Northern Lights (bluegrass band)
Introduction '''Northern Lights''' was an American progressive bluegrass band formed in 1975 in New England, which musical career spanned more than three decades. Known for a progressive style of bluegrass playing, the band went through a number of line-up changes through the years and included such personalities as Alison Brown or multiinstrumentalist Jake Armerding, son of founding member Taylor Armerding, who started playing with the band full-time aged 14, but played occasionally when he was 12.As of 2009, there is no founding member left in the group. Guitarist Bill Henry, who joined the band in 1982 assumed the leadership role and Northern Lights continue to play without interruption as a quintet, consisting of two generation of musicians - Bill Henry, John Daniel and Alex MacLeod as well as young players Eric Robertson and Mike Barnett. The band has issued 10 studio and 1 live recording with Vassar Clemonts. Most of which are, unfortunately, out of print today. From 1990's "Take You to the Sky," to recently released One Day(Fifty-Fifty Music), the band has fused an eclectic mix of traditional roots music, rock, country, soul and gospel with the high, lonesome vocal sound and instruments of bluegrass. Three of their records also reached the top ten of Bluegrass Unlimited's National Bluegrass Survey.
History The Northern Lights began its history in 1975, when Bob Emery, Marty Sachs and Dan Marcus  asked mandolinist Taylor Armerding to join them in their progressive bluegrass efforts. This line-up recorded their first self-titled album in 1976, however, the group split in 1977.After five years, they re-formed again, at the urging of Joe Val, Taylor contacted banjoist Alison Brown. She remained in the Northern Lights lineup for the next two years.After Allison moved back to California in 1986, banjoist Mike Kropp took her spot to remain with the band for the next 17 years. Around this time, the band started to enjoy more recognition as a strong progressive bluegrass band, playing in different festivals together with well-known artists such as Tony Rice, Mark O'Connor, Jerry Douglas or Peter Rowan. This would help the band to sign with Flying Fish Records and record their next three CD's under this label.Most part of its history Northern Lights performed as a quartet and hired guest fiddlers such as Alison Krauss, Matt Glaser or Vassar Clements. Jake Armerding, son of band's mandolinist Taylor, started to play with the band occasionally at the age of 12 (in 1990), joining the band full-time 2 years later. The band recorded their two highly acclaimed records with Jake, Wrong Highway Blues in 1994 and Living in the City in 1996.A review of Living in  the City in the Toronto Star labeled the group "the finest  of modern bluegrass groups". Jake left in 1999 to pursue his own music, as well as Mike Kropp in 2000 and Taylor Armerding in 2003.These have been the most significant changes to the band line-up so far. Bill Henry took over the lead role and the band recorded New Moon and their latest album, One Day in 2008.Latest line-up of the band as of 2010: Eric Robertson, Alex MacLeod, Mike Barnett, John Daniel, Bill Henry.
Disbandment After some three decades of bringing bluegrass to the Northeast and beyond, Northern Lights decided to close up shop. Band's last official show was at the Rose Garden in Mansfield, MA on March 13.Several NL alumni were on hand there to help us celebrate the end of a New England institution, including Taylor Armerding, Mike Kropp, Jeff Horton and Dave Dick.
Discography Recorded under Revonah Records:*''Northern Lights'' (1976)*''Before the Fire Comes Down''(1983)*''On the Edge'' (1987)Recorded under Flying Fish Records*''Take You to the Sky'' (1990)*''Can't Buy Your Way'' (1992)*''Wrong Highway Blues'' (1994)Recorded under Red House Records*''Living in the City'' (1996)Recorded under Prime CD Records*''Three August Nights'' (2000)*''Another Sleepless Night'' (2001)Recorded under Fifty Fifty Music Music*''New Moon'' (2005)*''One Day'' (2008)
