Sara Shiloh Rae & Bluebird Junction

Sara Shiloh Rae grew up in L.A. steeped in American folk music. As a teen she studied guitar at McCabe’s, busked on the Venice Boardwalk, and performed at the legendary Ash Grove. In her late teens she discovered opera. Moving to Berlin after college, Sara carved a niche for herself in the opera world, dazzling audiences with her fearless interpretations. She received three Singer of the Year nominations from Opernwelt, and appeared regularly as a guest soloist with orchestras such as the BBC Scottish Symphony, L.A. Philharmonic, New Israeli Opera, and the Bergen Festival. When her classical career was detoured due to Covid-19, Sara reconnected with her Americana roots. During ten months of isolation in rural France, she connected with banjo player, Max Hoetzel. The two began a musical collaboration, initially remotely, and ultimately in person, writing music together on a ranch in Santa Ynez, CA . On this album, Ms. Rae showcases astonishing vocals that shift effortlessly from the wry to the sultry to the plaintive. The songs tell stories rooted in heartbreak and hard-earned wisdom – laced with her trademark humor and generosity. The album features some of the genre’s most celebrated musicians, including Alex Hargreaves on fiddle (Kacey Musgraves, Billy Strings); Mike Robinson on pedal steel (Sarah Jarosz, Railroad Earth); veteran drummer Chad Cromwell (Bonnie Raitt, Vince Gill) and Myles Sloniker on bass.