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The Hartley Family's Page
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Latest Activity
Opening Show at RayLynn Theater at Hot Springs
May 30, 2009 from 2pm to 4pm
The RayLynn Theater is just opening in Hot Springs, AR, the nation's only city that is also a national park. At 2 PM on several days a week, there will be a bluegrass show.
Profile Information
- Favorite Bluegrass Bands:
- Alison Krauss & Union Station, Lonesome River Band, IIIrd Tyme Out, Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Mountain Heart, Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain, Blue Highway
- Best Bluegrass Festival Memory:
- When the former mando player decided to go for a swim in the creek on the festival grounds at Adona, AR, jumped in back of van to change and sat on mandolin. (it wasn't as funny at the time.)
- About:
- The Hartley Family is a seven-member bluegrass band that combines traditional, gospel, and original/modern bluegrass with storytelling. They have narrowly escaped breaking stages and knocking each other senseless in high-powered moves around the central microphone for five years now, and have left people laughing at bluegrass festivals, churches, state parks, schools, and special events from LA to MN to NY. Their goal is to honor God and bring joy to people! The Hartley Family: close relatives who bring a new meaning to bluegrass!
More info: www.hartleyfamilybluegrass.com
- Bio:
- After five years of learning and experimentation, the Hartley Family Band is coming into its own. Their music has settled into a blend of bluegrass, blues-inflected gospel grass, and uniquely-HFB message songs that speak to the heart with their stories of faith and family.
If you’re looking for flash at a Hartley Family performance, you’ll be disappointed. As one person put it after seeing them live, “they invite you into their living room,” and bring you from laughter to tears and back again. These jeans-and-T-shirts-clad, ordinary folks pour energy into their honest, acoustic brand of music, and they’ve connected with audiences from across the United States.
Tom, father and banjo player, started the band and handles the business end of it. Occasionally he picks up the guitar and sings lead on a song. He is also a talented storyteller. Deb ("Mama") plays bass and keeps everything running smoothly. Her warm alto blends with the lead and high harmony to make a full bluegrass sound. Anna, age 19, plays guitar (mostly rhythm) and her powerful lead voice is featured on many of the songs. She is also the main songwriter of the family. 16-year-old Josiah's unique style of playing the fiddle drives the music. Daniel (age 15) adds variety by switching from mandolin to dobro throughout a performance. 13-year-old Abby's clear guitar flatpicking accents almost every song. She sings several crowd favorites during each performance, and her high voice gives an edge to the harmonies. Micah, age six, competes with his dad to be the comedian of the family and often sings lead on one song per show. He is learning to play the fiddle and mandolin and plays along with his family.
The Hartley Family now offers music lessons to those who are interested in learning how to play an acoustic instrument. They maintain an exacting schedule during the summers, and have played in states from LA to MN to NY.
According to Dr. Benjamin Meade, a professor and independent filmmaker, “The Hartley Family represents an age-old American tradition of positive family support and dynamic through music. They are one of the most high energy musical acts in the state of Arkansas.” Soulful singing, high-energy instrumental work and down-home storytelling make every performance something you don’t want to miss.
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