ♪ ♪ Some men see a hill and feel like they just gotta be ♪ ♪ On the other side ♪ ♪ The good Lord made the rambler ♪ ♪ But the devil taught him to ride ♪ ♪ The good Lord made the rambler ♪ ♪ But the devil taught him to ride ♪ (bluegrass music) (audience applauding) (bluegrass music) ♪ Made myself a list, checked it twice ♪ ♪ As I've never been the kind to roll the dice ♪ ♪ I took an extra turn on the thoroughfare ♪ ♪ To avoid all risk and doubt and still get me there ♪ ♪ Calculated odds and likelihood ♪ ♪ Made every preparation the way I should ♪ ♪ And just when I start to feel like I'm on a roll ♪ ♪ How can it be in one glance, I've lost control ♪ ♪ Rivers and rains and runaway trains ♪ ♪ The rushing and racing of hurricanes ♪ ♪ The forces of nature that nothing restrains ♪ ♪ Rivers and rains and runaway trains ♪ (bluegrass music) ♪ Solid as a rock set in my ways ♪ ♪ Until I caught a glimpse of your green-eyed gaze ♪ ♪ Runnin' through the numbers and my head says no ♪ ♪ Statistics, they shatter and my heart says go ♪ ♪ Rivers and rains and runaway trains ♪ ♪ The rushing and racing of hurricanes ♪ ♪ The forces of nature that nothing restrains ♪ ♪ Rivers and rains and runaway trains ♪ (bluegrass music) ♪ My steady beats stumble ♪ ♪ The heavens, they rumble ♪ ♪ The earth shook below the ground ♪ ♪ I try to speak but mumble ♪ ♪ My senses, they crumble ♪ ♪ The second you came around ♪ ♪ Like rivers and rains and runaway trains ♪ ♪ The rushing and racing of hurricanes ♪ ♪ The forces of nature that nothing restrains ♪ ♪ Rivers and rains and runaway trains ♪ ♪ Rivers and rains and runaway trains ♪ (bluegrass music) (audience applauding) (bluegrass music) ♪ You must have a voodoo doll of me ♪ ♪ Well, I wake each night staring at the ceiling ♪ ♪ And I never sleep ♪ ♪ You're burning candles in the dark ♪ ♪ Poke your pins in my broken heart ♪ ♪ You must have a voodoo doll of me ♪ ♪ You must have a deal with the devil himself ♪ ♪ Well, you told me that you love me ♪ ♪ but you left me lonely ♪ ♪ With someone else ♪ ♪ Only a soul that's compromised ♪ ♪ With that old bleak you tell such lies ♪ ♪ You must have a deal with the devil himself ♪ ♪ Yeah, I know, what goes around comes around ♪ ♪ I know that in time I'll be okay ♪ ♪ Yeah, I know, that hanging on just pulls me down ♪ ♪ But I can't let go, she won't let me let go, oh, no ♪ (bluegrass music) ♪ Yeah, I know, what goes around comes around ♪ ♪ I know that in time I'll be okay ♪ ♪ Yeah, I know, hanging on just pulls me down ♪ ♪ But I can't let go, she won't let me let go ♪ ♪ You must have a voodoo doll of me ♪ ♪ Well, I wake each night staring at the ceiling ♪ ♪ And I never sleep ♪ ♪ You're burning candles in the dark ♪ ♪ Poke your pins in my broken heart ♪ ♪ You must have a voodoo doll of me ♪ ♪ Darling, you must have a voodoo doll of me ♪ ♪ You must have a voodoo doll ♪ ♪ You must have ♪ ♪ A voodoo doll of me ♪ (bluegrass music) (audience cheering) - That's Tim Surrett right there on the upright bass.

- The original five guys, myself Buddy Melton, Tim Surrett on bass, Darren Nicholson, Marc Pruett and Caleb Smith.

And each of them bring a unique thing to the band, which I think gives us our unique sound.

Caleb is a great jazz player, loves jazz and also bluegrass; Marc Pruett's a Earl Scruggs style banjo player, played with Ricky Skaggs for years; Tim Surrett had a gospel background; Darren loves the traditional country music.

