Screamin' Bridge - R.A. Fountain

Mar 1 2025

Screamin’ Bridge

Links

Location: R.A. Fountain

Screamin’ Bridge!
Bluegrass Saturday Night
& CD Release Party

Screamin’ Bridge, started by Matthew Manning in Spring 2022, proved they were one of the best bluegrass bands working in East Carolina when they debuted here in December 2024. From Martin County, they’re a quartet of fine musicians who’ve got sweet old-style harmonies and powerful lead vocals. Tonight they’re celebrating release of their second CD, You Gotta Dig–copies available tonight.

Manning and his cousin Brendan Mobley are deeply rooted in the traditional music. Manning grew up playing bluegrass in the family band Dry Creek and at bluegrass festivals, and with Jacob Vaughan and Justin Edwards, he and Mobley organized Screamin’ Bridge. Edwards, Manning, and Mobley were all part of the locally renowned Martin County Ramblers.

December 7, 2024 at RAF

Edwards has also recently released a solo CD, Isabella, with Pattie Kinlaw Hopkins guest fiddling.

Screamin’ Bridge was one of 8 bands selected to perform at the Merlefest ’24 band competition.

Their self-titled debut album featured 15 original songs, including two instrumentals, all composed by Manning and Edwards.

Manning plays guitar and mandolin, Mobley is on fiddle, Edwards on guitar, banjo, and Dobro, and Vaughan plays upright bass.

Justin and Jacob are from Bear Grass and Matthew and Brendan are from Farm Life.

The band takes its name from a renowned Martin County bridge and its ghost story, which they explain in a song on their first CD, also called Screamin’ Bridge, and which you can watch here.

Read more about ’em in Bluegrass Today.
By Donna Davis

Bonus! Watch ’em perform the Larry Cordele song “Low on the Hog.”