Since forming in 2003, the Virginia band King Wilkie has shifted its stylistic focus from traditional bluegrass to a broader repertoire of original acoustic music. Though incorporating a standard bluegrass lineup — banjo, dobro, fiddle, mandolin, acoustic guitars and standup bass — and doubling up on the harmony vocals, the band has greatly widened its creative direction.
King Wilkie's broad sound seems equally influenced by progressive country music (The Byrds, Gram Parsons) and the more traditional work of John Hartford and Bill Monroe.
Performing songs from Low Country Suite, King Wilkie performs here before an intimate outdoor audience gathered at an open-air eatery called Smokey's on the Gorge, overlooking a breathtaking view of the New River Gorge in West Virginia. The band makes a few references to the audible crickets, which had also gathered around Smokey's for the show.
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