One of the finest flatpickers around" and described his unparalleled live performance as, “taking songs up a notch with psychedelic hillbilly shredding.”

— Rolling Stone

Larry Keel

 

Larry Keel is an award-winning innovative flat picking guitarist and singer/songwriter hailing from Appalachia.  Raised in a musical family steeped in the mountain culture of the region, Keel began from an early age to forge a distinctive sound, taking traditional music and infusing it with modern light. With the acoustic guitar Keel has brought the flat picking form to its highest level of sophistication and sonic power with his muscular, yet refined style of playing. As a composer and singer, Keel integrates raw honesty and charming grit to form a unique brand of music he calls 'experimental folk', songwriting that is filled with reality, imagination, imagery and mood. He has appeared on over 20 albums, 12 of which he produced, and has written songs that have been recorded and performed by distinguished artists including Grammy-award winners Del McCoury and The Infamous Stringdusters.  Keel has collaborated and continues to merge creative forces with some of the greatest artists in modern roots music such as Tyler Childers, Billy Strings, Al DiMeola, Tony Rice, Keller Williams and Sam Bush, to name a few.  

 

His latest creation is a solo album titled American Dream, whose every component—from the writing and arranging, to the instrumental and vocal performances, to the recording and production—spring straight from the mind, soul, and hands of the Virginia-born artist. Each of the album’s 10 tracks were composed by Keel and serve as an autobiographical overview of his life and career, as well as the influences and episodes that have shaped his personal perspective along the way.

 

QUOTES

“American Dream finds Keel honestly exploring — even wrestling — with his place in the wider world...an impressive LP that feels like a culmination of his experience and expertise.”  No Depression 

"A celebrated flatpicking guitarist and singer-songwriter who has appeared on more than 20 albums...masterful acoustic guitar playing, these new songs provide fans with a unique opportunity to hear his multi-instrumentalist skills."  American Songwriter 

"American Dream is a rallying cry of sorts...it encourages its listeners to find a positive perspective by leaning on their own optimistic instincts. The songs are upbeat, uplifting, and flush with a series of rich arrangements that make the material practically leap from the grooves.  It’s bound to make those that hear it happy." Bluegrass Today 

"His songs have a directness and an elegant simplicity. Larry Keel’s dynamic flatpicking is central to the album, and it’s very impressive...for acoustic guitar aficionados, the album is worth it for that alone, but American Dream has plenty to offer everyone." Lyric Magazine

"I've always considered Larry Keel as the Bob Dylan of Bluegrass" Norris Long,  Allegheny Mountain Radio

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