Despite the current heat wave, bluegrass fans were treated to a much more pleasant forecast as Williamson Branch, the Murfreesboro-based family bluegrass band, took the stage at the historic Station Inn Friday to celebrate the release of their new album Southern Sunshine. The show kicked off a three-day homecoming for fans of the band with attendees in the audience, as well as first-time Station Inn visitors and regular bluegrass fans at the venue.
For the first set, the high-energy family band played all twelve tracks from the new album, introduced with instructions to “clap, hoot, and holler if you like what you hear.” Elder daughter Melody Williamson Keyes, who plays fiddle and shares vocal lead, explained that they usually play the event in December but, instead, she had a baby, thus the postponement. She was joined by her parents Kevin and Debbie and sisters Kadence Williamson Reynolds on bass and Caroline on mandolin and cajon for a show that demonstrated the best a family band can offer—sibling harmony and stellar picking and percussion. The only non-Williamson on stage, Mason Crone from Crandall, Georgia, joined on banjo, making his Station Inn debut.
Williamson Branch opened with the gospel-flavored “These Old Burdens” and worked their way through the album’s tracks. With a nod to the album title, they played their cover of “Southern Nights,” noting that the album features an appearance by Carl Jackson, who played on Glen Campbell’s original recording of the song, followed by their newest single “Come on Sunshine,” with Kevin weaving in lyrics from “You Are My Sunshine.”
Throughout the set, they shared the story of the family’s musical history beginning with Kevin, who started playing with his dad in West Virginia when he was seven, going on to play in the band Red Wing. They described his meeting Debbie (adding riffs from “Pretty Woman”) and playing with her in the band Shadow Ridge before founding Williamson Branch.
Each song showcased not only the musical abilities of the members of the family, but the unmistakable family dynamics they channel to give the audience a lively show. Kadence, on bass, never stops dancing—or smiling. She’s the one, Melody pointed out, who “sings the high notes and plays the low notes.” Noting it was time for Kadence to “sing something groovy, they backed her as she sang lead on “Weepin’ Willow Blues.”
Before performing “The One I Can’t Live Without,” they acknowledged the songwriter Shelton Feazell in the audience.
Halfway through the set, they introduced the song they say they usually play at the top of the show, asking the audience for “top-of-the-show energy” as they played the classic “Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah.”
Kevin addressed to his wife “I Have You,” one of the most tender tracks from the album, noting their 2023 induction into the West Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame.
During the second set, Caroline, the youngest member of the band at sixteen, delivered a bluesy performance of “Blue,” wearing shades, hat, and boa. Debbie’s performance of Bryan Adams’ “Heaven” provided convincing evidence of the source of the musical talent–whether by nature or nurture–that runs in the family.
A highlight of the second set was the acapella performance in four-part harmony of “Just a Little Talk with Jesus” as the Williamson Branch Quartet. Throughout the evening, the Williamsons’ obvious joy in performing proved infectious.
In response to an audience request for “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” Williamson Branch closed with a high-octane version of the classic, weaving in bits of other songs in a “Name That Tune” vibe, including a bit of “Orange Blossom Special,” “Tequila” (sung as “Tortilla!”), and their parody of “Rocky Top” with references to Murfreesboro and Ed the zebra.
Quite possibly, the only people having more fun than the Station Inn audience on Friday night were the members of Williamson Branch.
All photos by Laura Longford
https://www.williamsonbranch.com