Head for the Hills
Biography
Head for the Hills--Adam Kinghorn, Joe Lessard, Matt Loewen--come out swinging and invigorated with fresh sounds on their latest EP, Say Your Mind (out March 22). Recorded at Swingfingers Studios in Fort Collins (Colorado), the band brought a larger band than ever before, including drummer Darren Garvey of Elephant Revival, Vocalist Kim Dawson, Dobroist Todd Livingston, a horn section and more. The material reflects both the turbulent social rhythms of our current era and more timeless moments of joy, growth, and change—think #MeToo, the current body politic, and inequality, but also relationships, fatherhood and growing up.
Like a painter that starts in acrylic and graduates to oils, Head for the Hills is deeper and richer in their 15th year as a band, with a wider palette of sonic textures at their disposal. Dorm room jam sessions have turned into a decade plus on the road--from humble coffee shops to theaters, festivals, roadhouses and clubs all across the country. Over time those sounds and influences have crept more and more into the bluegrass beginnings of the band, morphing into the seasoned eclecticism of Say Your Mind. The new songs are quinnessential Head for the Hills; genre-stradling, lyrically deep, and danceable, with a crew of collaborators bringing the best of Colorado acoustic, roots, and soul music together.
Head for the Hills numerous festival appearances include notables Telluride Bluegrass Festival, High Sierra Music Festival, South by Southwest, FloydFest, RockyGrass, DelFest, Summer Camp Music Festival, Blue Ox Music Festival, Northwest String Summit, Strawberry Music Festival, Bristol Rhythm and Roots, Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival, Folk Alliance, Grandoozy and many more. The band charted on the CMJ Top 200 twice, has been featured on NPR Ideastream and eTown, and was awarded Best Bluegrass in Colorado four times via Denver’s Westword Magazine.
PRESS QUOTES
Thanks to all for the kind words and love, we greatly appreciate it!
“HEAD FOR THE HILLS POSSESSES THAT SECRET INGREDIENT.”
-Ryan Dembinsky, (Glide Magazine, Hidden Track)
“On top of modern string music”
-Bluegrass Today
“CUTTING EDGE”
-Drew Emmitt (Leftover Salmon)
“The band combines soulful ambiance with nimble twangin"
-Relix Magazine
“Pushing postmodern bluegrass boundaries. They’re going deep, and doing so gracefully."
-Marquee Magazine
“Effortlessly matches integrity against innovation.”
“A smart mix of alternative influences and a knack for driving down-home rhythm that gets their crowds to ground their heels in.”
-Denver Post