Albums by Higher Ground Bluegrass

HGB Music

2023: “Blue & Gray,” our 25th Anniversary Album (1998-2023) brings eleven new original songs to you, our fans, legacy and new. Songs that were written by the band, arranged, re-arranged, modified and tweaked over a five-year period, fine tuning each melody, each chord progression, and each song lyric, to create something unique and memorable in celebration of a quarter century milestone as a musical ensemble. We had a tremendous amount of fun recording these tunes and love the outcome of the songs and album as a whole. The title cut "Blue & Gray" tells the story of a Civil War Soldier at Gettysburg from the perspective of his best friend, his dog. A haunting melody with a haunting tale. Take a few minutes, give our new album a chance, an honest listen. Our thanks.

1. No. 9 Coal
2. Killing Pain
3. They Called Me 'the Kid'
4. Let's Find a Way
5. Blue & Gray
6. The Santa Fe Line
7. Cast Your Nets
8. Tears of Goodbye
9. Your Echo Remains
10. Back to You
11. Wish I Had a Dollar

Nominated for four 2024 New Mexico Music Awards
Best Bluegrass - "No. 9 Coal"
Best Bluegrass - "Back to You" - WINNER
Best Religious/Gospel - "Cast Your Nets"
Producer of the Year - Blue & Gray Album

Ken "Duke" Weddington (Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals); Dave Devlin (Resonator Guitar, Mandolin, Weissenborn); Patrick Mahoney (Fiddle, Vocals); Laura Leach Devlin (Bass, Vocals); Ian Fleming (Guitar); with guest performances by band alumna Diane Parshall (harmony vocals track 8); and newest member Ben Monroe (harmony vocals track 7). Produced and arranged by Duke Weddington and Higher Ground Bluegrass. Recorded by Jono Manson, Kitchen Sink Studio, Santa Fe, NM. Mixed by Jono Manson and Duke Weddington. Mastered by David Glasser, Airshow Mastering, Boulder, CO. Album Cover by Andy Weddington. Graphics and package design by Kelly Baber.

2019: Auburn Sky, a second acoustic anthology of ten instrumentals written by Duke Weddington. This collection of original songs is influenced and informed by traditional, melodic and progressive Bluegrass and Celtic styles of play. Duke invited some local guest performers to participate on the album. Their talents shine on each track. Track #7, "Tears in the Wind" is a tribute to US Navy Captain Michael Scott "Spike" Speicher, former squadron-mate and friend of Duke, who was shot down over Iraq on January 17, 1991, and whose remains were repatriated in July 2009. The Uilleann Pipes by Char Rothschild on this tribute song are simply outstanding.

1. Auburn Sky
2. Westcliffe
3. Maiden Mollie/Mollie in the Glens
4. High Rock
5. Morning Glory
6. Holly Ridge
7. Tears in the Wind
8. Sailors Delight
9. West Mesa Waltz
10. Tobacco Road

Nominated for five 2020 New Mexico Music Awards
Best Bluegrass - "Maiden Mollie/Mollie in the Glens"
Best Instrumental performance - "Auburn Sky"
Best Recording Engineer - "Maiden Mollie/Mollie in the Glens"
Packaging/Design - Auburn Sky Album
World - "Maiden Mollie/Mollie in the Glens"

Ken "Duke" Weddington (Banjo); Laura Leach Devlin (Bass); Patrick Mahoney (Fiddle); Dave Devlin (Resophonic Guitar, Weissenborn); Fred Bolton (Guitar); with guest performances by Char Rothschild (Uilleann Pipes, Whistle); Ian Fleming (Lead Guitar); Nikelle Gessner-Garcia (Fiddle); Bob Gray (Mandolin); Dain Forsythe (Bodhran). Produced by Duke Weddington. Recorded by Jono Manson, Kitchen Sink Studio, Santa Fe, NM. Mixed by Jono Manson and Duke Weddington. Mastered by David Glasser, Airshow Mastering, Boulder, CO.

