CONTACT
Booking Libby Files | Email: stoneycreekbluegrass@gmail.com | Phone: 304-268-1785
DJs and Broadcasters
BIOGRAPHY
During its two decades of entertaining bluegrass audiences in the Mid-Atlantic
region, Stoney Creek Bluegrass Band has been praised as
"mainstream bluegrass at its best" by
Bluegrass Unlimited
magazine, and named "West Virginia's
classic bluegrass band" by
Around the Panhandle
magazine.
The title track to the band's latest album, "A Miner's Life,"
was released as a single in 2020 and spent five weeks at No. 1 nationally on the
Roots Music Report Top 50 Bluegrass Song Chart. "A Miner's Life" spent six weeks at No. 1
on the Bluegrass Jamboree's Top 15 Chart, and was featured on
West Virginia Public Broadcasting's Inside Appalachia program.
Originally recorded by Charlie Waller and the Country Gentlemen, Stoney Creek's
recording of "A Miner's Life" was among the
top played songs for 2020 on numerous bluegrass radio stations. "This
song, the composition, the recording is pure genius," according to
bluegrass enthusiast Ed Henry.
In 2021, the band released the album A Miner's Life. The album's second
single, "I Wish I Had A Lifeline," spent five weeks No. 1 on the Roots Music Report.
Since 2020, Stoney Creek Bluegrass Band has partnered with Southern States
Cooperative to promote stores located near the band's concert appearances.
Al
Shusterman, host of Bluegrass Backroads on KUBU FM, noted the band's Katy Orr-Dove, general manager of Orr's Farm Market and Live Bluegrass Weekends, said Stoney Creek "brings a signature sound to bluegrass favorites."
Stoney Creek was founded by bassist and vocalist Libby Files. "Libby is among the rising number of female vocalists who are making a big impact on bluegrass music," said Frank Jurney, founder of Virginia's Berryville Bluegrass Series.
Brett Smeltzer spent several years
touring and recording with on of Maryland's premiere bluegrass acts, Jack
Sanbower and the No Leeway Band. Brett is also a radio broadcaster, serving as
host of "Bluegrass Retrospect" on
the Bluegrass Jamboree on Friday evenings. Brett has endorsed Davis
Mandolins and MBC Custom Straps. Kenton "Red" Catlett's songwriting, vocal and guitar skills have propelled his original songs, including "Fast Train" and "Thirty Years," to the top spots on bluegrass radio charts. "When I was first getting into bluegrass music nearly 30 years ago, Kenton was the first person that I started playing with ... rather quickly focusing on both harmonies and arrangement," Brett recalled. Catlett performed and recorded with Libby's sister, the late Deanna Stottlemyer, arranging many of the songs that would later appear Stoney Creek's Memories & Tears (a tribute to Deanna released in 2016). Troy Stangle has played banjo and resonator guitar with All4Hym, a bluegrass gospel act on the Rural Rhythm Christian label. Troy also played and recorded in Nickel Misery, with "A Miner's Life" songwriter Bill Dailey. "Troy displays a vast array of versatility and uniqueness in his banjo skills," Brett noted. "He is a veteran with a musical talent that is ... what audience will appreciate and find very pleasing to the ear. It's great to have Troy on board with Stoney Creek." PHOTOS
8x10 Publicity Photo
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"We try to put on a show that will entertain any music fan, even if they dont
consider themselves a bluegrass fan," says vocalist Libby Files. "Our music
ranges from hard driving traditional bluegrass to bluegrass gospel and some
slower dance numbers." Files also describes the music as "down-home." "It
reminds you of the kind of atmosphere you were around as a kid. It's farmland
stuff people can relate to. Just good, old down-to-earth music."
Stoney
Creek's recording of "There Is A Time" reached No. 1 in June 2022, shortly
before the band's debut at Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Festival in Bean Blossom,
Indiana.
Stoney Creek Bluegrass Band features Libby Files on vocals and bass,
Brett Smeltzer on mandolin and vocals, Kenton "Red" Catlett on guitar
and vocals, and Troy Stangle on banjo, resonator guitar and vocals.
