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Shovels & Rope

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Shovels & Rope
Shovels & Rope playing at Grand Rapids Riverfest on Sept 10, 2022
Shovels & Rope playing at Grand Rapids Riverfest on Sept 10, 2022
Background information
OriginCharleston, South Carolina United States
GenresAmericana, folk, alternative country
Years active2008–present
LabelsDualtone, Dine Alone
Members
Websiteshovelsandrope.com

Shovels & Rope are an American folk duo from Charleston, South Carolina composed of husband and wife Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst. Combining threads from their individual solo careers, Shovels & Rope blends traditional folk, rock and roll and country rock.

The band's sixth album Manticore was released February 18, 2022 on Dualtone Records.[1]

History

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Beginnings

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Cary Ann Hearst was born in Mississippi in 1979 and raised in Nashville from 1987 until she attended the College of Charleston in 1997. During school she began performing music as a solo artist in local bars and venues.[2] After graduating she toured, recorded and performed with various groups including Caravan and Borrowed Angels.[3] Michael Trent was born in Houston, grew up in Denver, and eventually relocated to Charleston. Hearst saw Trent performing with his band The Films in 2002 and they began touring with various artists including Jump, Little Children.[4] Hearst released her first solo album Dust and Bones in 2006 and Trent released his self-titled solo album, also his first, in 2007.

In 2008, Hearst and Trent recorded and released the album Shovels & Rope as a co-bill under their individual names, not intended to ever create a permanent act.[5] Hearst and Trent married in March 2009 and continued to perform and record their music for their individual solo careers.[4] Hearst released the EP Are You Ready to Die in 2010 and the LP Lions and Lambs in 2011. Trent released The Winner in 2010.[6]

At the end of 2010, filming began on a documentary titled The Ballad of Shovels and Rope about their life as a band. Originally slated for only 3 months of filming, it did not end until September 2013. After filming finished, a Kickstarter campaign was launched to help get the film finished and released.[7] The film premiered at the 2014 Cleveland International Film Festival.[8] The documentary went on to win Ground Zero Tennessee Spirit Award for best feature at the Nashville Film Festival[9] and Best Feature Documentary at the Port Townsend Film Festival.[10]

With Dualtone

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In 2012, the pair committed to their joint venture and released an album together under the Shovels & Rope moniker entitled O' Be Joyful under the Dualtone Records label, which reached #123 on the Billboard 200.[11][12]

The band made their network television debut playing "Birmingham" on Late Show with David Letterman, January 30, 2013.[13] On September 18, 2013 at the Americana Music Honors & Awards Shovels & Rope received the honors of emerging artist of the year, as well as song of the year for their song "Birmingham".[14] They also appear in an end scene, and provide the episode background music, for the Charleston episode of CNN's Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown.[15]

Their third album, titled Swimmin' Time, was released on August 26, 2014 on Dualtone Records and debuted at #20 on the Billboard 200.[16][17] On November 20, 2015, Shovels & Rope released a cover album titled Busted Jukebox Vol. 1, featuring ten cover songs with help from nine other bands including The Milk Carton Kids, Shakey Graves, and Lucius.[18]

With New West Records

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On October 7, 2016 Shovels & Rope released their fourth studio album Little Seeds on the New West Records label.[19] On December 8, 2017 the band released a second cover album titled Busted Jukebox Vol. 2 which features ten cover songs with help from nine other bands including Brandi Carlile, Rhett Miller, and John Moreland.[20]

On August 10, 2018 the band released a compilation vinyl titled Predecessors including Michael Trent's 2010 album The Winner, Cary Ann Hearst's 2011 album Lions and Lambs and a disc of covers and previously unreleased demos.[21]

With Dualtone again

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On January 15, 2019 the duo announced an April 12 release of their new album, By Blood, again via Dualtone Records and released a new track, "The Wire".[22] The album was recorded in their at-home studio and was released on April 12, 2019 to generally favorable reviews.[23][24] On March 4, 2019 it was announced that the band's first concert film titled Shovels & Rope: The Movie would debut on March 15, 2019 at the Charleston Film Festival.[25]

On January 27, 2021 the band announced the third entry into their 'Busted Jukebox' series, nicknamed Busted Juicebox, Volume 3 as the album would contain only children's songs. The album released on February 5, 2021 and contains ten cover songs, co-performed with other musicians including Sharon Van Etten, The Secret Sisters, and M. Ward.[26]

At shows on their 2021 'Bare Bones' tour which would feature songs from their upcoming album Manticore which released on February 18, 2022. The album was announced on October 19, 2021 along with the debut of the lead single "Domino".[1]

High Water Festival

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In 2017, Shovels & Rope founded a music festival that occurs annually in Charleston, South Carolina.[27]

Shovels & Rope performing at High Water Festival 2023

Performance and songwriting style

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As Shovels & Rope tour they typically perform a mix of songs from their solo careers and the combined ventures.[28] Some of the songs authored by Shovels & Rope chronicle historical events. "Thresher" from their 2014 album Swimmin' Time references the April 10, 1963 sinking of the USS Thresher (SSN-593). "Missionary Ridge" from their 2016 album Little Seeds references the November 25, 1863 Battle of Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Members

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  • Cary Ann Hearst - lead and backing vocals, guitar, drums, keyboard, percussion
  • Michael Trent - lead and backing vocals, harmonica, guitar, drums, keyboard, percussion

