Mason Via should be a household name in country music.
While that may not be the case quite yet, his brand new record is a step in the right direction, and hopefully country music fans will take notice. A spectacular guitarist and a talented singer and songwriter, Via has played alongside some massive names in the genre, and is fresh off of a multi-year stint as a guitarist in the legendary bluegrass group Old Crow Medicine Show.
Ultimately deciding to part ways with OCMS, Via announced he’d be pursuing a solo career with the release of his single “Hey Don’t Go” almost exactly a year ago to the date in late April 2024. Releasing several more singles periodically over the past year, Via has patiently earned a solid following and built anticipation for his self-titled record Mason Via. And now the whole project is finally here.
Featuring 10 tracks, all of which were at least co-written by Via, the self-titled project is a cohesive collection of bluegrass songs through which Via tells captivating stories and puts his songwriting prowess on full display. The string instrument fueled record makes a powerful sonic statement as he looks to make a name for himself as a solo artist within the bluegrass scene.
Here’s a few early favorites:
“Melt in the Sun”
“There Goes Another One”
“Till I Don’t Love You Anymore”
“Mountain Lullaby” ft. Ronnie Bowman and Rhonda Vincent
Raised in the mountains on both sides of the North Carolina/Virginia border, Via’s father was a bluegrass musician himself, and his mother a bluegrass fan. Whether he liked it or not, he practically grew up with bluegrass music coursing through his veins. And his brand new album makes it clear that this style of music is in his blood.
In addition to his stint as a key member of Old Crow Medicine Show, Via has been a frequent collaborator of other other high profile bluegrass musicians like Molly Tuttle and Del McCoury over the years, but now it’s clear that his time has come to make a name for himself as a bluegrass artist. And his new self-titled will play a large part in that.
Bluegrass always sounds even better live, so get out there an catch Mason Via on the road this year.
Mason Via Tour Dates:
4/26 – Heartwood Sound Stage – Gainesville, FL+
5/1 – Red Light Cafe – Atlanta, GA
5/7 – Avondale Brewing Company – Birmingham, AL
5/8 – Lake Eden Retreat – Black Mountain, NC~
5/9 – The Basement – Nashville, TN
5/16 – Rex Theatre – Galax, VA
5/17 – Mitchapalooza – Fayetteville, WV~
5/30 – Gulf Coast Jam – Panama City Beach, FL~
6/11 – Hopmonk Tavern – Sebastopol, CA*
6/12 – Hopmonk Tavern – Novato, CA*
7/19 – Hard Truth Hills Distillery – Nashville, IN=
7/25-7/27 – RockyGrass Festival – Lyons, CO~
8/9 – Saundersfest – Caroga Lake, NY~
1/31-2/1 – Cheasapeake WinterBluegrass – Annapolis, MD~
+w/ The Grass Is Dead (Album Release Show)
*Supporting Bill Kirchen & Four Lost Planet Airmen
~Festival Date
=w/ Cody Ikerd & the Sidewinders
