Michael Cleveland is doing it all for the Lovin’ of the Game on his next album, due out on March 3rd via Compass Records. Set to appear alongside the Bill Monroe-anointed fiddler and keeper of the flame are Billy Strings, Béla Fleck, Charlie Starr, Jeff White, The Travelin’ McCourys, Vince Gill, and others.
The 12-time International Bluegrass Music Association Fiddle Player of the Year returns to showcase his diversity on Lovin’ of the Game. On one track he goes full jamgrass with Billy Strings on the ’80s rocker “For Your Love” ahead of a country waltz collaboration with Vince Gill on “I Wish I Knew Now What I Knew Then”. Cleveland even pairs with Blackberry Smoke‘s Charlie Starr on a bluegrass version of “One Horse Town” alongside the instrumental “Contact” featuring Cody Kilby, Barry Bales, and Béla Fleck.
“People know me as a traditional bluegrass fiddle player, which is what I love to do,” Cleveland said, “but this album is more than just the pure tradition. It’s a little bit of a departure for me.”
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Along with the album announcement, Michael Cleveland shared the title track. Playing beside his band Flamekeeper, the rolling traditional number holds dual meaning for the fiddler.
“The song is about prospectors and gamblers,” Cleveland says, “but for me, the ‘loving of the game’ has always been loving being a part of the musical community and all that being a musician has brought to me.”
Check out the title track to the new Michael Cleveland album, Lovin’ of the Game, along with “Sunny Days (Are Comin’ Once Again)”, released back in October. Lovin’ of the Game is available here for pre-order.
Michael Cleveland – “The Lovin’ of the Game” (ft. Flamekeeper)
Michael Cleveland – “Sunny Days (Are Comin’ Once Again)” (ft. Jeff White, Dan Tyminski)