And so, because of all that, it kind of... We bring all those influences and it actually gives us a unique, I think, a unique sound.

- One, two, three, go.

(bluegrass music) ♪ There's a moon over Memphis ♪ ♪ looking down on what I've done ♪ ♪ There's a moon over Memphis ♪ ♪ looking down on what I've done ♪ ♪ It's shining through the smoke from the barrel of my gun ♪ ♪ That moon over Memphis it don't understand ♪ ♪ That moon over Memphis it just don't understand, Lord ♪ ♪ That I found my woman in the arms of another man ♪ ♪ And the sun in Chicago it won't ask me why ♪ ♪ I ran away from Memphis and a man had to die ♪ ♪ There's a moon over Memphis ♪ ♪ looking down on what I've done ♪ ♪ It's shining through the smoke from the barrel of my gun ♪ (bluegrass music) ♪ That moon over Memphis is hanging like a judge ♪ ♪ That moon over Memphis is hanging like a judge, Lord ♪ ♪ It's showing no mercy on a man who held a grudge ♪ ♪ And the stars up in heaven will never see my face ♪ ♪ For what I did in Memphis can never be erased ♪ ♪ There's a moon over Memphis ♪ ♪ looking down on what I've done ♪ ♪ It's shining through the smoke from the barrel of my gun ♪ (bluegrass music) ♪ There's a moon over Memphis ♪ ♪ looking down on what I've done ♪ ♪ There's a moon over Memphis ♪ ♪ looking down on what I've done ♪ ♪ It's shining through the smoke from the barrel of my gun ♪ ♪ There's a moon over Memphis ♪ ♪ There's a moon over Memphis ♪ ♪ Well, there's a moon over Memphis ♪ ♪ Looking down on what I've done ♪ (audience applauding) - Here's another number one for you.

It's called "The Girl Who Invented The Wheel."

Dance if... All you want.

(bluegrass music) ♪ No note, no explanation, no let me tell you why ♪ ♪ No signs of a problem, and no long drawn out goodbye ♪ ♪ I've been left before, this was a different deal ♪ ♪ I think I just met the girl who invented the wheel ♪ (bluegrass music) ♪ There's a song about John Henry ♪ ♪ How he beat that steam drill down ♪ ♪ Well, there ought to be one written ♪ ♪ About how that girl leaves town ♪ ♪ A real fast song with a lonesome feel ♪ ♪ Called "There Goes the Girl Who Invented the Wheel" ♪ (bluegrass music) ♪ She's got it goin', goin' on ♪ ♪ She's goin', goin', gone ♪ (bluegrass music) ♪ She moves like molasses ♪ ♪ When you've got what she wants ♪ ♪ Then she's as fast as lightnin' ♪ ♪ The minute that you don't ♪ ♪ Well, I don't know why, but I want her still ♪ ♪ I'm in love with the girl who invented the wheel ♪ ♪ I don't know why, but I want her still ♪ (bluegrass music) (audience applauding) - Thank you so much.

