From the very first twang of “A Dozen Reasons,” Ashleigh Graham makes it clear she’s not here to reinvent the wheel — she’s here to drive it down a winding Appalachian backroad with the windows rolled down and the banjo turned up. I’ll Just Drive, her debut full-length via Pinecastle Records, is a clarion call to the bluegrass faithful: the tradition is alive, well, and freshly dusted with honest sweat.
URL: https://ashleighgrahammusic.com/
There’s something deeply comforting about how Ashleigh and her stellar band, Appalachian Highway, stay tethered to bluegrass’s bedrock while allowing her voice — seasoned by life, motherhood, and faith — to breathe fresh life into its familiar contours. Tracks like “Fiddle And Bow” hit that sweet spot between front-porch jam and Saturday night barn dance. The fiddle soars, the banjo runs nimble circles, and Ashleigh’s mandolin dances right alongside. There’s no overproduction here, just well-miked wood, wire, and soul.
On the title track, “I’ll Just Drive,” Ashleigh leans into the genre’s timeless themes of freedom, forward motion, and roads less traveled. It’s a driving tune in every sense, propelled by Eli Johnston’s banjo and Scott Patrick’s warm guitar. The song’s relatable chorus — about hitting the highway to outrun regret and fear — feels like a new standard for modern bluegrass radio.
“Soldiers of Heaven” takes a Gospel turn, showcasing Ashleigh’s spiritual core. The harmonies glide as she sings of loss and hope, her voice anchoring the song in a tradition that’s long offered comfort through music. It’s no wonder this one cracked the Bluegrass Gospel charts — it sounds like a hymn your grandmother would hum while hanging laundry on the line. But Ashleigh isn’t afraid to break the mold either. “Me And My Mandolin” is a playful ode to her trusty instrument — a lighthearted track that feels like a glimpse behind the curtain at the artist’s daily life. Meanwhile, “Head Over High Heels” (written by Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Charlotte Lee Smith) tips its hat to mainstream country influences, proof that Ashleigh can slide between Nashville polish and East Tennessee grit with ease.
APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/us/album/ill-just-drive/1816315416
At its heart, I’ll Just Drive is a debut grounded in respect: respect for the pickers who paved the way, respect for the everyday stories tucked into small towns, and respect for the power of a voice that’s been lived in. The production, courtesy of Authentic Unlimited’s Stephen Burwell and Eli Johnston, keeps every dobro slide, bass fiddle pluck, and harmony vocal clear yet warm, like a well-loved quilt passed down through generations.
It’s tempting to wonder where Ashleigh Graham will steer her next record. Will she lean harder into progressive bluegrass? Will she chase a crossover hit? Will she keep doubling down on the homespun charm that makes I’ll Just Drive feel like a drive down a familiar country lane? Whatever the answer, this album plants her flag firmly: Ashleigh’s arrived, mandolin in hand, ready to carry tradition forward, one honest mile at a time.
Chadwick Easton