On By the Light of the Moon, the sophomore long-player from the Magnolia Street String Band, frontwoman Sheila Shukla’s honeyed vocals are lifted by blue-sky harmonies, while the group’s elegant, eloquent musicianship is sure to bring a smile to anyone who considers themselves a fan of bluegrass. While this is ostensibly a record aimed at engaging younger listeners, By the Light of the Moon speaks to the wide-eyed child in all of us. 

Magnolia Street String Band started in 2013 as an informal project between Matthew Backes, Shukla, and friends in Highland Park, NJ. Soon enough they found themselves joined by Bobby Baxmeyer (Steve Martin’s “Bright Star”), Ron Greenstein (Chad Mitchell Trio, Tom Paxton) the late Paul Prestopino (Peter Paul and Mary, Chad Mitchell Trio), Gary Olyear (Loggins and Messina) and Nick Conte.

By the Light of the Moon came to be naturally. Shukla has been teaching music to children for years, and in the midst of a particularly fraught class one day she used music to change the energy in the room. Inspiration struck, and she then decided that the new record would be aimed at listeners of all ages.

Once the bones of the record had been written, the band turned to guitarist and producer Bob Harris to track. A bluegrass icon who has played guitar for fiddle legend Vassar Clements for decades, Harris has been a part of more than one thousand records by the likes of Johnny Cash and more. 

By the Light of the Moon captures the contagious joy that is inherent in the genre, painting pictures full of whimsy and fun