(bluegrass music) ♪ The Yankee letter said that they'd be comin' any day ♪ ♪ And if you planned on getting out alive ♪ ♪ We'd best be on our way ♪ ♪ Our tattered gray was torn between ♪ ♪ If we should run or fight ♪ ♪ But our southern pride swelled up inside ♪ ♪ As we dug in for the night ♪ ♪ Then I heard a rider callin' ♪ ♪ They're coming down the road ♪ ♪ And the fiery flash of twenty pounders ♪ ♪ started to explode ♪ ♪ We tried our best to stop them ♪ ♪ But our efforts were in vain ♪ ♪ In the distance you could hear the sound ♪ ♪ Of Dixie's last refrain ♪ ♪ They're burnin' Georgia down ♪ ♪ Those devils dressed in blue ♪ ♪ They took the higher ground ♪ ♪ Dying's all we can do ♪ ♪ And let us bound to fall ♪ ♪ Smell the smoke and the cinder ♪ ♪ They're burnin' Georgia down ♪ ♪ But we never will surrender ♪ (bluegrass music) ♪ Sherman left Atlanta leading ♪ ♪ Sixty thousand of his best ♪ ♪ Spreading the destruction over 50 miles of rest ♪ ♪ Marching to the sea, leaving nothing in their path ♪ ♪ Factory farms and churches, nothing spared their wrath ♪ ♪ By Christmas day in '64, they cut off all supplies ♪ ♪ And then they offered Mr. Lincoln up ♪ ♪ Savannah has a prize ♪ ♪ And though our lives are broken ♪ ♪ we fought on 'til the end ♪ ♪ And pray someday we'll find some way to Dixie once again ♪ ♪ They're burnin' Georgia down ♪ ♪ Those devils dressed in blue ♪ ♪ They took the higher ground ♪ ♪ Dying's all we can do ♪ ♪ And let us bound to fall ♪ ♪ Smell the smoke and the cinder ♪ ♪ They're burning Georgia down ♪ ♪ But we never will surrender ♪ ♪ They're burning Georgia down ♪ ♪ But we never will surrender ♪ (bluegrass music) (audience cheering) - Well, we're unique as a band in that we have four singers.

And so, you know, we're trying to make it, for the shows and for the albums everybody's singing and all the diversity of the band.

So we, you know, we're all about the music and the songs, original songs, is kind of gives us our uniqueness.

Who sings a song depends on the style of the song and what fits the song.

So we would get together, sometimes we'll try it three or four different ways, different keys, different styles, till it really kind of clicks and makes the most sense for us.

But, you know, that's the fun part about the music for us is creating unique and new music and that we will get together and as soon as we finish one album, we're starting a second one and a next one and trying to find those original songs that fit the band.

- One of the prettiest songs...

I don't care where you're from, for the next three or four minutes, you're a resident and citizen of the Great Smoky Mountains.

One of our favorites, most requested song we've ever had.

And we'll say goodnight with this: "Blue Mountain."

God bless.

(bluegrass music) ♪ Well, I took my chances ♪ ♪ Left you for Texas ♪ ♪ Hell bent with something to prove ♪ ♪ I thought you'd be there ♪ ♪ When I wandered back where ♪ ♪ I left your sweet love and the truth ♪ ♪ It's a blue mountain ♪ ♪ A blue mountain ♪ ♪ It's rolling between me and you ♪ ♪ It's a long highway ♪ ♪ A long highway ♪ ♪ It runs through the heart of a fool ♪ ♪ Now I've been to Phoenix ♪ ♪ The West Coast, I've seen it ♪ ♪ But still haven't found who I am ♪ ♪ 'Cause those old Carolinas ♪ ♪ That I left behind are ♪ ♪ The heart and the soul of this man ♪ ♪ It's a blue mountain ♪ ♪ A blue mountain ♪ ♪ It's rolling between me and you ♪ ♪ It's a long highway ♪ ♪ A long highway ♪ ♪ It runs through the heart of a fool ♪ (bluegrass music) ♪ Ah, no glass of whiskey ♪ ♪ Can tell me you miss me ♪ ♪ I've been gone too long for that ♪ ♪ So I'll drink to old times ♪ ♪ Black roads and white lines ♪ ♪ Till the day I find my way back ♪ ♪ It's a blue mountain ♪ ♪ A blue mountain ♪ ♪ It's rolling between me and you ♪ ♪ It's a long highway ♪ ♪ A long highway ♪ ♪ It runs through the heart of a fool ♪ ♪ Oh, it runs through the heart of a ♪ ♪ Blue mountain ♪ ♪ A blue mountain ♪ - Redlands, God bless you.

Goodnight from Balsam Range.

(audience cheering) - Thank you all so much.

(audience cheering) - Goodnight.

God bless.

Thank you so much.

- Thank you.

(audience cheering) - [Announcer] This program is made possible by support from: these Inland Empire civic-minded organizations concerned with the cultural life of our communities, the citizens that patronize the bowl, and viewers like you supporting local public television in the Inland Empire.

Thank you.