We Banjo 3: Open the Road – A gutsy, no holds barred leap into the great beyond

We Banjo 3 have traced a soaring trajectory over the past decade, mining the rich histories and repertoire of their lead instrument, and with each album, excavating their own evolving identity with enviable chutzpah. Open the Road is just that: an expansion of their horizons into the Americana and bluegrass heartlands they’ve held beloved from the get-go.

David Howley’s songwriting is the propeller engine beneath the band’s latest collection, and while his lyrical flourishes can occasionally veer towards the Hallmark card aisle, there’s no doubting his intimate acquaintance with instantly hummable hooks and his passion for making music matter in these strange times.

The band have assembled an impressive mix of collaborators too, firmly anchored by their own instruments, and in particular by Fergal Scahill’s exceedingly tasty fiddle lines. Among many tasty contributors, Abigail Washburn lends mighty clawhammer banjo and vocals on Garden Song, while Matthew Berrill’s horn arrangements underscore the strings beautifully, and Mike Shimmin (of The Olllam) lends his high-octane percussion to the virtuoso instrumental The First Second Gentleman and to the more pensive Long Way Down.

The band’s extensive time touring the US is palpable in Howley’s lyrical preoccupations. But where some bands find the road miles etch careworn lines into their sound, We Banjo 3 have filtered mostly the good stuff, enabling them to make this gutsy, no holds barred leap into the great beyond.