Wood Belly

The Colorado ensemble Wood Belly developed its precise vocal blends, creative compositions, and traditional string-band approaches inside the newgrass scene. Even so, the group’s wider sonic reach reaches into an extensive range of sources. Its jam-band foundation incorporates strains of alt-country, indie rock, bluegrass, and folk, producing an inviting and approachable Americana blend. That sound connected with roots-music listeners in 2018 through the arrival of Solid Ground, which also earned the band victory in that year’s Telluride Bluegrass Festival band competition. Wood Belly maintained its momentum with the November EP in 2019 and Man on the Radio in 2020, promoting both releases through repeated festival appearances and concerts alongside the Infamous Stringdusters, Del McCoury Band, the SteelDrivers, Billy Strings, and Molly Tuttle, among others. Core members Chris Weist (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Aaron McCloskey (banjo, electric guitar), and Chris Zink (dobro, lap steel) brought aboard Brennan Mackey (bass, lead vocals) and Dylan French (drums) for the group’s third full-length project. Issued in 2023, Cicada featured a broad set leaning into country and folk-rock that underscored the musicians’ recently attained growth as players and songwriters.