Mile Twelve
Taking bluegrass to new places
Mile Twelve has been making waves in the acoustic music community with their seamless blend of expertly-crafted songs, creative arrangements, and virtuosic execution. A modern string band from Boston, it won the 2020 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) New Artist of the Year award.
The band takes its name from the mile marker at Boston’s southern border on Route 93, a road sign they’ve passed countless times while heading out on tour. They’ve found receptive audiences across the globe, touring throughout North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
Their album City on a Hill, produced by guitar legend Bryan Sutton was nominated for 2019 IBMA Album of the Year. Many of its songs are set in urban landscapes, a significant departure from the often-rural lens of acoustic music. Sutton observes, “I’m a fan of bands who strive for a balance of being musically unique and individualized, while at the same time working to include time-honored traditions found in this music. This blend is not an easy thing to accomplish. Mile Twelve does this with well-honed and refreshingly honest songwriting, along with powerful playing, singing, and performing.”
More recently, the band has released an EP of covers titled Roll the Tapes All Night Long. They draw from a wide array of influences — from Ralph Stanley to Los Lobos, from Darell Scott to Tattletale Saints — demonstrating the surprisingly flexible nature of their instrumentation at every turn.
The band is made up of Evan Murphy (guitar, lead vocals), Catherine Bowness (banjo), Nate Sabat (bass, lead vocals), Ella Jordan (fiddle), and Korey Brodsky (mandolin and guitar).
"Mile Twelve is carrying the bluegrass tradition forward with creativity and integrity." -- Banjo luminary Tony Trischka
"Mile Twelve’s strength lies in its ability to apply bluegrass’ natural affect to modern concerns." --WBUR, Boston
~ This project is also made possible through the support and generosity of our Folkus members. ~