There are deep roots for mountain music, or bluegrass, in Appalachia, East Tennessee and Union County. Many local folks have a passion for the music and the customs it entails. It is a tradition that passes down through generations to our youths.
Tumblin’ Run is a local band that is carrying on the mountain tradition. Members Zeke Flatford (age 20), Lyndon Kitts (20), Tucker Jones (16), and Trey Farley (18) all have a keenness for keeping the tradition alive and bringing the old-time melodies to their audiences.
Flatford, Kitts and Jones are born and raised Union County natives, and Farley is a friend from Harlan County, Kentucky. All members of the quartet come from musical families, so the talent and love of the music comes natural. They all grew up playing.
After performing at a festival as members of several different groups, Flatford invited the fellows over for a jam session at his home, and it all began there. They have been playing together ever since. Together they have played many venues including the Union County Opry, Dollywood, local festivals and many bluegrass festival events.
The boys play a variety of bluegrass and bluegrass gospel music and love to take classic country songs and put a bluegrass spin on them. The very first time they picked together, the first song they played was the well-known Foggy Mountain Special, originally recorded by Flatt and Scruggs. From then on, that seems to be their signature song and they try to incorporate it into each venue. Aside from traditional songs, Flatford has written a few of the songs and instrumentals the band plays.
The band typically plays together at least a couple times a month but sometimes more than that when there is time. Flatford plays bass, Kitts banjo, Jones mandolin, and Farley guitar, with Flatford and Farley both contributing to vocals. They say their favorite part about playing is when the crowd gets into the music, when you can really see they feel it.
The boys love picking and singing together, but they understand that there are less bluegrass bands than there once were, so they continue to strive to spread and revive bluegrass music. When asked if they are nervous when they perform, they say that at first everybody is nervous, but after that first note is played, everything is easier and they get to having so much fun that the edginess is completely gone.
The band respects tradition and history, which is how the name of the band came about. Since the beginning of bluegrass music, bluegrass and moonshine have been sort of hand-in-hand. Flatford’s home is near Tumblin’ Run Creek where, in the days of Prohibition, stories tell that local moonshiners would get their water from the creek. So, it seemed fitting that Tumblin’ Run would make a great bluegrass band name with a deep, old-fashioned local meaning.
The boys are always on the lookout for bookings, so if you need some wholesome picking and grinning at an event, contact them by emailing Zeke Flatford at zflatford@gmail.com.