Boston/Portland (ME)/Brooklyn based quintet Joy Kills Sorrow is that go to band every blogger speaks highly of, but they have yet to make the kind of splash they deserve. That may change with the pending release of new EP ‘Wide Awake,’ to be followed by a lengthy coast to coast tour. The five piece bluegrass/folk group has always found ways to extend themselves. Be it virtuoso string playing, huge lead vocals (Emma Beaton) or their penchant for re-configuring their classical backgrounds to carve out new worlds for pop jams (check out their fantastic cover of ‘Such Great Heights,’ streaming below), the band always comes across sounding new while staying firmly rooted in a classic American roots tradition. They’re setting off across the country this summer, but be sure to catch them live when they come around later this year.
