| Northern Lights | |
| Landscape: | yes |
| Background: | group_or_band |
| Origin: | New England, United States |
| Years Active: | 1975–77, 1982–2010 |
| Label: | Revonah, Red House Records, Flying Fish, Prime CD Records, Fifty Fifty Music |
| Associated Acts: | The Seldom Scene, Jonathan Edwards, Vassar Clements, Alison Krauss, Alison Brown |
| Past Members: | Dan Marcus Bill Henry Taylor Armerding Jake Armerding Mike Kropp Alison Brown Bob Emery Jeff Horton Oz Barron Richard Hand Joe Walsh Chris Miles Dave Dick Ben Demerath John Daniel Mike Barnett Eric Robertson Alex MacLeod |
Northern Lights was an American progressive bluegrass band formed in 1975 in New England, whose musical career spanned more than three decades. Known for a progressive style of bluegrass playing, the band went through a number of line-up changes through the years and included such personalities as Alison Brown and multiinstrumentalist Jake Armerding, son of founding member Taylor Armerding, who started playing with the band full-time aged 14, but played occasionally when he was 12. As of 2009, there is no founding member left in the group. Guitarist Bill Henry, who joined the band in 1982 assumed the leadership role and Northern Lights continue to play without interruption as a quintet, consisting of two generation of musicians - Bill Henry, John Daniel and Alex MacLeod as well as young players Eric Robertson and Mike Barnett. The band has issued 10 studio and 1 live recording with Vassar Clemonts. Most of which are, unfortunately, out of print today.[1] From 1990's "Take You to the Sky," to recently released One Day(Fifty-Fifty Music), the band has fused an eclectic mix of traditional roots music, rock, country, soul and gospel with the high, lonesome vocal sound and instruments of bluegrass. Three of their records also reached the top ten of Bluegrass Unlimited's National Bluegrass Survey.
The Northern Lights began its history in 1975, when Bob Emery, Marty Sachs and Dan Marcus asked mandolinist Taylor Armerding to join them in their progressive bluegrass efforts. This line-up recorded their first self-titled album in 1976, however, the group split in 1977. After five years, they re-formed again, at the urging of Joe Val, Taylor contacted banjoist Alison Brown. She remained in the Northern Lights lineup for the next two years.[2] [3] After Allison moved back to California in 1986, banjoist Mike Kropp took her spot to remain with the band for the next 17 years. Around this time, the band started to enjoy more recognition as a strong progressive bluegrass band, playing in different festivals together with well-known artists such as Tony Rice, Mark O'Connor, Jerry Douglas or Peter Rowan. This would help the band to sign with Flying Fish Records and record their next three CD's under this label.
Most part of its history Northern Lights performed as a quartet and hired guest fiddlers such as Alison Krauss, Matt Glaser or Vassar Clements. Jake Armerding, son of band's mandolinist Taylor, started to play with the band occasionally at the age of 12 (in 1990), joining the band full-time 2 years later. The band recorded their two highly acclaimed records with Jake, Wrong Highway Blues in 1994 and Living in the City in 1996. A review of Living in the City in the Toronto Star labeled the group "the finest of modern bluegrass groups".[4] Jake left in 1999 to pursue his own music, as well as Mike Kropp in 2000 and Taylor Armerding in 2003. These have been the most significant changes to the band line-up so far. Bill Henry took over the lead role and the band recorded New Moon and their latest album, One Day in 2008.[5] [6]
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After some three decades of bringing bluegrass to the Northeast and beyond, Northern Lights decided to close up shop. Band's last official show was at the Rose Garden in Mansfield, MA on March 13.[7] Several NL alumni were on hand there to help us celebrate the end of a New England institution, including Taylor Armerding, Mike Kropp, Jeff Horton and Dave Dick.[8]
[9] Recorded under Revonah Records:
Recorded under Flying Fish Records
Recorded under Red House Records
Recorded under Prime CD Records
Recorded under Fifty Fifty Music Music
| 1975–1977 |
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|---|---|---|
| 1977 |
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| 1977–1982 |
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| 1982–1984 |
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| 1984–1987 |
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| 1987–1990 |
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| 1990–1992 |
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| 1992–1996 |
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| 1996–1999 | [11]
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| 1999–2000 |
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| 2000–2002 |
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| 2003–2006 |
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| 2006–2008 |
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| 2008–2010 |
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LineData = at:1976 color:black layer:back at:1983 color:black layer:back at:1987 color:black layer:back at:1990 color:black layer:back at:1992 color:black layer:back at:1994 color:black layer:back at:1996 color:black layer:back at:2000 color:black layer:back at:2001 color:black layer:back at:2005 color:black layer:back at:2008 color:black layer:back
Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom
ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1975
PlotData=
width:20 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:Dan Marcus from:1975 till:1977 color:banjo bar:Richard Hand from:1977 till:1977 color:banjo bar:Marty Sachs from:1975 till:1977 color:bass bar:Bob Emery from:1975 till:1977 color:guitar bar:Bob Emery from:1982 till:1987 color:bass bar:Taylor Armerding from:1975 till:1977 color:mandolin bar:Taylor Armerding from:1982 till:2003 color:mandolin bar:Alison Brown from:1982 till:1984 color:banjo bar:Bill Henry from:1982 till:2010 color:guitar bar:Mike Kropp from:1984 till:2000 color:banjo bar:Oz Barron from:1987 till:1990 color:bass bar:Jeff Horton from:1990 till:1996 color:bass bar:Jake Armerding from:1992 till:1999 color:violin bar:Dave Dick from:2003 till:2006 color:banjo bar:Chris Miles from:1996 till:2003 color:bass bar:John Daniel from:2003 till:2010 color:bass bar:Ben Demerath from:2003 till:2008 color:guitar bar:Joe Walsh from:2003 till:2008 color:mandolin bar:Eric Robertson from:2008 till:2010 color:mandolin bar:Alex MacLeod from:2008 till:2010 color:guitar bar:Mike Barnett from:2003 till:2010 color:violin