Category: Bluegrass gospel

The King James Boys release new bluegrass gospel single “Everything Heaven Won’t Be”

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Some songs bring comfort, the kind that comes from a song that doesn’t pretend life is easy, but reminds you that none of it lasts forever. That’s the territory The King James Boys are working in with their new single, “Everything Heaven Won’t Be,” the latest cut to be pulled from their celebrated record Get A Transfer.

The band, lineup intact since their 1994 formation in upstate South Carolina, isn’t chasing trends. Randy Spencer handles guitar and lead vocals, his brother Cole Spencer rounds out the harmonies on bass, Curtis Lewis carries the banjo work, and Will Hart fills in mandolin and harmony. More than three decades in, they’ve built their reputation on a simple premise: stay rooted in traditional bluegrass, stay rooted in faith, and let the songs do the convincing.

This one was written by Daryl Mosley, a four-time Songwriter of the Year, who says he never expected to hear his own words come back to him in The King James Boys’ voice. “I’ve been a fan of The King James Boys for a long time, so I’m especially excited that a song I wrote has found its way into their repertoire,” Mosley says. “They absolutely made this song their own! I’m grateful they liked the song and their recording truly knocks it out of the park!”

The song itself plays a clever trick. It runs through the everyday jobs and worries that eat up people’s attention, the deadlines, the anxieties, the noise, and then quietly sets all of it against the backdrop of eternity, where none of that weight exists. It’s not a heavy-handed sermon; it’s more of an invitation, nudging listeners toward what Mosley and the band clearly believe sticks around: faith, relationships, and the long view.

“Everything Heaven Won’t Be” doesn’t arrive in a vacuum. It follows a run of singles from Get A Transfer that have already found an audience, including “Glory Ride,” “Ready and Waiting,” “The News That Never Changes,” “The Best Selling Book Of All Time,” and “Power of Prayer.” The album as a whole has quietly become one of the most decorated of the group’s career, landing multiple No. 1 spots on both the Roots Music Report Charts and the Bluegrass Today Gospel Weekly Airplay Chart. “The Best Selling Book Of All Time,” written by Christopher Burton, has gone further still, advancing to the second round of voting on the IBMA Awards ballot.

For a band thirty years into its run, that kind of momentum isn’t an accident. It’s the product of consistency: the same lineup, the same convictions, and a catalogue that keeps finding new listeners without ever needing to chase them.

Eighteen Mile’s debut album ‘Peace Be Still’ set for June 12 release

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Eighteen Mile, the bluegrass gospel group that emerged after years backing evangelist Steve Pettit, will release its debut album for Mountain Home Music Company on June 12. Peace Be Still is now available for pre-save and pre-add on streaming platforms.

The album marks a creative turning point for the group. All but two of its tracks are original compositions, a first for the band.

“As a band of songwriters, this album is special,” said guitarist and vocalist Carson Aaron. “It’s the first project we’ve worked on where we’ve written almost every song.”

The two covers are a reading of Kristyn and Keith Getty’s “Living Waters” and a rendition of Ron Block’s “He’s Holding on to Me.”

The 12-track project was produced by Andy Leftwich and moves between straightforward bluegrass and arrangements drawn from contemporary folk. Themes centre on doubt, faith, fear and the certainty of salvation.

Eighteen Mile has steadily built an audience since releasing its first single, “Above the Clouds,” written by bassist Hallie Ritter. The track has appeared on the Bluegrass Today gospel chart for more than six months. Subsequent singles “What Mercy Means” and “Living Waters” have continued to draw attention to the group.

The title track, written by Aaron and sung by multi-instrumentalist Jack Ritter, features resonator guitarist Rob Ickes, a frequent collaborator of Leftwich’s.

“We know the stories behind each song because they are our stories,” Aaron said. “The common thread through all these songs is the grace of God that has transformed our lives.”

Peace Be Still is available for pre-save now ahead of its June 12 release on Mountain Home Music Company.

Anthem Edition releases new song “He Is Who He Is”

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AMY TURNER

Anthem Edition has released “He Is Who He Is,” their first song of 2026. The new track from Sonlite Records arrives while the title song from their 2025 album, Promises Kept, continues to chart on Southern Gospel airplay.

Mark Mathes wrote “He Is Who He Is.” The song features a classic quartet sound with bluegrass elements. David Johnson plays banjo on the opening chorus.

Tim Rackley, the group’s lead singer, described the song’s appeal and message. “‘He Is Who He Is’ is a fun song to sing, and will be a favourite for everyone that loves quartet music,” he said. “It also has a powerful message in it, because He says ‘I AM WHO I AM’ and ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ (Exodus 3:14), and in Malachi 3:6 He confirms: ‘For I, the Lord, do not change.'”

