Cast Iron Filter

In the closing years of the 1990s a bluegrass and acoustic rock scene took shape across the United States, with figures such as Bela Fleck and Cast Iron Filter gaining notice. The Charlotte, North Carolina quartet Cast Iron Filter came together in September 1998, initially operating as a trio that featured Dustin Edge on guitar, vocals, and harmonica, Randy Culbertson on guitar and vocals, and Mike Orlando on mandolin, banjo, and guitar; Tim Helfrich later joined on drums to complete the lineup. The band quickly cultivated a local audience, most visibly around Davidson College, and released its first recording, Paradise in Palestine, in 1999. A second album, Further Down the Line, appeared the following year, and This Ugly Town arrived in 2002. Engineer and producer Mark Williams, whose credits include Hootie and the Blowfish, Joe Cocker, and Southern Culture on the Skids, shaped the sessions for the latter record and steered the sound toward a stronger rock edge. Recognition followed when ESP Magazine likened the group to John Mellencamp, The Band, Jerry Garcia, Bill Monroe, and Lynryd Skynryd. Cast Iron Filter has consistently made its strongest impression onstage, where it has supported ex-Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger, Pat Green, David Allen Coe, Sam Bush, Edwin McCain, The Recipe, Railroad Earth, and additional acts. From the outset, other Charlotte-area players drawn from Acoustic Syndicate, Blue Dogs, and the Emma Gibbs Band have occasionally sat in with the ensemble.