We have some BIG news to share with you today. Our bandmate and our brother in music, Chad Johnson, has made the decision to leave The High 48s to pursue some exciting new creative endeavors.
As a founding member of the band and our mandolin player, vocalist and “Chief Financial Officer,” Chad’s contributions to our success over the past 8 years are beyond count. While we will all miss his picking, singing and, of course, his “award-winning bluegrass smile,” we are very supportive and excited for him as he begins the next chapter of his creative life.
While Chad’s boots are not easily filled, we are thrilled to announce that Mike Hedding will be joining The High 48s as our new mandolin player, beginning with our Holiday House Concert Series which launches next week. Mike is a talented multi-instrumentalist who has worked with many great bluegrass and acoustic bands in the region over the last decade including: No Grass Limit, Hey Lonesome, Sans Souci Quartet, Pocahontas County, and The Katey Bellville Band. A student of mandolin master Mike Compton, Mike’s modern take on classic Monroe-style mandolin playing will be an exciting addition to our sound. Mike will also be singing and bringing his original tunes to the band and we can’t wait for you to hear our new lineup in 2015!
In the meantime, we would like to invite you to help us celebrate Chad’s final public performance with The High 48s at a very special show at the Aster Cafe in Minneapolis next Friday, November 28th (Black Friday). It will be a historic night for the band and we would love for you to be a part of it:
The High 48s: A Farewell to Chad
Friday, November 28th
9:00PM / $10
Aster Cafe
125 SE Main Street (St. Anthony Main)
Minneapolis, MN
http://www.astercafe.com/
Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling the Aster at: 612-379-3138