Holler Choir

Holler Choir began when a group of young talented roots musicians converged on Cross Roads Studios (Asheville, NC). The meeting’s purpose was to make a solo record by the same name for WNC native Americana artist Clint Roberts. However, Roberts realized while recording “Holler Choir” that his idea for a record was the perfect thesis for something larger. It was clear that a common thread had been discovered between these musicians, one too unique to be ignored. A sound had been born, one both alien and familiar at the same time. Guided by Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist Michael Ashworth (Steep Canyon Rangers), Roberts’s crew of Bluegrass and Old Time inspired peers drilled the pilot hole for the band that is now quickly being known as Holler Choir.

Based in Asheville NC, Holler Choir is a string band outfit breaking out in the South East’s Roots Music Scene in 2023. Holler Choir’s band members include Clint Roberts (guitar, vocals), Helena Rose (banjo, vocals), Norbert McGettigan (bass, vocals), Bridger Dunnagan (fiddle), and a rotating cast of additional talent. Their sound features tight vocal harmonies, driving clawhammer banjo energy, introspective lyrics, and melodic hooks reminiscent of 90’s Triple A radio hits. In late 2022, The band joined forces with Michael Ashworth again to produce Holler Choir’s debut full-length record, “Songs Before They Write Themselves”, set to release in the Summer of 2023. The record was tracked in the historic Echo Mountain Studios church room and was engineered by Hillsboro-based Jason Richmond (Avett Brothers, Rising Appalachia). Grammy Award-winning engineer Kim Rosen mastered the album.

Brevard, NC Native Clint Roberts is the chief songwriter and singer for Holler Choir and has collected a series of industry nods in recent years, including shout-outs from Rolling Stone, Bill Board, American Songwriter, and Cowboys & Indians. Roberts’ 2021 Rose Songs broke into the top 50 Americana Records Charts that year. Having moved back from Nashville, TN, to his home in Western North Carolina in recent years, Roberts began a creative return to his musical roots in Appalachian instruments and tonalities. This involved taking his focus back to instruments
classically utilized in bluegrass bands, such as dobro, fiddle, banjo, and upright bass.

Waynesville, NC Native Helena Rose has been a member of the Western NC and Eastern Tennessee roots and old-time scene for quite some time, having previously been a member of Johnson City-based band Bill and the Belles. Rose toured across the US and UK during her tenure with Bill & The Belles, establishing herself as a familiar face in the scene. She is a known clawhammer banjo influencer online and maintains being a sought-after banjo teacher and harmony
singing/recording talent in her free time.

Bridger Dunnagan is a recording engineer/ fiddle talent, hailing from Bozeman Montana. Outside of playing in Holler Choir, Bridger works on many artists’ recording projects locally in Asheville. He is the music director at Old Home Place Recordings and does assistant engineering at Citizen Vinyl.

The newest member of Holler Choir is Norbert McGettigan from New Jersey. Norbert sang in church and played in the school band in his formative years of being a musician. That led him to upright bass in college in various bluegrass groups, playing esteemed festivals such as Durango Bluegrass Fest, Norbert relocated to the mountains of North Carolina in 2020. He’s been playing in bands like a wild man ever since.

With these four musicians at the helm of the project, Holler Choir is the new band to watch in 2023.