July 18, 2025 — For a follow-up to their blazing take on the traditional “Cacklin’ Hen,” fiddlers Deanie Richardson (Sister Sadie) and Kimber Ludiker (Della Mae) have applied their innovative twin fiddling approach to a 1950s composition that helped to expand the harmonic horizons of bluegrass. Written by the late, famously idiosyncratic mandolin master, Frank Wakefield, “New Camptown Races” is further testimony to the powerful creativity and impeccable execution the duo have brought to their Mountain Home Music Company collaboration.
Once again, Richardson, who holds the IBMA’s Fiddle Player of the Year trophy, takes the lead, offering up an array of variations on Wakefield’s melody that Ludiker harmonizes note for note and stroke by stroke of the bow with nearly unthinkable precision and passion. Interludes are supplied by award-winning labelmate Kristin Scott Benson (banjo), mandolinist Tristan Scroggins (Missy Raines & the New Hip) and IBMA Guitar Player of the Year Cody Kilby (Travelin’ McCourys), while Hasee Ciaccio (Laurie Lewis & Her Bluegrass Pals) keeps the ensemble anchored to a brisk tempo. With such an abundance of talent, the track’s 3+ minutes race by in kaleidoscopic fashion, right down to the brief “breakdown” that signals the virtuosic performance’s impending finale.
“We have long loved Frank Wakefield’s great mandolin tune,” notes Ludiker, “and we set out to create a twin fiddle reimagining of this classic Bb tune with the spirit of a high-energy late-night jam.”
Adds Richardson, “‘New Camptown Races’ is a song that Kimber and I played together last year, and it went so well we knew it was one we wanted on this record. I went to a recording from one of my fiddle heroes, Randy Howard on this. I will admit, I did steal a few licks from Randy on this one. Love that my dear friend is with us on this track.”“New Camptown Races” is streaming in Dolby Atmos spatial audio on Apple Music, Amazon Music and TIDAL. Listen to it HERE.
