Coulee Creek

Coulee Creek features singer-songwriter Sarah Jackson and poet Rita Mae Reese. The group also includes Beth Becker (fiddle, cello), Michael James (resonator guitar), David Strudthoff (banjo), Tom Baker (guitar, bass), and Cori Vought (vocals). Guest artists are Brett Huus (harmonica), Terry Nirva (cajon), and Josh Rabie (mandolin). Most of them hail from the Wisconsin/Minnesota area but in the summer of 2020 while at an event in Mississippi, some members got together and discussed the idea of creating a project reflecting the musical influence and legacies of Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard (who consulted on the project). Although coming from diverse backgrounds they have created a really nice album of original material in this tribute to Dickens and Gerrard. The songs are all written by Jackson, except the opening track “Sugar Tree Stomp” by fiddler Becker. There are also four poems from Reese, “Holler Of Death”, “An Abiding Thread”, “The Last Free Thing”, and “That High Lonesome Sound”, all reflecting on Dickens and Gerrard. Sarah Jackson’s contributions to this tribute include “Follow The Music”, “A Distant Land To Roam”, “Ramblin’ Woman”, “Custom Made Woman Blues”, “Old Calloused Hands”, “The Rebel Girl” and “It’s Hard To Tell The Singer From The Song”. Jackson also sings two solos “Pretty Bird” and the Gospel “Beautiful Hills of Galilee”. Jackson has a very nice voice and when joined by Vought, the harmony blends are delicious. The group has a pleasant approach between old-timey and bluegrass and gives the whole project the sound needed for this tribute to the Dickens/Gerrard legacy. 

www.couleecreek.com