Martha Scanlan
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Martha Scanlan The haunting quality of Martha Scanlan's voice, unique perspective and poetic imagery of her songs helped to gain national acclaim for the innovative old-time stringband, Reeltime Travelers. In their six years of touring they played some of America's most prestigious venues and festivals from the Grand Old Opry to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. After catching the attention of Grammy-winning producers T-Bone Burnett and Bob Neuwirth, the group recorded a cut for the soundrack to Cold Mountain and were featured on the Great High Mountain Tour along with Alison Krauss, Ralph Stanley, and other artists from the Oh Brother Where Art Thou and Cold Mountain soundtracks. Martha's songwriting frst gained national attention in 2003 at the prestigious Merlefest Chris Austin Songwriting Contest where a panel of judges including Gillian Welch and Jim Lauderdale awarded her first and second place in the bluegrass and country music categories for "Little Bird of Heaven" and "Hallelujah". She is currently on tour with brothers Travis and Trevor Stuart, who are widely considered among the best of Western North Carolina's new generation of Appalachian musicians. Their deep roots in tradition and remarkable ability to lend that depth to new sounds creates an extraordinary sense of timelessness; a perfect compliment to songs rooted in tradition but reflective of an ever-changing cultural landscape. Martha's debut solo project is produced by and features Dirk Powell along with Levon Helm, Riley Baugus, and Amy Helm and Glenn Patscha from the band Ollabelle. It is due out February 13, 2007 on Sugar Hill Records. When not on the road she divides her time between the mountains of East Tennessee and those of Western Montana.