Hardwood Heart was born out of compulsion - a desire for guitarist Josh Clinger and mandolin player Jed Nussbaum to keep as musically active and exploratory as possible. What started as two songwriters swapping tunes in backyards and living rooms turned into an impressive catalog of original material and covers, woven together with creative improvisation and vocal harmonies. Together they paired up with bassist Caleb Mattis and forged a sound rooted in bluegrass but stretching into jazz, folk, blues and rock and roll. The trio used the slowdown in 2020 to focus on expanding their repertoire and record two EPs, “The Longer Road” and “Sail My Sins”, showcasing the band’s intimate lyrics and tasteful instrumentation.