Bob Weir Blue Mountain (Vinyl 2LP)

Bob Weir's First Solo Album in a Decade and First of New Material in Over 30 Years!

For the first time in ten years, Bob Weir returns with a new solo record, Blue Mountain – marking his debut project since signing with Columbia/Legacy Recordings. The release serves as his first album of entirely original material in thirty years. Producer Josh Kaufman partnered with Weir on the album, which features songwriting collaboration with Josh Ritter and performances from guitarists Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner and bassist Scott Devendorf. Drawing on his earlier experiences working on a ranch in Wyoming as a teenager, Weir joined with Ritter, the Dessners, Devendorf and Kaufman to celebrate those times with twelve new songs.

The album was recorded at a variety of locations on both coasts, including studios in Woodstock, NY and San Rafael, CA over the spring and fall of 2015. A host of fellow musicians appear alongside Weir on Blue Mountain including Ray Rizzo (drums, harmonium, harmonica, backup vocals), Joe Russo (drums), Jon Shaw (upright bass, piano), Rob Burger (keyboard, accordion, tuned percussion), Sam Cohen (electric guitar and pedal steel), Nate Martinez (guitars, harmonium, backup vocals), Jay Lane (drums, vocals), Robin Sylvester (upright bass, vocals, hammond organ) and Steve Kimock (Lapsteel). Providing backup vocals are The Bandana Splits, comprised of Annie Nero, Lauren Balthrop and Dawn Landes. Kaufman produced the record with engineering by Dan Goodwin.

Weir is one of the founding members of the legendary Grateful Dead, which received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. The band also appeared on Forbes' list of top-grossing entertainers and in the early '90s were the highest-grossing concert attraction in the U.S. Since establishing the band in 1965, Weir has become one of rock's finest and most distinctive rhythm guitarists. Earlier this year he received the inaugural Les Paul Spirit Award. Weir has also performed with many other acts including The Other Ones, Kingfish, Bob Weir Band, Bobby and the Midnites, Scaring the Children, Ratdog and Furthur, co-led by former Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh. His first solo album, Ace, was released in 1972. Most recently, Weir has been performing with Dead & Company, which features Grateful Dead members Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann along with Grammy-winner John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti.