The Dixie Bee-Liners are the newest member of the Pinecastle Records family, with their first full-length CD project, Ripe, expected early in 2008.

Their debut, self-titled release was a short form CD with 8 tracks, released in 2005. It spent over a year on the Roots Music Report bluegrass chart, cracking the top 10 for more than 2 months.

The band is focused around the singing/songwriting team of Buddy Woodward and Brandi Hart, and Buddy tells us that the new CD will have a new music focus.

“The music is all original, we will be reprising two songs from our first limited-release CD-EP, plus a whole batch of new tunes that Brandi and I wrote over the winter and spring – including one we co-wrote with Blue Highway’s Tim Stafford, and another we co-wrote with producer Bil VornDick. It will be everything fans have come to expect from us, ranging from hard-core bluegrass to a few envelope-pushing diversions along the way. There will be a little something for everybody.”

In addition to Buddy on mandolin and Brandi on guitar, Ripe will feature fellow Bee-Liners Rachel Johnson on fiddle and Sam Morrow on banjo, along with guest appearances from Mark Fain and Andy Leftwich (Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder) on bass and mandolin/fiddle respectively, ex-Grascal David Talbot on banjo, and dobro player Travis Toy from Rascal Flatts.

Buddy tells us that they are currently auditioning bass players and lead guitarists, with an eye towards having a full, regular Bee-Liner contingent for their road work. They are also firming up new management and representation to have all the pieces in place when the new CD hits next year.

He mentioned how exciting it was to jump to a respected label, recording with a top producer.

“We’re thrilled to be on Pinecastle. Its been a long road, and lots of hard work to get here. Along the way we’ve had the help & support of a lot of great people, most especially journalists and DJs around the world, not to mention our friends and fans. We couldn’t have done it without any of ‘em.

Working with Bil VornDick has been a fantastic, mind-blowing experience. After having handled production chores for the band myself up to this point, I’m delighted to hand the reins over to him. I can only compare the experience to the Beatles working with George Martin: he didn’t change what we do, instead he helped to refine and focus what makes us unique, and we’ve all come away from the sessions having learned a lot, as well as having a heck of a lot of fun…he’s a producer after my own heart.

I can’t wait for everybody to hear the new CD, its going to be a corker!”