New music from The Cumberland River Project

The Cumberland River Project is led by German musician Frank Renfordt who offers a refreshing take on country and Americana music, a genre that seems far removed from his roots in Hagen, Germany. Frank’s journey into music began at a young age when his parents gifted him a guitar. By his teenage years, he was already plucking the bass in a local rock band RING, a role he continues to this day.

However, life’s demands led him to put music on hold for many years. It wasn’t until his mid-fifties, after his career and family life had settled, that he found the time to return to his first love; songwriting and music. Inspired by trips to the United States, particularly Nashville, Frank fell in love with the sounds of country and Americana.

This new passion led to the creation of The Cumberland River Project, with which he made his debut in 2020 with the single “Back On The Road.” Since then, he’s steadily built an impressive discography, earning a loyal fanbase across streaming platforms, social media and radio. His storytelling songs have received critical acclaim, earning him a place in the final of the UK Songwriting Contest and an Outstanding Achievement in Songwriting award at the Great American Song Contest.

Following the success of his EP Vain Regrets earlier this year, which saw Frank take on vocal duties himself, The Cumberland River Project returns with a new single titled “Highway Blue.” This latest release is a collaborative effort, featuring contributions from talented session musicians around the globe. Frank plays the bass guitar and lays down all the rhythm parts, while Ender Mogollon from Argentina adds acoustic guitar and banjo, JL Folks from the USA handles the electric guitars and Neemias Teixeira from Brasilia plays the piano.

For the vocals on “Highway Blue,” Frank enlisted Nashville-based artist and professional session singer Easton Driver. After auditioning two other singers, he found that Driver brought just the right feeling to the track, delivering a performance that perfectly distils the song’s themes of letting go and starting anew.

“Highway Blue” is a beautifully crafted song that captures a relaxed summer vibe from the moment the warm tones of guitar strums, twangs of lead electric guitar and airy vocalisations combine to form the intro. With Easton’s rich country vocals spinning storytelling lyrics above the rising arrangement, the song hops into a grooving rhythm to deliver a catchy chorus that transports you to another place entirely. It’s another superb demonstration of The Cumberland River Project’s timeless country sound that’s struck a chord with a modern audience.

Listen to Highway Blue below