Last summer Mike Farris held his CD release concert for Salvation in Lights at a historic church in downtown Nashville. The church was only half-full, but Farris walked on-stage grinning ear to ear and delivered an electrifying set of Memphis soul-inspired gospel music. Critics hailed it one of the best concerts of the year.
Fast-forward a year and the accolades keep coming; the former Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies frontman has received a stack of critical praise for Salvation in Lights and just took home the “New Emerging Artist of the Year” award from the 2008 Americana Music Association Conference. These days, Farris’ crowds are considerably larger ― often sold out and standing room only ― but his performances are no less personal.
Salvation in Lights has been out now for over a year, but people are only now really catching on to how great this record is.
It’s the little record that could, really. It’s opened up a thousand doors and given us the opportunity to play all across the country and with many great artists. We’ve begun work on the next record, which we’re already pretty excited about, and right now we’re gearing up for our next run of “Sunday Night Shouts” down at The Station Inn here in Nashville, as well as doing shows with Ricky Skaggs, Bruce Hornsby, Del McCoury and playing a few more festivals.
Are you still using your J-45 out on the road?
The J-45 was one of the last things my manager and friend, Rose McGathy, gave me before she passed away, so it’s a special guitar. When they designed the J-45 they perfected the acoustic and set the standard. It’s well balanced in sound, it records great, it feels great, and can take the rigors of the road. It really is a workhorse. Eventually, I need to get another one to have for the road, so I can leave this one at home and for studio work, because of its sentimental value.
How did it feel to be named New Emerging Artist of the Year?
The best part of the evening, for me, happened while I was performing “Oh Mary Don’t You Weep” with Buddy Miller, the McCrary Sisters, and band. At one point I remember looking over to the side of the stage and seeing Levon Helm dancing and cheering, right alongside our 12-year-old son Christian Blue Sky, and thinking how happy I was for him that he was getting to stand among musical giants. So, for Americana to just allow me to be there and experience that moment, that was my reward. Everything on top of that is fatback. Really tasty fatback.