Photo by Amy Richmond

Michael Cleveland, the most awarded International Bluegrass Music Association Fiddle Player of the Year, with twelve wins to his name, has a new album on the horizon titled Lovin’ Of The Game, set to release on March 3 via Compas Records. His last offering, Tall Fiddler–which earned him the Grammy for Best Blue Grass Album in 2019–saw assistance from Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Tommy Emmanuel, Béla Fleck, Tim O’Brien, Dan Tyminski, Del McCoury, and The Travelin’ McCourys, and his upcoming offering is too, rooted in collaboration.

Though the collaborations were not in person, as the project was created during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cleveland’s ears and heart were as poised as ever to connect, harmonize and motivate during those dark days and resulting in collaborations with the likes of Jeff White, Dan Tyminsky, Charlie Starr, Josh Richards, Billy Strings, Vince Gill, Greg Poulos and more.

Today, we premiere “One Horse Town,” a song Cleveland first heard from his guitar player in Flamekeeper Josh Richards, after he shared a clip of him playing and singing it on Facebook. The two were unable to play together, and touring had stopped, but Richards told Cleveland about the song’s creators, Blackberry Smoke, and he swiftly became a fan.

We worked it up with the band and started playing the song live, and I knew I wanted to record it. I had the idea that it would be really cool if I could somehow get Charlie Starr to sing on it with Josh. I asked around and was able to get an email introduction to Charlie, but I couldn’t help but think when I was sending him the email, ‘this guy isn’t going to have a clue who I am and I probably won’t hear anything back,'” Cleveland shared with Relix. “I sent him the email anyway, introducing myself, the band and the idea and asked if he’d consider singing on it. I think it was later that same day, I got the nicest email back from him, saying, ‘Michael Cleveland, I know exactly who you are. I used to watch you play fiddle a long time ago at a festival at Hoofers Gospel Barn in LaGrange, Georgia, and I would love to do it.'”

Later on, Cleveland and his band recorded a cover of the track in Nashville and sent it back to Starr to overdub his vocals. The result is a driving, healing anthem that coasts overhead like an Appalachian rain cloud, ready and able to wash the land clean of sorrow or regret.

Of the recording, Cleveland said, “[it] was so much more than what we were hoping for!”

Pre-save Lovin’ Of The Game here.

Listen to the premiere of Cleveland’s “One Horse Town” below.