The opening chorus includes these lyrics:

He is who He is, He was who He was

He did what He did, He still does what He does

The Alpha, Omega, the Babe from Bethlehem

The Spring of Living Water, and He is the Great I Am

Piano, pedal steel and electric guitar follow the opening chorus. The song contains two verses and multiple choruses.

The song is available in Dolby Atmos spatial audio on Apple Music, Amazon Music and TIDAL.

Doug Roark and Tim Rackley founded Anthem Edition in 2003 as a trio called The Old Paths. The trio became a quartet and gained national attention. The group signed with Sonlite Records, part of Crossroad Music, in 2012. Their album Right Now produced two number one hits and earned them a Singing News Fan Award for Favourite New Quartet.

The group stopped touring in 2015 and returned in 2017. They changed their name to Anthem Edition in late 2022. Andrew Utech joined as bass vocalist at that time. Cameron Edens joined as tenor in the fall of 2023.

Eighteen Mile shares new song about Biblical story and personal faith

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Mountain Home Music Company artist Eighteen Mile has released their second single after finding success with their first release. The young five-member group put out “Above The Clouds” in September, and that song has reached the top of the Bluegrass Today Gospel chart multiple times. Now they have followed up with “What Mercy Means.”

Carson Aaron, who plays multiple instruments for the band, wrote the new song and performs the lead vocals. He said the song came from thinking about a story in the book of Exodus, chapter 34, where Moses went up Mount Sinai to meet with God.

What Mercy Means ℗ 2025 Mountain Home Music Company Released on: 2025-11-14

Aaron explained that the Bible describes the mountain as dark and frightening during that meeting. The text mentions earthquakes and thunder happening because God was present there. He wanted his song to express the contrast between a powerful and holy God meeting with a person who is not holy.

The song connects that ancient story to Aaron’s own life. He said that as a person who has sinned, he deserves punishment when standing before a holy God. However, he experiences mercy from God each morning instead.

The song features musical work from fiddler Savannah Aaron, who plays a thoughtful melody line. Sometimes she plays alone, and other times banjo player Jack Ritter joins her with quieter accompaniment. Ritter and Emily Guy provide harmonies that support the chorus Aaron wrote.
Andy Leftwich produced “What Mercy Means,” just as he did with the previous single. Leftwich is known for his work playing fiddle and mandolin. The song fits within the tradition of bluegrass gospel music that has been popular for many years.

People can now listen to “What Mercy Means” on streaming services. The song is available in Dolby Atmos spatial audio format on Apple Music, Amazon Music, TIDAL and throughout the day on Texas Gospel Canada.

Wilson Banjo Co. releases new song about heaven and belonging

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Wilson Banjo Co. has put out a new single called “Heaven Is Your Hometown.” The song came out through Pinecastle Records and carries a message about faith and finding one’s true home in heaven.

Steve Wilson, who started the band, explained why the song matters to him. He said the opening line asks if people feel like strangers who do not fit in. Wilson said this lyric affected him deeply when he first heard it. He believes the song will connect with many other people as well.

The songwriters Mitch Townley and Andrew Scott Wills wrote about the feeling of wanting to reach a place of peace and belonging. For Christians, this speaks to the biblical teaching that earth is temporary and heaven is the eternal home believers will share with God. The lyrics offer comfort through faith-based images and the hope of reunion with loved ones in heaven.

Provided to YouTube by Syntax Creative Heaven Is Your Hometown · Wilson Banjo Co. Heaven Is Your Hometown ℗ 2025 Pinecastle Records Released on: 2025-11-14

Cal Mathews sings the lead vocals on the track. Steve Wilson and Melanie Wilson provide harmony vocals. The musicians on the recording include Steve Wilson on banjo, Jason Fraley on mandolin, Richard Bennett on guitar, Glen Crain on resonator guitar, Leona on fiddle, and Jaime Carter on bass.

The band is working on their next studio album, which will come out in 2026. Steve Wilson leads the creative direction for the group. This year, their previous release called “Lonely As It Gets” performed well on the charts. The collection reached the number one position for several weeks on the Contemporary Bluegrass Album Chart. It stayed in the top ten for 33 weeks in 2025. The release also produced multiple songs that reached number one on the Roots Music Report Contemporary Bluegrass Song Chart.

Wilson Banjo Co. plans to keep making music that reflects their established sound. People can find more information about the band and their releases at http://www.wilsonbanjo.com. The band also maintains a presence on social media platforms. Listen for this and other Gospel music from Wilson Banjo Co on Texas Gospel Canada!