High Fidelity On Reviving Bluegrass’s Golden Age, “Red Ball Rocket Train” And Their First Vinyl Release

High Fidelity have spent more than a decade proving that traditional bluegrass can honour its roots without becoming trapped in the past. Formed by Kurt Stephenson, Corrina Stephens, Jeremy Stephens and Daniel Amick for the 2014 SPBGMA band contest-which they promptly won-the acclaimed quartet have built their distinctive sound around tight harmonies, instrumental versatility and a shared love for the music of Jim & Jesse, Reno & Smiley, The Louvin Brothers and The Stanley Brothers.

In this new interview, High Fidelity reveal how their unexpected contest victory launched the band, explain why they favour live energy over studio manipulation, revisit Mac O'Dell's "Red Ball Rocket Train," and discuss their forthcoming fourth album for Rebel Records-the group's first release on vinyl.

Listen to "Red Ball Rocket Train": All Streaming Platforms

Official Website and Music: High Fidelity

Q: For readers discovering High Fidelity for the first time, how did the band come together, and what does each member bring to the group?

Our primary banjo player, Kurt Stephenson, had the idea to put together a band with Corrina and Jeremy Stephens for the 2014 SPBGMA band contest. Kurt also knew Daniel Amick and he pulled him in as well, and that is the four members that we still have today! In High Fidelity, we are all multi-instrumentalists and a fan coming to one of our shows is likely to see any of us playing just about any one of the instruments. Jeremy and Corrina Stephens handle most of the management for the group, but Kurt Stephenson and Daniel Amick are integral parts of the band dynamic and sound. We are all grateful for the work that each of us does to propel the band forward.

Q: High Fidelity was formed in 2014 and won the SPBGMA International Band Championship that same year. How did that early success shape the band's direction and ambitions?

As I mentioned in the previous question, the band actually formed to enter the band contest. When we won, there was a great deal of interest from the promoters at the event in booking us for various festivals and events, but a year or two passed before we could actually pursue performing regularly as a band. In 2016, all those same promoters still wanted to book us! We also released our first album ourselves that year, but things really started taking off a bit more when Rebel Records signed us in 2017 which led to the release of our Hills and Home album. We have since released a total of 3 albums for Rebel and a 4th one is on the way!

Q: Your music preserves the sound and spirit of 1950s and '60s bluegrass. Which artists have influenced you most, and how do you keep that traditional style fresh for today's listeners?

We have made it a goal to perform the music of the '50s and '60s authentically but with the precision that is heard in modern day music. We love old recordings of Jim & Jesse, Reno & Smiley, The Louvin Brothers, and The Stanley Brothers. We personally feel that those old records can't really be improved upon, but some listeners have a barrier in listening to old records because they are used to the music and production of today which takes advantage of modern techniques allowing for making the music sound nearly perfect. We try to retain the energy and excitement of the old music by working very hard to perfect what we play and sing prior to recording so that when we get in the studio, we are able to capture a live performance that is as close as we can to being perfect without having to utilize modern computer manipulation to achieve that same perfection. Though it takes more rehearsal and practice before recording, we feel that it allows the recording to capture the same energy and feeling that the old guys got on those great old records.

Q: "Red Ball Rocket Train" revisits a 1950 recording by Mac O'Dell. What drew you to this lesser-known song, and how did the group develop its own arrangement?

Our friend and bass player extraordinaire, Mike Bub, sent Jeremy and Corrina a message one day back in 2020 and said he thought "Red Ball Rocket Train" would be a great one for High Fidelity to do. We made a note of that, and when it came time to make this album, we decided to work that one out. When we work out a song, we each listen to the original recording enough to get a strong sense of the melody and chord structure and then we get together and just play it! Most times, the arrangements sort of fall into place, and that is how Red Ball Rocket Train worked out.

Q: As you look ahead, what new music or projects are you working on, and are there any new directions you would like High Fidelity to explore?

We haven't started making plans for the next High Fidelity album, but we do look forward to it. We each also have our own personal work. Corrina has a new performing act called Rrinaco, Jeremy is starting to think about his next solo album, Kurt and his wife Andrea have an album also in the works, and Daniel is always doing something entrepreneurial. We are also looking forward to promoting this new High Fidelity album and eagerly anticipating that this will be our first release on vinyl. We have healthy schedule of shows this Fall and next year, and we are always excited for whatever else comes our way!

Q: After more than a decade together, what are you proudest of personally, and what still excites you most about making music as High Fidelity?

We are most proud of the family-like camaraderie that we have as a band. We love each other and are there for one another in many ways beyond the music. It is rare to have that kind of connection among four different folks, but we truly do and we are so grateful for that. We are always excited any time we all get together, because there is always so much to catch up on from our personal lives. It makes the music we create together that much better!