Local musicians find national audience with folk album

Local musicians’ folk success story centers on Mebanesville, a Piedmont-based band that has expanded from home-studio collaboration into a nationally recognized project. The Alamance County group recently released the digital album “ICE Fishing in America: Songs in the Moment,” co-written by Mebane musician Larry Vellani and songwriter Si Kahn. After launch, the album reached No. 5 on AirPlay Direct’s Top 50 Folk and Americana Albums chart. That ranking places the local artists alongside nationally known acts in the folk genre. The project reflects how material developed in informal settings can attract broader attention, supported by streaming-era visibility and chart placement. The release is positioned as a breakthrough for the band’s regional roots.