Chatham County Line releases their third studio album, Speed of the Whippoorwill through Yep Roc on May 30th, 2006. The collection of 14 original new songs captures the live show excitement that Chatham County Line has honed on the road. It is through touring that the band has perfected their blend of instrumental prowess, harmony singing, and original composition.

It is easy for the listener to instantly peg the band into a specific genre but singer/guitarist, Dave Wilson explains, "We see ourselves more like a rock band without a drummer and cables than a 1940's traditional bluegrass band." He continues, "You see us up there with acoustic guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, stand-up bass, singing into a single microphone, all wearing suits, and you think we're a gonna sound like the Kingston Trio, but listen up 'cause you're gonna get rocked." With this mindset, the quartet has branched out into playing rock clubs as well as traditionally known bluegrass and country venues over the last few years.

For the new album, Chatham County Line decided to try a different producer. Hands-on Chris Stamey (Ben Folds, Whiskeytown, Caitlin Cary) produced their debut, Chatham County Line (2003) and Route 23 (2005). For Speed Of The Whippoorwill, the band chose to work with Brian Paulson (Roesbuds, Beck, Wilco).

Dave Wilson recalls, "Sometimes you just want to cross the street and eat at a different restaurant, no matter how good the food is where you are," adding, "Stamey was more of a perfectionist, interested in getting the best take where as Brian was about capturing a sonic ambience. He would tell us when we captured the feeling of a song rather than when we didn't make mistakes, and a good record relies more on the heart than the mind sometimes."

Chatham County Line has confirmed the following tour dates -- more will be announced shortly, including club dates.

Fri, 4/7 Durango, CO @ Durango Meltdown Festival (9pm)

Sat, 4/8 Durango, CO @ Durango Meltdown Festival (12pm, 5pm)

Fri, 4/28 Wilkesboro, NC @ Merle Fest (2:25pm, Americana Stage)

Sat 4/29 Wilkesboro, NC @ Merle Fest (10:50am, Hillside Stage)

May 1 -- 10 European Tour

Fri, 5/12 Hiawasee, GA 2 @ Georgia Mountain Fair

Fri, 5/19 Wilmington, NC @ Soapbox (CD Release Show)

Sat, 5/20 Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre (CD Release Show)

Fri, 5/26 Greensboro, NC @ The Blind Tiger (CD Release Show)

Fri, 6/2 Charlotte, NC @ The Visulite (CD Release Show)

Sat, 6/3 Hillsborough, NC @ Hog Days Festival

Sat, 6/17 Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle

Sat, 7/1 Chicago, IL @ Chicago Country Music Festival

Sun, 7/2 Berwyn, IL @ Fitzgerald's American Music Festival

Sat, 7/8 Winter Park, CO @ Winter Park Folk Festival

Sun, 7/9 Aspen, CO @ Aspen Mtn. Bluegrass Sundays

Thu, 7/13 Ancramdale, NY @ Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival

Fri, 7/14 Ancramdale, NY @ Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival

Sat, 7/15 Glenmoore, PA @ Community Bluegrass Concert

Fri, 7/28 Cornish, ME @ Ossipee Valley Bluegrass and Acoustic Music Festival

Sat, 7/29 Cornish, ME @ Ossipee Valley Bluegrass and Acoustic Music Festival

Sat, 8/19 Garner, NC @ Pinecone Concert Series @ Lake Benson Park

Fri, 9/8 Bowling Green, OH @ Black Swamp Arts Festival

Sat, 9/9 Bowling Green, OH @ Black Swamp Arts Festival

Sat, 9/16 Bristol, TN @ Rhythm & Roots Reunion

Wed, 10/4 Cincinnati, OH @ Tall Stacks Music, Arts and Heritage Festival

Fri, 10/13 Apex, NC @ Concerts at the Depot