Blue Holler performs at the induction ceremony for the Georgia Country Music Hall of Fame Oct . 29 , 2022 . From left are Skylar Gandy on fiddle , Brandon Gandy on banjo , Marshall Roberts on mandolin , Brandon Taylor on guitar and Seabie Ewer on bass .
bands like the Avett Brothers and Mumford and Sons to improvisational “ jam bands ” like Leftover Salmon and Grammy Award winner Billy Strings . It transcends race with newer groups like the all-black bluegrass trio the Carolina Chocolate Drops . And it crosses generation gaps with younger audiences who are drawn to the honesty of the words and the uniqueness of the sound .
But it ’ s the traditional bands like Blue Holler that hold on to the the form ’ s past while reimagining what bluegrass could be .
Bass player and Moutrie native Seabie Ewer , already an individual member of both the Georgia and Atlanta Country Music Halls of Fame , said , “ It is a great honor to get the entire band name in there because of our dedication to this area and the commitment we have to south Georgia . It ’ s quite an honor for the entire band to be recognized for the raw talent our band members have .”
Blue Holler formed in 2004 out of a group that met regularly and informally to play bluegrass . “ It was just some friends who jammed together once a week at somebody ’ s house where various and sundry people would show up ,” said Ewer . “ Five of us said , ‘ Why don ’ t we get together and play some ?’”
According to Ewer , the name came from one
of the original band members . “ We were struggling with the name one night at rehearsals , throwing around 10 to 12 names , and one of the guys threw out Blue Holler ,” said Ewer , who said the band ’ s name is a tribute to the music ’ s mountainous origins : Blue for bluegrass and Holler for the Appalachian pronunciation of hollow , a valley .
Blue Holler has had several lineups since its inception as its members moved away or were unable to play . Currently , the band features Ewer on bass , Brandon Gandy of Tifton on banjo , Skylar Gandy of Valdosta on fiddle , Marshall Roberts of Tallahassee on mandolin , and Brandon Taylor of Valdosta on guitar . Ewer is the only original member of the band .
Ewer called the the current iteration “ the best configuration of the band we ’ ve ever had .” The band ’ s success , he said , comes from the individual talent and work ethic of its members . “ Each person excels in their instrument from pure practice and stage exposure ,” said Ewer , describing their approach to their craft as meticulous . “ Everyone is very dedicated to their skill and pushes themselves .”
He estimated they have played more than 400 shows together and have spent countless hours in rehearsal , which has honed their ability to play as a unit .
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