Hard Tuck at Kings

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Michelle Lotker

While scores of nationally touring roots-related acts descended on Raleigh in September for this year’s IBMA World of Bluegrass festival, a rowdy unofficial afterparty set from local supergroup Hard Tuck was far and away the most fun at the festival. A trio of engaging and intriguing singer-songwriters—Kate Rhudy, Chessa Rich, and Mipso’s Libby Rodenbough—front the loose and lighthearted crew. They treat rousing covers of nineties country hits (they paid rowdy tribute to the Dixie Chicks at January’s Great Cover Up) and classic rock nuggets with the right balance of reverence and blitheness, while outcasts from their own repertoires are recast as Hard Tuck originals. They’ll also try their hand at some holiday tunes, backed by top-notch talent like guitarist Ryan Johnson, keyboardist Charles Cleaver, bassist Alex Bingham, and drummer Daniel Faust—folks who have played with Mandolin Orange, Mount Moriah, American Aquarium, and more. —Spencer Griffith