Nu-Blu has been visiting the Valley for a few years now, but this year, they are celebrating their 20th year entertaining. During their 20 years, they have released several Top Ten Billboard albums, have destination tours, and have moved into the role of bringing the roots of Americana music to the masses.
North-Carolina based Nu-Blu has quickly established themselves as one of the top acoustic acts in the music industry, delivering a set of songs that range from the melancholy to the exuberant, and at every step they prove they’ve got a knack for finding their way in the deeper parts of you.
They’ve turned many heads, garnering major headlines with their George Jones inspired tribute single “Jesus and Jones.” The award-winning band has also made appearances on Fox news, while also having their music featured on CBS “Sunday Morning.”
The heart and soul of Nu-Blu is the husband-and-wife duo Daniel and Carolyn Routh. Carolyn’s caramel-coated soprano is one of the band’s defining traits. Daniel is the group’s backbone, a multi-instrumentalist and backing vocalist who also handles band management. Austin Hefflefinger on banjo and Justin Harrison on mandolin round out the quartet’s warm, layered, Appalachian sound. Together, they deliver upbeat, blazing-fingers pick work just as well as gentle, heartwarming ballads, and they do it all with a natural togetherness that can’t be faked, forged over hundreds of shows on the road.
When not entertaining, Carolyn and Daniel host Bluegrass Ridge, an internationally syndicated tv show that airs weekly on seven networks and 85 local affiliate stations from New York to Hawaii and in five countries. As cohosts of the show, it’s their goal to bring an American musical form into as many homes as possible.
“It’s a true history of the United States and continues to tell the tales of those that live and love the music,” they say about the show and the music they love.
Through their shows, they bring inspiring music to you, as well as put an Americana roots twist on some well-known songs. Their passion for the music and its history shows on stage as they perform originals and other hits.
You can catch them at this year’s Valley Star Awards that will be held on Wednesday, February 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. You can buy tickets online at www.wintertexantimes.com, come by the Winter Texan Times office at 1217 N. Conway in Mission, or at the Mission Bell/Trade Winds activities office off Stewart Rd. and Business 83 in Mission. For more information, call the Winter Texan Times office at (956) 580-7800.
