“Rusty Rails”

By Carolina Blue

Photo by Corey Johnson

This tune about the desire to escape the past was inspired by abandoned railroad tracks in Tim Jones and Bobby Powell’s hometown of Brevard.

It’s one of 13 tracks on Carolina Blue’s 2019 album, “I Hear Bluegrass Calling.” Other notable songs include “Dark Mountainside,” “Glory Bound Train,” and “Fried Taters and Onions.” There’s been a lot of welcome industry buzz about the album (12 years in the making), and in early February it won four awards at the National Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America Awards held in Nashville, including Album of the Year and Entertainers of the Year.

Tim (mandolin and vocals) and Bobby (banjo and vocals) co-founded Carolina Blue in 2007. While just a few years ago the band was playing local barbecue joints, it is now performing at shows once only dreamed about. Other band members are James McDowell (banjo and vocals), Reese Combs (upright bass and vocals) and Aynsley Porchak (fiddle).

And about the band’s name: Despite rumors, it has nothing to do with UNC at Chapel Hill’s favorite color. Tim named it in honor of bluegrass and NC.