"Things Have Changed" for Benson
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"Things Have Changed" for Benson

Friday, March 14, 2025 – Benson — the duo of banjo player Kristin Scott Benson and her mandolinist husband, Wayne Benson — release their first new music of the year with "Things Have Changed."

Benson dials back the tempo and mood with this Harley Allen song from his 1983 solo debut. The son of bluegrass legend Red Allen, Harley wrote hits for artists like Alan Jackson, Blake Shelton and Dierks Bentley. IBMA Guitar Player of the Year Cody Kilby, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out bassist Kevin McKinnon and guest singer Dustin Pyrtle help out. Allen died in 2011.

"We're excited for this song to finally come out," said Kristin. "We love the lead vocal by Dustin Pyrtle, and the sentiment of 'Things Have Changed' is universal. It seems things do change so fast these days. Downtown Nashville is different every time I go. But even in small towns, you feel it, both physically and relationally with the people who live there. I love the line, 'I'm sort of glad that Mom and Dad ain't around.' That melancholy embodies the mood of this guy who goes back home and feels an overall sense of loss."

Tipping their hat to the original recording with the same sparse instrumentation and mandolin kickoff, Benson retain the song's original air of resignation.

"Wayne and I love to play this slower tempo on mandolin and banjo," Kristin said. "He gets to tremolo and I get to play fun chord-based banjo. I always enjoy playing this kind of banjo backup."

Wayne said, "I've always loved Harley Allen and certainly do love this song. Dustin Pyrtle seemed like the perfect singer to reach out to, and man! Did he ever deliver the goods on this one."

After years of paving separate musical paths, the couple decided it was time to integrate their identities and create something new together. Benson is their first combined effort, despite having been married for over 20 years.

Wayne Benson is a 25-year veteran of the seven-time IBMA Vocal Group of the Year, Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out.

Kristin Scott Benson is a six-time IBMA Banjo Player of the Year and recipient of the Steve Martin Award for Excellence in Bluegrass and Banjo. She has been a member of the GRAMMY-nominated Grascals since 2008.


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CD reviews

Benson is the top tier bluegrass musician duo of Wayne Benson and wife, Kristin Scott Benson. Wayne is the long-time mandolin man for IIIrd Tyme Out, while Kristin is the banjo player for The Grascals. "Pick Your Poison" is their first album together, coming about during the downtime necessitated – and afforded - by the pandemic. No one can question their proficiency on their respective instruments, and while there are a few instrumental numbers here that demonstrate their ...
CD review - Stringworks Four-time IBMA Banjo Player of the Year Kristin Scott Benson's "Stringworks" is a beautifully balanced bluegrass album alternating between instrumentals and songs. Claire Lynch breathlessly interprets Cheryl Wheeler's modern folk classic "When Fall Comes to New England" and Scott Benson's pals from The Grascals - Terry Eldredge and John Bryan - help out on one of the most engaging tracks, "Foggy Mountain Top." This track is spectacular not only for ...
CD review - Second Season Though she still looks hardly more than a teenager, Kristin Scott Benson has built up a solid and lengthy resume over the past decade as one of the more talented and capable banjo players on the bluegrass circuit through her session work as well as stints with high-profile band leaders like Larry Stephenson. Though as capable of lightning-fast licks as any, she demonstrates a nice melodic touch on this 12-track solo disc - her second - with tributes to icons Earl Scruggs (Bugle Call Rag) and Bill ...


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