Arden, North Carolina (January 29, 2021) — If there’s one thing that has always helped to lift The Grascals above the bluegrass crowd, it’s the award-winning sextet’s way with a ballad. Now, for their first single of 2021, the group burnishes its reputation with a love song that seems almost destined to become a wedding day classic.
Co-written by 2016’s IBMA Songwriter of the Year, Donna Ulisse, the glistening “Flowers And Lace” receives a lush, guitar-centered arrangement that puts the spotlight squarely on John Bryan’s silvery tenor. “‘Flowers and Lace’ tells such a great story,” Bryan enthuses. “And it’s also a reminder of how strong love can be even after the years pass by.” Indeed, with its polished harmonies, the chorus of the song is heartfelt profession of love all the more powerful for its simple, direct language:
“You’re my endless view, when I close my eyes
And I see you just as clear as the day you walked the aisle
And in my waking hours you’re still my wildest dream
I see lace and flowers every time you smile at me”
The group’s award-winning banjo player, Kristin Scott Benson, fills in the song’s background and offers her own take on its strength. “‘Flowers and Lace’ was written by one of my banjo students, Ernie Welch,” she notes, “and the great writer, Donna Ulisse. It’s nice to hear positive love songs. I love how John sang it and personally, playing banjo on this sort of tune is really enjoyable. The track felt nice and airy, which suits the message.”
With sparkling touches of mandolin, fiddle and lead guitar, The Grascals have put their trademark sound in service of a song that seems sure to find favor not just with bluegrass listeners, but almost anyone who’s familiar with the emotions of an enduring love.
Listen to “Flowers And Lace” HERE.
About The Grascals
Great musicians will always find a way to make good music, but for great musicians to make great music, they must form a bond – one that, more often than not, goes beyond the purely musical to the personal. For The Grascals, that bond has been forged at the intersection of personal friendships, shared professional resumes and an appreciation for the innovative mingling of bluegrass and country music that has been a hallmark of the Nashville scene for more than forty years.
Their cutting-edge modern bluegrass is delivered with a deep knowledge of, and admiration for, the work of the music’s founding fathers. Timely yet timeless, The Grascals make music that is entirely relevant to the here and now, yet immersed in traditional values of soul and musicianship. It’s a unique sound that has earned three Grammy® nominations and two Entertainer of the Year awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association, as well as national media attention that seems to perpetually elude acts entrenched in niche genres. Such appearances include The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Fox & Friends, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and CBS’ The Talk. All the while, stages that represent the strongest bastions of tradition continually welcome them, as evidenced by the over 150 performances on the Grand Ole Opry. Honors also include performing twice for President George W. Bush and at President Barack Obama’s inaugural ball at the Smithsonian.
As their records prove, The Grascals’ rare musical empathy gives them an unerring ear for just the right touch to illuminate each offering’s deepest spirit – whether they’re digging into one of their original songs or reworking a bluegrass classic or a pop standard. Take for instance, fan favorite, “Last Train to Clarksville.” Non-bluegrass listeners enjoy a new take on a familiar song, while diehard bluegrass audiences who may have never heard the Monkees classic, respond in-kind, not even realizing that the song has been Grascalized.