"Auburn Sky"
Title Cut from the Album

2018: "Put My Mind At Ease" is a song written by Duke Weddington, Felix Rodriguez, Jose Antonio Ponce, and Daniel Johnsen in a NM Music Awards Therapeutic Songwriting Workshop for Veterans afflicted with PTSD. In the workshop, Veterans and songwriters spent the day together discussing the veteran experience and worked to create music reflecting that experience. The workshop was sponsored by The New Mexico Music Awards, New Mexico Arts (a division of the department of Cultural Affairs) and The National Endowment for the Arts with additional support from listen!ABQ, The New Mexico Music Commission, New Mexico Arts and the Military and Jason's Music Publishing.

This song is a result of that workshop and is dedicated to all Veterans, but particularly to those who still battle with PTSD in their daily lives.

Filmed and Produced by Thom Eberhardt
Check out the video (click the cover).
Pick up a free copy at our performances.

To learn more about PTSD visit:
https://www.ptsd.va.gov
Donate generously to your local charities that
support our Veterans!

2019 New Mexico Music Awards Nominee for
"Song of the Year"
"Video of the Year"

Ken "Duke" Weddington (guitar, vocals); Laura Leach-Devlin (bass, harmony vocals); Patrick Mahoney (fiddle, harmony vocals); Fred Bolton (guitar, harmony vocals); Dave Devlin (dobro, mandolin). Produced by Duke Weddington and Higher Ground Bluegrass. Recorded and Mastered by Jono Manson, Kitchen Sink Studio, Santa Fe, NM. Mixed by Jono Manson and Duke Weddington

2018: HGB 20 is the 20th Anniversary album for Higher Ground Bluegrass, which was nominated for 7 New Mexico Music Awards in 6 categories. The album includes fourteen songs, eight of which are originals by the band: Merry'-Go-Round (Weddington); Carolina Moon (Weddington); Run Riley Run (Weddington); On a Gravel Road (Weddington/Mahoney); Tinderbox (Leach-Devlin) is a 2019 New Mexico Music Award Winner for "Best Bluegrass."; Route 127B (Devlin); Where the Angels Sing (Bolton); Passing Lane (Mahoney) is a 2019 New Mexico Music Award Winner for "Best Instrumental.". We included six covers/traditional tunes: My Love Will Not Change (Camp/Burnette); Come Back to Old Santa Fe (Rowan/Faires); Kentucky Waltz; (Monroe) Steel Rail Blues (Lightfoot); High Mountain Road (Shuping/Stuart); and Sweetheart Mountain Rose - a tribute to the Spencer Brothers (Lance and Maynard Spencer).

1. Carolina Moon
2. On a Gravel Road
3. My Love Will Not Change
4. Route 127B
5. High Mountain Road
6. Come Back to Old Santa Fe
7. Where the Angels Sing

8. Tinderbox
9. Merry-Go-Round
10. Passing Lane
11. Kentucky Waltz
12. Sweetheart Mountain Rose
13. Steel Rail Blues
14. Run Riley Run

Ken "Duke" Weddington (banjo, mandolin, guitar, vocals); Laura Leach-Devlin (bass, vocals); Patrick Mahoney (fiddle, vocals); Dave Devlin (mandolin, dobro); Fred Bolton (guitar, vocals); Char Rothschild (Irish whistle). Produced by Higher Ground B luegrass. Recorded by Jono Manson, Kitchen Sink Studio, Santa Fe, NM. Mixed by Jono Manson and Duke Weddington. Mastered by David Glasser, Airshow Mastering, Boulder, CO.

"Tinderbox"
2019 NMMA Winner "Best Bluegrass"
Written by Laura Leach Devlin

2017: CLANN, an acoustic anthology of sixteen Bluegrass and Celtic instrumentals written by Duke Weddington. This collection of original songs is dedicated to members of Duke's family (Clann), titled after people, places and memories in his life. Track #2, Maddie's Dream/Erin's Jig is a 2018 New Mexico Music Award Winner for "Best Arrangement." The final cut, Still is Dad, was written in tribute to Duke's father and is based upon the poem "Still" written by Andy Weddington. If you like tunes in 6/8 time signature, this album is sure to grab and hold your attention from beginning to end.

