Arden, North Carolina (January 30, 2023) — Mountain Home Music Company artists Jaelee Roberts and Balsam Range won multiple awards at the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America’s awards ceremony this weekend.
Roberts, a quickly rising singer in bluegrass who also performs with powerhouse Sister Sadie, won the title of Female Vocalist of the Year, and her debut album, Something You Didn’t Count On, was named Bluegrass Album of the Year.
The album marked Roberts’ arrival on the scene in a way that demanded recognition. With support from award-winning bassist/producer Tim Surrett (Balsam Range) and a group of supremely skilled and empathetic musicians (including SPBGMA Mandolin Performer of The Year, Alan Bibey), Something You Didn’t Count On put a spotlight on great songs and emotive vocals, and made plain that there’s more to bluegrass than just hot picking and high singing.
“I honestly don’t have the words to adequately express the amount of gratitude that I have right now, and I really can’t believe that winning these awards is real!” says Roberts. “It was truly an honor just to have my name listed with the other ladies in the Female Vocalist of the Year category, and all of the Album of the Year nominees were outstanding.
“There are so many people that I want to thank and I’m going to try and say what I couldn’t get out at the awards show,” she continues. “I am so grateful to: SPBGMA; everyone at Mountain Home Music Company; Tim Surrett (he’s Producer of the Year to me); all of the musicians, vocalists, songwriters and engineers that were part of Something You Didn’t Count On; the awesome DJs that play my music; all the fans/friends that have supported me since I was a very little girl; the ladies in Sister Sadie for helping to make my dreams come true — it’s such a blast making music with you; my Mom and Dad and all my family; and most of all I thank God for the gift of music and for all of this! And, of course, thank you so much to everyone that voted…I am so honored. I have attended SPBGMA every year of my life and some of my best memories have been made here but this tops it all!!”
Balsam Range, one of the genre’s most award-winning acts, added two accolades to their list of honors. The Western North Carolina band was named Gospel Group of The Year and Vocal Group of the Year.
For Balsam Range, what matters most is a song, a message, a distinctive sound and a compelling performance, all things these awards bring into focus.
“We were honored to be considered for these awards and it’s just a thrill to be named Vocal Group and Gospel Group this year!” says bassist and vocalist Tim Surrett. “We want to thank SPBGMA and of course everyone who voted! Thank you so much for your support!”
Find music from Jaelee Roberts and Balsam Range wherever you stream music, and hear some of their songs in Dolby Atmos immersive audio now on our Immersed In Bluegrass playlist on Apple Music.
Allowing listeners to feel as if they’re inside the song itself, Dolby Atmos is familiar to many from its “surround sound” application in thousands of movie theaters. It is described by the respected sound technology innovator as “revealing depth, clarity and details like never before….a sound experience you can feel all around you.” Audio produced in Dolby Atmos adapts automatically to your Atmos-compatible device and system to give you an all-enveloping sound experience you would not expect.