It’s been a productive year for Eau Claire bluegrass howlers The New North String Band. Since forming in June 2008 they have written and recorded a four-song demo that ejects blues, vocal concord, and straightforward lyrical content that sympathizes with contemporary struggles … for example, the song Bills. This ambitious songwriting is paying off as a busy and honorable 2009 is frontward. Their song River Bottom Blues was chosen by Baltimore based Quickstar Productions to appear on a bluegrass compilation album that will be sent to record labels and college radio stations across the country. In October they will be in Nashville playing at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s “World of Bluegrass Week.” As the band prepares for these two musical highights, The New North String Band is currently recording their full-length debut in Minneapolis. Look for the yet-to-be-titled album to be released sometime this summer.