1. Teaghran Mo Chroi
2. Maddie's Dream / Erin's Jig
3. Li'l London Mae
4. Mary Ann's Delight
5. Chatham
6. Morningside
7. Austin of Monaghan
8. Grace

9. Lady Red of Loch Larne
10. Chicken Stomp
11. Ryon's Jig
12. Pretty Little Quinn
13. Alamance
14. Tallen's Reel (A Jig)
15. Tailwind
16. Still is Dad

Ken "Duke" Weddington (banjo, mandolin, vocal); Laura Leach Devlin (bass); Patrick Mahoney (fiddle); Dave Devlin (mandolin, dobro); Fred Bolton (guitar, vocal); Char Rothschild (uillean pipes, whistles); Diane Parshall (vocal); AJ Weddington (fiddle); Doug Porter (guitar); Jeff Forbes (fiddle); Mark Smith (bass). Produced by Duke Weddington. Recorded by Jono Manson, Kitchen Sink Studio, Santa Fe, NM. Mixed by Jono Manson and Duke Weddington. Mastered by David Glasser, Airshow Mastering, Boulder, CO.

"Teaghran Mo Chroi"
(Celtic for "Heartstrings")
1st cut from the Album Clann

2016: HGB V, we had lots of fun writing, arranging and recording this album. Nine new originals by HGB: Be My Love (Weddington/Bolton); Sweet Annie Mae (Weddington/Mahoney/Devlin); Stomp (Weddington); Two by Two (Bolton); Still Into You (Weddington); Pretty Little Quinn (Weddington); Water for Gold (Mahoney/Weddington) is a 2017 New Mexico Music Award Winner for "Best Bluegrass"; Ride (Bolton/Weddington); and Tailwind (Weddington). We also mixed in 5 cover tunes: Hold to a Dream (O'Brien); Catoosa County (Mullins/Cannon); Old Man at the Mill (Traditional/PD); There is a Time (Webb/Jayne); and These Days (Jackson Browne).

1. Be My Love
2. Sweet Annie Mae
3. Stomp
4. Hold to a Dream
5. Catoosa County
6. Two by Two
7. Still into You

8. Pretty Little Quinn
9. Old Man at the Mill
10. Water for Gold
11. Ride
12. There is a Time
13. Tailwind
14. These Days

Ken "Duke" Weddington (banjo, vocals); Laura Leach (bass, vocals); Patrick Mahoney (fiddle, vocals); Dave Devlin (mandolin, dobro); Fred Bolton (guitar, vocals). Produced and recorded by Higher Ground Bluegrass. Mixed and mastered by Jono Manson, Ken Weddington and Patrick Mahoney, Kitchen Sink Studio, Santa Fe, NM.

"Water For Gold"
2017 New Mexico Music Award
Best Bluegrass

2013: Bluegrass Classics, a collection of favorites including nods to the likes of The Dillards, Tim O'Brien, Herschel Sizemore, and traditional American songs John Hardy and Pretty Fair Maid. Note the Gunn-like (Peter, that is) introduction to Ralph Stanley's Man of Constant Sorrow by Laura. And be sure to catch Duke's instrumental "Tallen's Reel" named for his then-newborn grandson.

1. Dooley
2. Pretty Fair Maid
3. John Hardy
4. Doug's Tune
5. Walls of Time
6. Make Me a Pallet

7. Rocksalt and Nails
8. Rebecca
9. Man of Constant Sorrow
10. Old Home Place
11. Tallen's Reel (a Jig)
12. Late in the Day

Ken "Duke" Weddington (banjo, vocals); Laura Leach (bass, vocals); Patrick Mahoney (fiddle, vocals); Dave Devlin (mandolin, dobro); Fred Bolton (guitar, vocals). Produced by Higher Ground Bluegrass. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Jono Manson, Duke Weddington, and Fred Bolton, at the Kitchen Sink Studio, Chupadero, NM.

