A family quartet of musicians and vocalists make their mark—in many different and multi-talented ways.

How does one describe an unusually unique band such as Southern Raised in three words or less? They probably don’t! That would be very difficult to do even in a full, single sentence.  You would have to encapsulate family relationships, vocal harmony, bluegrass, gospel, classical, Celtic, traditional, contemporary, eclectic, every band member playing multiple instruments, and LOTS of awards and nominations.  Perhaps this well-constructed single sentence from the band themselves is a good start:  

We are Southern Raised, a bluegrass band from the Ozark Mountains that has created a trademark sound where classical meets bluegrass and city streets meet country roads. 

Postcards visited recently with sibling band members Emily (Reith) Clayton and Matt Reith so we can share with readers more about the group ahead of their upcoming performance on May 10, 2024 at Old Town Theatre in Huntsville, Texas.

As a group, you have such a different style and sound combination. How did that happen?

Growing up, we didn’t have a lot of outside musical influences other than classical music.  I know that’s probably unusual for a group from the Ozarks.  Shortly before 2007, when the band started, we became interested in bluegrass. We saw bluegrass family groups at Silver Dollar City, near where we live, and just fell in love with that style of music; but our instrument learning and playing had already been steeped in classical, with orchestral-type experiences and lessons.  We started the band with bluegrass, and it was really several years before we did anything with classical music in the group.

How old were all of you when the band started?

We started as four siblings.  Lindsay was 20, Sarah was 18, Emily was 12, and Matt was 9.  Of course, we all started out learning to play instruments prior to that, and doing very local shows.  It wasn’t even really an “intentional” band start.  It kind of happened by accident.  We loved that bluegrass sound we heard, and we thought let’s just get some bluegrass instruments and play around.  Then our grandmother had us play for a senior function at her church.  It was just the three girls…Matt hadn’t begun guitar yet, so he wasn’t with us.  And we didn’t sing, because that’s NOT something we grew up doing <laughs>.  We did an hour of bluegrass instrumental tunes. Then we started getting requests to appear, and it just grew.  Looking back, for sure it was a God thing, because it wasn’t something we really “tried to do.”

Matt, who originally played only the cello, learned guitar in order to join the group.  He recalls his first appearance with the group was a few months later at an outdoor amphitheater.  He joined for one song, “Orange Blossom Special,” because that’s all he had learned at that point.

The group name is Southern Raised.  Where exactly were you raised?

We were all born in northwest Arkansas.  We have been here near Branson, Missouri for almost 20 years.  Sarah got married and left the group to settle down in late 2019.  She now lives in Kansas and has two daughters.  At that point, we added musician Alex Clayton into the group.  That developed into another family relationship when Alex and Emily got married!  So, now the group is three siblings and a spouse.

That’s interesting!  Tell more about this Alex connection.

We actually met through a promoter who connected us.  We didn’t know him at all before that.  He was working at a music shop in Springfield.  The three siblings did an interview with him in a small practice room at the shop.  Alex later shared that it felt more like an “interrogation.”  It’s quite a big deal when you try to replace a sibling in a sibling group.  I’m sure we were kind of overwhelming.  We did one show with him before Covid hit, so it was a really weird transition, as well.

Emily and Alex started dating in April 2020.  Like the beginning of the band, neither really saw that coming, and that also seemed like God gifted a real blessing into an otherwise hard transition and difficult situation.  The couple got engaged in September, married in March 2021, and now have a toddler son.

Describe yourselves.

Matt plays guitar, cello, and penny whistle.  He handles logistics and finances for the band, as well as giving input on creatives and arrangements.  He is also the newlywed of the group, having married in August 2023.  He enjoys mountain biking.

Emily plays violin, mandolin, and ukulele.  She works on creatives and arrangements.  She loves traveling, writing, and interior design.

Lindsay plays bass and is the emcee for the group.  She loves hiking and gardening.

Alex plays banjo, dobro, guitar, and bass.  He is laid back and quiet, and he enjoys cooking, traveling, target shooting, and exercising.

Where did the Celtic come in?

We have some Irish ancestry on our mother’s side, but that’s not really the source behind it.  We also really enjoy that style of music.  It’s a favorite for each of us, and we have found that it lends itself well to the bluegrass instruments.  That makes it fun!

You have some unusual choices for song selections.  When it comes to the creative side, how do you select?

We like choosing older songs that haven’t been revisited a lot.  They seem to go really well with our style of music, and we get a lot of comments from people whose memories are touched by them.  It’s a cool way to have a musical “connection” with folks.  We do try to read all the comments on YouTube as well, to see what people who are following us want to hear.  We have gone on a little run of doing some older classics recently, and we have found that people really love that and are kind of craving it.  It also translates well to stage, because a lot of the people who come to see us found us on YouTube.

What is something you want people to know about your group or your family?

Our ultimate goal, always, is to share the message of Jesus Christ—and the hope, and the love, and the acceptance we have in Him.

Check out the group at www.southernraisedband.com or give a listen on YouTube.  Don’t miss Southern Raised at the Old Town Theatre in Huntsville on May 10^th.  Visit www.oldtowntheatre-huntsville.org to purchase tickets.