Cadillac Sky - Abingdon, VA

08.10.07 - Highlands Festival - Abingdon, VB
I gotta say, the weather and the Mexican food is not the only thing that is hot in Texas … go see Cadillac Sky (based out of the Ft. Worth area) and see for yourself and be sure and take an air conditioner with you because their show will be hot! I had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with these guys and see them for the first time performing at the historic Highlands Festival in Abingdon, VA which is surrounded by the birthplace of country and bluegrass music in the land of the Carter Fold; Bristol, TN - where the first country record was recorded; and south of the home place of Ralph Stanley and Clinch Mountain in SW Virginia to the north.
This day was a 'hot' SW Virginia day but when I introduced myself to Mike Jump, the guitar player, one of the first words out of his mouth was "Man, the weather turned out to be really nice." … and growing up in Texas myself, I thought "Yep … this is a great weather day in Texas" and knew that he meant it.
I was not disappointed neither by the character and personalities or the performance of Cadillac Sky … they are the REAL DEAL and a class act as well as some of the finest musicians and songwriters I have ever met.
If you have not heard Cadillac Sky live, then purchase their latest CD, "Blind Man Walking" which is on the Skaggs Family Record label and that is what they sound like. Cadillac Sky brings with them an experienced sound engineer, Danny Rice who hails from Nashville, who assures the audience they will get what they pay for when the come to a show and see Cadillac Sky perform onstage.
The video clips are a bit lacking in quality due to low light conditions - the stage lights were not turned on in consideration to the band and audience of the hot conditions under the show tent, but a great time was had by all. Special local Abingdon guest singer, Susan Brown sat in and sang Sonya Isaacs part on "Homesick Angel" and audience participation and dancing by the "Abingdon Geography Girls" (named by Bryan Simpson) at the beginning of the show was added entertainment.
Although the crowd was small - (there was a "Beach Band" and street party going on at the same time just blocks away in downtown Abingdon and the largest fiddlers convention in the country was taking place in Galax which was about an hour away) - Cadillac Sky did a stellar show and made everybody feel right at home as if they were all sitting around Granny's back porch back home in Texas.
Check out the photos and video clips - then check the calendar on their website and go see them at IBMA in October or when they are playing in your area … by the way … Cadillac Sky has just been nominated for the 2007 IBMA Emerging Artists of the Year award ... well deserved.
Dave Roye
PS - Cadillac Sky has an awesome MySpace Website with a killer video of the song "Insomniac Blues for Matthew" that they created themselves.

SEE PHOTOS HERE