Caney Creek Company's show on Saturday night, May 25, at Songbirds will be bittersweet.
The band will celebrate the release of its new album, "Tall Tale," at the concert. But the show is also their last appearance - a farewell concert and thank-you to their fans.
"For anyone who approaches being in a group as weekend warriors, it can sometimes be hard to balance personal and career lives," says founder Konstantine Vlasis.
"Katie and Corey (Bradford) live in Nashville, so there is a good bit of commuting for all of us depending on where rehearsals and shows are. We are taking a hiatus for the time being because we all have other goals outside of the music ensemble that we would like to pursue."
If you go
› Where: Songbirds, 35 Station St. (South), 41 Station St. (North)› For more information: 423-531-2473ERIC TESSMER BAND› When: 7 p.m. Friday, May 24 (N)› Admission: $15TUESDAY’S GONE: THE ULTIMATE TRIBUTE TO LYNYRD SKYNYRD› When: 9 p.m. Friday, May 24 (S)› Admission: $12 in advance, $15 day of showCANEY CREEK COMPANY› When: 7 p.m. Saturday, May 25 (N)› Admission: $10 in advance, $12 day of showRUBIK’S GROOVE:‘80S DANCE PARTY› When: 9 p.m. Saturday, May 25 (S)› Admission: $15LAYLA SHOOK BENEFIT with NATHAN FARROW, DAVEY SMITH, ANTHONY SIMS, OUTLAW 45 AND MOJO WHISKEY› When: 3 p.m. Sunday, May 26 (S)› Admission: $10
Caney Creek began in in 2015 when Vlasis wanted to build on his fascination with the banjo and form a bluegrass band. He recruited Drew Streip, a buddy since elementary school; and the Bradfords, friends from Tennessee Tech University.
None of them were bluegrass pickers; heck, three out of the four weren't even playing their primary instruments. But they all loved music. The addition of Doug Ford, bass player, made their circle complete.
The Tennessee Tech alums drew the band's name from their old stomping grounds in Cookeville: Caney Fork, where Corey and Vlasis would go fishing.
"Since most of us spent time there, we knew we wanted Caney in the title, and company and creek added a nice alliteration," Vlasis explains.
"When we first started we didn't have any goals of making it big," he says. But a month later they had their first gig.
"The first gig we played was in this really small bar in Cookeville. We were able to play Ketner's Mill festival, and Michael Gray (of River City Sessions) was leading activities in the (festival's entertainment) tent. He sought us out for a River City Sessions show. At that point, we really became excited because someone other than our close friends and family started to advocate for our music."
The following spring they entered Road to Nightfall and made it to the finals - but just as important, that competition got their name out and helped CCCo. make some connections in the music industry.
"To us having people say 'I really like song x,y or z' is the definition of success," says Vlasis.
"Tall Tale" has 11 original songs written by four of the five members. The title track is inspired by the 2010 Nashville flood as well as the 2016 Great Smoky Mountain wildfires.
"Both of those natural disasters devastated huge swaths of land. To us, those tales reflect the awesome and terrifying power of nature in time of abundance or drought."
Vlasis says the album represents the band's own tale as a musical ensemble: performing, touring, growing older, starting families, progressing musically.
"Our friends, families and fans have made this a story worth telling," he says.
In addition to music from "Tall Tale" and first album "Hills," Vlasis says Saturday's show will offer a deal to ticketholders: every one of them will receive a free hard copy of the album.
"We really want to make this a special show for all in attendance and for everyone involved. We're very thankful and excited to be a part of this music community. There are so many great musicians in town and artists doing a lot of cool things and we are so thankful to have been a part of that," Vlasis concludes.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.