Band lineups + Northern Lights lineups 1975–1977*'''Dan Marcus''' - banjo, guitar, vocals*'''Richard Hand''' - banjo, guitar*'''Marty Sachs''' - bass, vocals*'''Bob Emery''' - guitar, vocals*'''Taylor Armerding''' - vocals, mandolin 1977*'''Richard Hand''' - banjo, guitar*'''Marty Sachs''' - bass, vocals*'''Bob Emery''' - guitar, vocals*'''Taylor Armerding''' - vocals, mandolin 1977–1982* ''Band on hiatus'' 1982–1984*'''Alison Brown''' - banjo*'''Bill Henry''' - guitar, vocals*'''Bob Emery''' - bass, vocals*'''Taylor Armerding''' - vocals, mandolin 1984–1987*'''Mike Kropp''' - banjo, guitar*'''Bill Henry''' - guitar, vocals*'''Bob Emery''' - bass, vocals*'''Taylor Armerding''' - vocals, mandolin 1987–1990*'''Mike Kropp''' - banjo, guitar*'''Bill Henry''' - vocals, guitar*'''Oz Barron''' - bass, vocals*'''Taylor Armerding''' - vocals, mandolin 1990–1992*'''Mike Kropp''' - banjo, guitar*'''Bill Henry''' - vocals, guitar*'''Jeff Horton''' - bass, vocals*'''Taylor Armerding''' - vocals, mandolin 1992–1996*'''Mike Kropp''' - banjo, guitar*'''Bill Henry''' - vocals, guitar*'''Taylor Armerding''' - vocals, mandolin*'''Jeff Horton''' - bass, vocals*'''Jake Armerding''' - violin, vocals 1996–1999*'''Bill Henry''' - vocals, guitar*'''Taylor Armerding''' - vocals, mandolin*'''Mike Kropp''' - banjo, guitar*'''Chris Miles''' - bass, vocals*'''Jake Armerding''' - violin, mandolin vocals 1999–2000*'''Bill Henry''' - vocals, guitar*'''Taylor Armerding''' - vocals, mandolin*'''Mike Kropp''' - banjo, guitar*'''Chris Miles''' - bass, vocals 2000–2002 *'''Bill Henry''' - vocals, guitar*'''Taylor Armerding''' - vocals, mandolin*'''Dave Dick''' - banjo, mandolin, vocals*'''Chris Miles''' - bass, vocals 2003–2006*'''Bill Henry''' - vocals, guitar*'''Ben Demerath''' - guitar, mandolin, vocals*'''Dave Dick''' - mandolin, banjo, vocals*'''John Daniel''' - bass, vocals 2006–2008*'''Bill Henry''' - vocals, guitar*'''Mike Barnett''' - violin*'''John Daniel''' - bass, vocals*'''Joe Walsh''' - mandolin, vocals*'''Ben Demerath''' - guitar, vocals 2008–2010*'''Bill Henry'''-vocals, guitar*'''Mike Barnett''' violin*'''John Daniel'''- bass, vocals*'''Alex MacLeod''' guitar, vocals*'''Eric Robertson''' mandolin, vocals
Northern Lights timeline ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:25PlotArea = left:100 bottom:60 top:0 right:50Alignbars = justifyDateFormat = yyyyPeriod = from:1975 till:2010TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyyTimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyyColors =  id:guitar      value:green      legend:Guitar  id:bass        value:blue       legend:Bass  id:mandolin    value:purple       legend:Mandolin  id:banjo       value:red      legend:Banjo  id:Violin      value:yellow        legend:ViolinLineData = at:1976 color:black layer:back at:1983 color:black layer:back at:1987 color:black layer:back at:1990 color:black layer:back at:1992 color:black layer:back at:1994 color:black layer:back at:1996 color:black layer:back at:2000 color:black layer:back at:2001 color:black layer:back at:2005 color:black layer:back at:2008 color:black layer:backLegend = orientation:horizontal position:bottomScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1975PlotData=  width:20 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)  bar:Dan Marcus from:1975 till:1977 color:banjo  bar:Richard Hand from:1977 till:1977 color:banjo  bar:Marty Sachs from:1975 till:1977 color:bass  bar:Bob Emery from:1975 till:1977 color:guitar  bar:Bob Emery from:1982 till:1987 color:bass  bar:Taylor Armerding from:1975 till:1977 color:mandolin  bar:Taylor Armerding from:1982 till:2003 color:mandolin  bar:Alison Brown from:1982 till:1984 color:banjo  bar:Bill Henry from:1982 till:2010 color:guitar  bar:Mike Kropp from:1984 till:2000 color:banjo  bar:Oz Barron from:1987 till:1990 color:bass  bar:Jeff Horton from:1990 till:1996 color:bass  bar:Jake Armerding from:1992 till:1999 color:violin  bar:Dave Dick from:2003 till:2006 color:banjo  bar:Chris Miles from:1996 till:2003 color:bass  bar:John Daniel from:2003 till:2010 color:bass  bar:Ben Demerath from:2003 till:2008 color:guitar  bar:Joe Walsh from:2003 till:2008 color:mandolin  bar:Eric Robertson from:2008 till:2010 color:mandolin  bar:Alex MacLeod from:2008 till:2010 color:guitar  bar:Mike Barnett from:2003 till:2010 color:violin
References
External links * (Official site) '''Closed'''* (Group management, concerts booking) '''Closed'''