Junior Sisk “Up There On The Hillside” – Dark tales of murder

Junior Sisk’s new song ‘Up There On The Hillside‘ draws on the darker side of tradition for a chilling recounting of a murder ballad.  It’s a song that came together quickly, as Junior Sisk explains “I came up with the tune first, then while we were in the studio, I started writing it and called my buddy Dalton Harper to help me finish it.   We thought a lonesome-style claw hammer should be dominant throughout, and Aaron Ramsey worked his magic on the arrangement. We needed a song like this for the new project that was completely different from all the rest. As for how I came up with the words, well, only the blackbirds and the crows know that reason! It’s a haunting story with a too-often life-shattering ending.

A longtime resident of the Virginia Blue Ridge, Junior Sisk’s  bluegrass pedigree runs deep. Influenced by a father who wrote songs and played guitar and a mother who sang, Sisk first learned to play around age 14. He’s been making a mark in the music as a songwriter and a singer for some thirty years.   ‘Up There On The Hillside‘ features Junior Sisk on lead vocals; Heather Berry Mabe on guitar; Tony Mabe on clawhammer banjo; Johnathan Dillon on mandolin; Curt Love on bass; and Doug Bartlett on fiddle.

 

About Jonathan Aird 2861 Articles
Sure, I could climb high in a tree, or go to Skye on my holiday. I could be happy. All I really want is the excitement of first hearing The Byrds, the amazement of decades of Dylan's music, or the thrill of seeing a band like The Long Ryders live. That's not much to ask, is it?
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