Brett Ratliff - Whitesburg

June Appal Recordings presents WHITESBURG KY, the third solo album by Brett Ratliff. WHITESBURG KY showcases Ratliff's trademark innovations in the Kentucky repertoire, presenting songs like the rarely performed "Harlan County Farewell," a surprising mash-up of "Cacklin’ Hen" and "Morphine," and the title track, "Whitesburg," alongside Ratliff's own, "Glory Up Above." The collection, named for an important arts town in East Kentucky, pays homage to Ratliff’s teachers and influences, including George Gibson, Sarah Ogan Gunning, Si Kahn, and Mike Seeger. Haunting archives of neighborly gatherings are spliced in among the driving performances, remembering times once casually shared. Recorded during the 2020-21 quarantine, WHITESBURG KY explores that old lonesome sound, while asking new questions about how we heal each other through community.