By Brett McMahon
The Wildwood string Band will bring their live show to Bridle Leash park in Mahomet this Friday, June 23.
Keith Rushing and daughters Megan Baird and Kaitlin Lonergan along with her husband, Brian, have comprised the group for the last six years and blend their tight family harmonies in a bluegrass style while sharing a wide array of musical influences.
Rushing initially played in the Middletown String Band until 2013. At that time, he encouraged his daughters to expand their musical horizons and family friend, Don Willi joined up with Rushing and his daughters to form the Wildwood String Band. Willi has since passed away and though a few members have come and gone, it’s been the foursome since 2017.
With their tenth anniversary approaching, the band say recording a live album is something they would love to pursue. They also promise when you come to a show, you can expect to hear some songs you know, some that will surprise you and some you haven’t heard before.
Although their instruments are traditionally used in bluegrass, like fiddle, mandolin, harmonica, banjo and guitar, the quartet draws from many musical influences ranging from The Carter Family and Doc Watson to Old Crowe Medicine Show and Carolina Chocolate Drops. They also aren’t afraid to take songs popularized by other artists like Led Zeppelin and make them unique by infusing the bluegrass sound and harmonies.
“Each of us has been involved in music outside of the family, but the band became a place where we could practice, try new things, and just have fun with the music without any pressure,” Kaitlin said. “We push each other, but when you’re playing with people you love, there’s no such thing as failure.” Their ultimate goal with every show is to play like they mean it, no matter how large or small the crowd or venue. By doing this, Wildwood feel they do their best at putting themselves into their music.
Constantly striving to share their love of music with others while having fun as a family, the band have shows coming up this summer at The Rose Bowl tavern in Champaign on June 30, a performance as part of Friday Night Live on July 14 in downtown Urbana and a show at the Champaign Public Library on August 13 among other gigs. Their show at Bridle Leash Park is from 6-8pm on Friday night. Food from Ice Daddy’s, Maize Food Truck and Mamma D’s Smokehouse Restaurant and Catering will be available.
