Brother Shayne is on mandolin, Josh Hymer on banjo and Jayd Raines on bass. All four band members sing and their sound is hard hitting and traditional.

The title track has been out as a single to bluegrass radio since April, so you may have already heard it over the airwaves. If not, here’s just a taste.

Hit The Road:

Pre-orders are available now from Amazon.

UPDATE 8:45 a.m. - The Bartley Brothers have just announced that they are holding auditions for a bass player and tenor vocalist. To be considered, the band asks that you contact them by email (bartleybrothers@aol.com), or phone (859-321-9874).

The band consists of Shayne and Rick Bartley on mandolin and guitar respectively, with Josh Hymer on banjo and Jayd Raines on bass.

The single is Hit The Road, sung by Rick Bartley, and written by by Elmer Burchett and Shayne Bartley. Have a listen.

Hit The Road:     

They have just finished tracking for their debut album with Rural Rhythm Records and will soon begin the mixing process. Shayne Bartley tells us that most of the material was written by his older brother Rick, with contributions from Shayne, Brink Brinkman and Elmer Burchett as well.

“This is a total band album with the exception of one song on which Clay Hess guests on guitar, and fiddle from Brandon Godman on several tracks. The project was recorded at Hayes Production’s Studios in Cincinnati, OH. Rick Hayes has been a great guy to work with. He and Clay Hess have really done a wonderful job for us.”

Rick is on guitar, and Shayne on mandolin with Josh Hymer on banjo and Jayd Raines on bass. All four provide vocals with Rick front and center.

Shayne said that when they started to record, he was playing banjo and they had Taylor Baker on mandolin.

“Taylor decided to leave the band at the beginning of December,  just before we went into the recording studio to begin work on the album. With Josh Hymer joining the band, I’ve gone back on the mandolin.

Josh has worked with acts such as, Ernie Thacker and Route 23, Dave Carroll and New River Line, and Billie Renee and Cumberland Gap.

We are very excited to have Josh on the banjo and singing some harmony vocals.  He is a very strong player in the Jim Mills, J.D. Crowe vein.  You will be able to hear his exciting playing on our new recording.”

An April release on Rural Rhythm is anticipated.

Older brother Rick stayed at home, working in the mines, all the while continuing to pick, sing and write songs. Shayne took to the road, performing with Dave Evans, Charlie Sizemore, Southern Blend, Unlimited Tradition, Rarely Herd, David Peterson and 1946, and Karl Shiflett, to name a few.

Now the brothers are fulfilling a lifelong goal of recording and touring together, and have announced the debut of The Bartley Brothers. Rick is on guitar and lead vocals and Shayne on banjo and vocals, with Taylor Baker on mandolin and Jayd Raines on bass and tenor vocals.

Their style is hard-driving and traditional, owing much to the sound of fellow Kentuckians JD Crowe and Don Rigsby, who the brothers have known and with whom they have worked and collaborated for years. Crowe has one of Rick’s songs, I’m a Hobo, on his latest CD, and Rick also has the title track on the current Junior Sisk album, Blue Side of the Blueridge.

You can hear three tracks from The Bartley Brothers on their MySpace page.

They are accepting bookings now for 2010 and beyond, with Shayne handling the band’s management. He can be reached by email or phone (859-321-9874).