Weirs, an experimental collective from central North Carolina, have announced their new album, Diamond Grove, set for release on October 3, via Dear Life. This sophomore effort is a living document of a specific time, place, and gathering of friends. As band organiser Oliver Child-Lanning explains, “We wanted Diamond Grove to be a record in the truest sense.” Taking its name from a small, unincorporated area in Brunswick County, Virginia, the album was recorded directly at Diamond Grove Farm, using the farmhouse, outbuildings, and natural surroundings as a studio.
You can hear this unique recording process immediately on the lead single and album opener, “I Want to Die Easy.” A traditional hymn inspired by A Golden Ring of Gospel’s recording, Weirs’ rendition strips away any notion of pristine authenticity. Instead, the track embraces the sonic imperfections of its environment. The vocals, full of a deep, resonant melancholy, are bathed in a natural two-second reverb courtesy of the dairy farm silo in which they were recorded. The result is a sound that feels both ancient and utterly contemporary, where the recording site itself becomes a crucial element of the performance, standing as an equal partner to the voices and instruments.
This approach is at the heart of Weirs’ mission. The collective’s lineup, which Child-Lanning describes as “neither definitive nor precious,” is a rotating cast of collaborators that brings a rich tapestry of influences to the project. This mix of players, from various well-known bands, creates a sound that is uniquely their own. It includes Child-Lanning himself, a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist who is also a member of the band Fust. His Fust and Sluice collaborators, Justin Morris and Libby Rodenbough, also feature prominently. Rodenbough, also known for her work as a vocalist and fiddler in the folk quartet Mipso, brings her fierce songwriting and melodic ingenuity to the mix. The collective is further bolstered by members of Magic Tuber Stringband: Evan Morgan, Courtney Werner, and Mike DeVito. Longtime Weirs stalwarts Andy McLeod, Alli Rogers, and Oriana Messer round out the ensemble, contributing their playing and singing deep into the late summer evenings.
The music of Weirs feels less like a folk revival and more like a fusion of musique concrète and the deep, rich tapestry of the evangelical South. Diamond Grove is a defence against the current of mass-produced vernaculars. It pushes back against the notion that folk music must remain “pure” or that we can return to a simpler time. Instead, Weirs embraces the complexity of the present, understanding that the histories caught up in this music have a vital role to play in the days to come. It’s a powerful statement that makes Diamond Grove both an album and a historical artefact of a moment in time—a weir against the current, slowing down the flow just enough to let the deep, rich sounds of the past and present mingle and evolve.
Weirs will be celebrating the release of Diamond Grove with a series of U.S. Mid-Atlantic and Southeast tour dates this fall, beginning with a hometown album release show on October 3.
Pre-Order Diamond Grove via Bandcamp
Shows
October 03 @ FEAST V – Orange County, NC (album release show)
December 8 @ Rhizome – Washington, DC
December 9 @ The Perch – Philadelphia, PA
December 10 @ Clatter Cafe – Frostburg, MD
December 11 @ NCC – Blacksburg, VA
December 12 @ Static Age – Asheville, NC
December 13 @ Flicker Theater – Athens, GA