Biography

Coaltown Dixie is a classy, energetic all-female bluegrass band hailing from the Appalachian hills of East Kentucky. In the words of IBMA Hall of Honor Member, Melvin Goins, “If you love bluegrass music, then you will Coaltown Dixie."

In this, their seventh year together, the band has just released their long-awaited third CD, “No Town Like Coaltown.” The CtD ladies are proud to announce that all eleven tunes are original songs written by members of the band---a rarity in the world of bluegrass as well as any genre of music. There’s something for everyone on this CD, as the songs cover everything from porch swings to the Hatfields and McCoys, love in a southern town, and even a good white lightnin’ (“There ain’t a lot that goes on up a holler between two hills…so Pappy made a livin’ with his moonshine still….”).

Since Coaltown Dixie formed in 2009, they have enjoyed playing numerous shows and festivals throughout the Southeast from Festival of the Bluegrass to Crowe Fest to Skinnyfest. They have been blessed to return to Dollywood's Bluegrass and Barbecue Festival, Dr. Ralph Stanley's Annual Memorial Weekend Festival, The Osborne Brothers Hometown Festival and The Kentucky Apple Festival.

Career highlights include packing the house at Suwanee, Georgia's Everett's Music Barn; sharing the Mountain Arts Center stage with bluegrass superstars Ricky Skaggs, J.D. Crowe, The Boxcars and the Lonesome River Band; twice headlining the Rural Roots Concert Series at the Historic Sipp Theater and opening for Larry Sparks and country music stars Bucky Covington, and Randy Houser. Coaltown Dixie has been the guest of internationally syndicated radio shows including Red Barn Radio, The Appalshop's "Bluegrass Express" and WDVX's Blue Plate Special. Television appearances include episodes of Jubilee and Tim Farmer's Homemade Jam. Two of their original songs are currently being used as theme songs on Kentucky Educational Television and they recently wrote a song for a television pilot. The ladies of CtD have been the recipients of a National Bluegrass B.O.R.N. (Bands On the Rise Nationally) Award, been featured as “Future Stars” in the U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Travel Guide and graced the cover of M.E. Music Entertainment magazine.

With the lack of female musicians in the bluegrass world, Coaltown Dixie fills a unique niche, performing their own brand of “High-Heeled Bluegrass” with beauty and professionalism. And the occasional G-run.



HOW WE CAME TO BE

The notion to start an all-female bluegrass band came from Stephanie May Rose (bass). After some persuasion, she reeled in an acquaintance from work, Kris Bailey Preston (mandolin). They scouted around for the next year before discovering their musical soul mates one night at a local “front porch pickin’ event.” Kris chose a seat next to Kalyn Bradford (guitar), who had just moved to Kentucky from Georgia. When she heard the then-teenager sing and play an original song, she knew she would be perfect for the group. They heard Melanie Turner (banjo/guitar) perform that night as well, and as she remembers it, they stalked her in the parking lot!

Honorary Dixies who sometimes appear with the band include Stephanie's daughter, Isabelle Rose on vocals and Ivy Phillips on fiddle and vocals. Eleven year old Isabelle first joined the girls on stage at age 4 at the Hillbilly Days Festival singing Hillbilly Goddess, which has since become her nickname. Ivy is a teenage State Fiddle Champion, clogger and vocalist whom the girls met while jamming at a Nashville Bluegrass Convention when she was quite young. It's a welcome bonus for the audience whenever Ivy joins the CtD gals onstage.