WELCOME TO VALERIE SMITH'S OFFICIAL PAGE
"Non-stop energy, passion included with a tremendous love for her audience."
"Valerie has soul"
"Valerie Smith has developed her own sound, "ValGrass"...a fusion of bluegrass, roots, Americana, folk and country music."
Valerie Smith is an award-winning Grassicana artist whose style is a mixture of bluegrass, country, and Americana music. NPR radio host Dave Higgs has noted, "She can be sassy, sultry, siren-like, sweet, smooth, soothing and smoldering---sometimes during the span of just one song!"
"From a Distance" has remained on the Bluegrass Today Grassicana, Folk and Bluegrass Today Charts for over 1 year!
Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike have rocked the bluegrass world for over two decades with a string of national and international tours and critically acclaimed recordings. Liberty Pike (Wally Hughes dobro, fiddle, Lisa Kay Howard Hughes, mandolin, Joe Zauner banjo, guitar, Valerie Smith guitar, lead vocals and featuring legendary Hall-of-Famer Tom Gray on bass), are audience pleasers as well as passionate musicians. Valerie is an award-winning and Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter who has appeared on various television shows, including Ronnie Reno's, the Bluegrass Underground, Song of the Mountains, PBS, and more. Her single "From a Distance" (featuring Claire Lynch and Irene Kelley) has remained on the Grassicana charts for over a year. Valerie co-produced her upcoming album with Tim Carter (Renaissance - release September 3, 2021). "I Found" charted on the Folk, Grassicana and Roots Music Report Charts, "Heartbreak Hill" charted on the Bluegrass Today Grassicana chart. She has also written a Bluegrass-Folk opera based on her great grandmother's writings "Maggie's Journal" (release 2022). In addition to many upcoming tour dates, the band continues to create music released by Bell Buckle Records.
The advanced single "I Found "debuted at #5 on the Roots Music Report chart, #7 on the Bluegrass Today Grassicana chart, and #8 on the FAI Folk DJ Chart for June 2021.
Renaissance was the #1 downloaded album on Airplay Direct 8/28/21! Without any advertising or announcements
"Renaissance is humanity in songs. A rebirth touching those feelings which brings us back to our common beliefs. Hope and sorrow, the pure joy of music, love both individually and for all. These songs and the great musicianship make Renaissance a true album of renewal. Thanks, Valerie Smith for this gift in these times." - Steve Martin - Radio Programmer, Unreal Bluegrass, Syndicated Radio Program
Quotes
"Renaissance crosses through multiple musical genres while still staying true to the Valerie Smith sound that encompasses an acoustic flair with a touch of bluegrass and all with exceptional musicianship." - Keith Barnecastle, Bluegrass Standard
"Valerie Smith’s music doesn't preen or shout; instead, it beckons listeners to come closer and simply enjoy the listening experience. A singer of nuance and an exceptional instrumentalist, she has demonstrated many times over that she can create distinctive bluegrass music with her Liberty Pike band, but with RENAISSANCE she offers us a solo album that explores her diverse musical roots. It’s music to get lost in—the soundtrack to embracing a daydream that you don’t want to snap out of providing a truly wistful respite."- Alan Cackett, Americana, Bluegrass, and Country Music Reviews
"The album not only resonated with fans but with the media as well with rave reviews coming in from such esteemed outlets as Bluegrass Today (Bluegrass Today Renaissance Review) who wrote “Emotionally speaking, you won’t be able to stay in one place too long as you’re listening” and rambles.net, whose writer Jerome Clark named it “One Of The Best Albums Of 2021” and wrote, “Smith, it appears, is fashioning a mature style of what might be called post-bluegrass” (Renaissance rambles.net review).
Charting
"Renaissance" charts #2 on the FAI Folk Chart as well as hit #22 on the Roots Music Report Contemporary Bluegrass Album chart, week of October 2, 2021, and tracks from the album were also charting well. “Heart Of Sorrow” debuted at #12 on the RMR Contemporary Bluegrass singles chart week of October 2, 2021, “Heartbreak Hill” hit #15 on the Bluegrass Today Grassicana singles chart week of October 2 and October 8, 2021, and “Enter In” debuted at #8 on the Bluegrass Today Gospel singles chart week of October 8, 2021. It’s advanced single “I Found” debuted at #5 on the Roots Music Report chart, #7 on the Bluegrass Today Grassicana Chart, and #8 on the FAI Folk DJ Chart in June 2021, and Renaissance was the most downloaded album on Airplay Direct in August.
"A master mistress of roots music, this breath of fresh air will really hit you, especially if you haven't heard her before. With the right touch and the right sound this is a stone cold killer throughout.” — Chris Spector, Midwest Record