"Make Me A Pallet"
a traditional tune also known as
'Pallet on the Floor'

2008: Miles and Miles, note the co-writing team of Duke Weddington and Diane Lujan (This Love Is Real, Thinking About You, I Can't Make You Love Me, I Love the Rain, Somewhere In Between) as well as Dave's Coffee Talk (written after ingesting mass quantities of caffeine). The album received 4 New Mexico Music Award Nominations.

1. Miles and Miles
2. This Love is Real
3. Coffee Talk
4. Thinkin' About You
5. O Judas
6. I Love the Rain
7. Seasons

8. Crutchfield's Lake
9. I Can't Make You Love Me
10. Somewhere in Between
11. Sellars' Mill Road
12. Stone Walls
13. Fireflies

Ken "Duke" Weddington (banjo, vocals); Mark Smith (bass, vocals); Diane Lujan (vocals); Jeff Forbes (fiddle, vocals); Dave Devlin (mandolin, dobro); Fred Bolton (guitar, vocals). Original materials written, co-written & arranged by HGB. This recording features instrumental contributions by former HGB members Jeff Forbes (fiddle) and Doug Porter (lead guitar). Produced and recorded by Higher Ground Bluegrass. Mixed by Sid Fendley, Albuquerque, NM; mastered by David Glasser, Airshow Mastering, Boulder, CO.

"Miles and Miles"
Title Cut from the Album

2003: People, Places, Memories, Higher Ground Bluegrass' second album of original materials written/co-written and arranged by the band. Duke's instrumental "Alamance," named for the North Carolina county where he was raised, was a 2004 New Mexico Music Award winner for Best Instrumental. "Backburn" was named after the 2000 Cerro Grande fire in Northern New Mexico. Fred's "Bottle of Tears" proves he's not always sleeping during the sermon, while "Big Nose Kate" re-tells the OK Corral gunfight story.

1. My Heart is Here To Stay
2. Someday
3. Bottle of Tears
4. Backburn
5. The Home I'd Come to Know
6. Big Nose Kate
7. A Place in My Heart

8. Maynardville Stagger
9. A Little Boy
10. Time Will Tell
11. Alamance
12. Above and Beyond
13. Just Let Me Go

Ken "Duke" Weddington (banjo, vocals); Mark Smith (bass, vocals); Diane Lujan (vocals); Jeff Forbes (fiddle, vocals); Dave Devlin (mandolin, dobro); and Fred Bolton (guitar, vocals). Produced by Higher Ground Bluegrass. Recorded and mixed by Duke Weddington and Bill Boaz, 4th World Studios, Santa Fe, NM; mastered by David Glasser, Airshow Mastering, Boulder, CO.

"My Heart is Here to Stay"
Written by Dave Devlin, Duke Weddington, Diane Parshall

2001: Higher Ground Bluegrass' first album containing 14 originals written/co-written and arranged by the band. Two cover songs on the album: Love's a Word I Never Throw Around (Robert Earl Keen Jr), and Don't Let Me Love (Mark Howard).

1. Fall Again
2. On the Corner Square
3. Don't Let Me Love
4. Tatnuck Hill
5. Distant Lights
6. In Love All Alone
7. Love's a Word I Never Throw Around
8. Mansion on the Hill

9. A Broken Man
10. Tonight My Sleep Will Be Restless
11. Pass the Salt
12. Black and White - Faded and Torn
13. Open Road
14. Emotions So Deep
15. Ryon's Jig
16. Higher Ground

Ken "Duke" Weddington (banjo, vocals); Mark Smith (bass, vocals); Diane Lujan (vocals); Jeff Forbes (fiddle, vocals); Dave Devlin (mandolin, dobro); and Fred Bolton (guitar, vocals). Produced by Higher Ground. Recorded & mixed by Bill Boaz and Duke Weddington, 4th World Studios, Santa Fe, NM; mastered by David Glasser, Airshow Mastering, Boulder, CO.

"Higher Ground"
Written by Duke in tribute to original band member
Ron Lujan