We told you two weeks ago that Darren Beachley was leaving Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Now we hear from Darren that he has his new band ready to go – and quite a band it is.

He is billing the show as Darren Beachley & Legends of The Potomac, a name that sounds slightly presumptuous, until you see who is involved.

Darren is playing guitar and signing lead, with Mike Auldridge on resonator guitar, Tom Gray on bass, Norman Wright on mandolin and Mark Delaney on banjo.

Legends is putting it mildly. Auldridge and Gray are, of course, founding members of Seldom Scene, with Gray having been an early member of The Country Gentlemen as well. Wright spent time with both The Bluegrass Cardinals and The Country Gentlemen, and Delaney has likewise worked as a Gentleman.

Beachley shared a few words about his new band mates…

“When I started thinking of the idea for a group, I wanted a diverse band. I have known each of these guys for years I have a lot of respect for them. I trust them, which in this situation is must. I really feel like this is the first group of guys that I have ever been around musically, that could do what ever type of material we want, from straight grass to light country, southern gospel to a jazz flavored number. We have been rehearsing quite a bit and have a lot of new material to offer.

We have worked really hard on making sure we gather material that will be quickly identifiable to this band. We have material ranging from Fats Domino to Johnny Rodriguez to Tommy Dorsey to Mac Wiseman. We are also doing material from songwriters such as Paula Breedlove, Brad Davis, Pete Goble, Randall Hylton and of course some of Norman’s songs. I feel that we are a well-rounded band that is not afraid to step outside the box, but yet not so far away that we are not still rooted in bluegrass. It will be smooth sound both vocally and instrumentally. I am really excited about it!”

Darren says that he is talking with a couple of record labels, and hopes to have an announcement about that soon. Their 2009 schedule is currently viewable on Darren’s MySpace page, and a new band site should be up in the next week or so.