Named after a Southern saying for a corn liquor that drinks down smooth, Sanctum Sully’s sound does just that. With a sound all its own and a slogan of traditionally untraditional, the group is not your dad’s bluegrass band. "We respect the idea of traditional bluegrass, at the same time we hope not to disrespect anyone with our music,” says group member Matt Mommsen

Sanctum Sully’s sound started at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk where Matt and Jay Franck kept the residents of their dorms up all night playing electric guitars. They found each other again a few years later in Asheville. They gathered three more friends, Matt Blue (bass), Win Webster (guitar), and Bill Turner (banjo) to make what they call a learn-as-they-go bluegrass band. Jay now plays mandolin for the band while Matt is still on guitar.

A friend signed the band up for an open mic night at Ed Boudreauux’s Bayou Bar-B-Que in Asheville. Bill wasn’t sure about playing in front of people but went with the group anyway. Because they were playing in public the guys needed a name. Jay‘s girlfriend, who had been reading a book on Southern colloquialisms, thought the whiskey-loving bunch should embrace a name that embodied their passion for life, music, and fun. After the newly named group played, the crowd went wild and Sanctum Sully thought it had brought the house down, only to realize everyone was cheering at the TV as Michael Phelps had just won one of his gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Since that night, Sanctum Sully has taken off playing in many different venues in and around Asheville including the Pisgah Brewing Company, MoDaddy’s, and various festivals. The guys enjoy festivals because of the fun of being part of the overall event and the camaraderie they have with other musicians.

Sanctum Sully is branching out of the Asheville area and trying its hand in neighboring states. When the group ventured to Bristol, Tennessee, and Martinsville, Virginia, they weren’t sure how they would be received, but they have had a great reaction from new fans. Matt says he’s had people tell him they don’t typically like bluegrass, but they like what Sanctum Sully is doing. No matter where the band goes, the crowds seem to be picking up the sound.

As Sanctum Sully continues to grow its fan base around Asheville and the Southeast, the members look forward to the future. In addition to adding more and more live dates, Sanctum Sully will hit the recording studio this fall and plans to have its new album out by the spring of 2012. With three of the members being the group's songwriters you're sure to hear an array of great songs that all offer the distinct sound of Sanctum Sully. Jay says he’s looking to spread that sound all over the country with the help of his bandmates and their new management.

If you haven’t heard Sanctum Sully and their untraditional bluegrass sound Matt says the guys can show you better than they can tell you. Catch them this summer at the Pisgah Brewing Company July 22 at 9 p.m., the Bele Chere Festival July 29 at 5 p.m., or MoDaddy’s August 19 at 8 p.m.

For more information about the group, visit the Sanctum Sully website.