Discography

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Albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[29] 		US
Heat 		US Indie US
Folk 		US Rock
Shovels & Rope
  • Release date: December 2, 2008
  • Label: Our House
 - - - - -
O' Be Joyful
  • Release date: July 31, 2012
  • Label: Dualtone
 123[12] 1 22 7 42
Swimmin' Time[30]
  • Release date: August 26, 2014
  • Label: Dualtone
 21[17] - 6 1 5
Busted Jukebox Vol. 1
  • Release date: November 20, 2015
  • Label: Dualtone
 - - 27 11 42
Little Seeds
  • Release date: October 7, 2016
  • Label: New West
 83 - 15 4 19
Busted Jukebox Vol. 2
  • Release date: December 8, 2017
  • Label: New West
 - - - - -
By Blood
  • Release date: April 12, 2019
  • Label: Dualtone
 167 - - - -
Busted Jukebox Vol. 3
  • Release date: February 5, 2021
  • Label: Dualtone
 - - - - -
Manticore
  • Release date: February 18, 2022
  • Label: Dualtone
 - - - - -
Something Is Working Up Above My Head
  • September 6, 2024
  • Label: Dualtone
 - - - - -

Singles

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  • "The Devil is All Around" (2014)[31]
  • "I Know" (2016)[32]
  • "St. Anne's Parade" (2016)[33]
  • "Botched Execution" (2016)[34]
  • "Great, America (2017)" (2018)[35]
  • "The Wire" (2019)[36]
  • "Domino" (2021)[1]

Music videos

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Year Video
2013 "Birmingham"

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Nominated Work Result
2013 Americana Music Association Emerging Artist of the Year Shovels & Rope Won
2013 Americana Music Association Duo/Group of the Year Shovels & Rope Nominated
2013 Americana Music Association Song of the Year "Birmingham" Won
2015 Americana Music Association Duo/Group of the Year Shovels & Rope Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Shovels & Rope announce new album Manticore, share "Domino": Stream". Consequence. 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  2. ^ "Delta Mama and a Nickajack Man… the short version of a long story - Shovels & Rope". Archived from the original on 2014-03-05. Retrieved 2014-04-27.
  3. ^ "Cary Ann Hearst - Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  4. ^ a b Bialas, Michael (25 July 2012). "Shovels & Rope's Michael Trent & Cary Ann Hearst Make Joyful Noise". HuffPost.com. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  5. ^ "Interview with Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst of Shovels & Rope on "O' be Joyful" - No Depression Americana and Roots Music". Archived from the original on 2014-02-27. Retrieved 2014-04-27.
  6. ^ "Shovels & Rope - Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  7. ^ "The Ballad of Shovels and Rope - Music Documentary". Kickstarter.com. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  8. ^ "Press // The Ballad of Shovels and Rope // Music Documentary". Theballadofshovelsandrope.com. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  9. ^ "2014 Ground Zero Tennessee Spirit Awards & Tennessee Horizon Awards". Nashvillefilmfestival.org. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  10. ^ "Port Townsend Film Festival: Day Three closes with awards and an encore for 'Amira & Sam'". IMDb.com. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  11. ^ "Catching Up With Shovels & Rope". Pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  12. ^ a b "Artist Search for "shovels rope"". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  13. ^ "Shovels & Rope appear on Letterman Show (Updated with video) | TheDigitel". Archived from the original on 2014-04-27. Retrieved 2014-04-27.
  14. ^ marc.schneider (19 September 2013). "Emmylou Harris, Shovels & Rope Win Big at Americana Awards". Billboard. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  15. ^ "Charleston, S.C." IMDb.com. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  16. ^ "Video Premiere: Shovels & Rope - Album Teaser". Pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  17. ^ a b "Shovels & Rope's "Devil Is All Around" Goes Top 20". Mikeragogna.com. September 4, 2014.
  18. ^ "Shovels & Rope Explains Its New Covers Album, Track By Track". NPR.org. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
  19. ^ "Review: Shovels & Rope, 'Little Seeds'". NPR.org. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  20. ^ "Hear Shovels & Rope's new 'Busted Jukebox' LP one week before it drops". EW.com. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  21. ^ "Shovels & Rope Release Three LP Package on Friday - Holy City Sinner". Holycitysinner.com. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
  22. ^ "Shovels & Rope Return with "By Blood" on April 12 via Dualtone". Music News Net. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  23. ^ "By Blood by Shovels & Rope". Megacritic.com. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  24. ^ McKenna, Brittney (2019-04-04). "Family Takes Center On Shovels & Rope's 'By Blood'". NPR. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  25. ^ "Shovels & Rope Keep It in the Family With 'Mississippi Nuthin' & 'Carry Me Home': Premiere". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
  26. ^ "StackPath". Folkradio.co.uk. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  27. ^ Oyer, Kalyn. "What another sold-out High Water Festival means for North Charleston tourism". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  28. ^ Gendron, Bob. "Shovels & Rope share instruments, chemistry, magic at Thalia Hall". Chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  29. ^ "Shovels & Rope Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  30. ^ "Acclaimed Duo Shovels & Rope to Release Highly Anticipated Sophomore Album "Swimmin' Time" August 26 via Dualtone Music ‹ All Eyes Media". Archived from the original on 2014-05-28. Retrieved 2014-05-05.
  31. ^ "Future Releases on Triple A (AAA) Radio Stations". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 2014-07-27.
  32. ^ "Shovels And Rope - I Know". Discogs (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-04-19.
  33. ^ "Shovels And Rope - St. Anne's Parade". Discogs (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-04-19.
  34. ^ "Shovels And Rope - Botched Execution". Discogs (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-04-19.
  35. ^ "Shovels And Rope - Great, America (2017)". Discogs (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-04-19.
  36. ^ "Shovels And Rope - The Wire". Discogs (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-04-19.
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