An evening with: Della Mae at The Rock Shop

Della Mae proves again and again the endless possibilities found in the tried-and-true marriage of fiddle, fretboard, and voice. Their lineup is a who's-who of promising young pickers: lead singer Celia Woodsmith, guitarist Courtney Hartman, bass player Shelby Means, mandonlinist Jenni Lyn Gardner, and two-time National Fiddle Champion Kimber Ludiker are all seasoned performers who have won countless contests and shared the stage with the likes of Willie Nelson, Del McCoury, Leon Russell, and Laurie Lewis. Though they don't shy away from showing off their considerable technical talent, Della Mae is at heart a song-driven band with vocals that can tell an entire story in the merest syllable, and instruments that play with finesse and vivacity to match. Their 2011 release, I Built This Heart, was an impressive debut, a delicate balance between bluegrass grit and singer-songwriter sensitivity. With a new album in the works-produced by Bryan Sutton and their first label release-it's clear that Della Mae is just getting started.