Sun Hill Records is proud to announce May 15, 2008 is the official release date of the new Steven Courtney and His Band of Friends album titled Hootenanny In The Sky.

Hootenanny In The Sky is the new folk rock gospel album from Steven Courtney and His Band of Friends.  The album features seven brand new songs and a handful of new arrangements for back catalog songs like "Pass the Fruit," and "Let the Light Shine." 

The band tracked the album over a period of 19 days in February of 2008 with several group sessions and numerous overdub sessions.  "We really tore into it " says Steven Courtney, " we had already started recording sessions for another project called Rolling Home and then the Hootenanny sessions occured.  It just seemed like we were destined to finish Hootenanny In the Sky first.  I'm glad we did finish Hooteanny first.  The Hootenanny sessions really helped us to re-focus our direction when we returned to the studio to continue the Rolling Home sessions in March."

Jere Groft sat in with the Band of Friends playing drums and assorted percussion on five tracks.  Jere and Steven worked together in the band Eastern Cafe between 1983-85 and the Hootenanny sessions were the first time the two friends had recorded together since March of 1985. Steven Courtney recently commented to the Band of Friends that  "working with Jere again has been a great experience and,  I was impressed with how well Jere fit in with the band.  Hopefully Jere can work with us again on future projects and maybe even play some live shows with us."

More new music from Steven Courtney and His Band of Friends is scheduled for release this summer.  Rolling Home is filled with 11 new world class recordings from the band. Concert favorite "Big Boatload of Bananas" and "Elmer's Electric Tricycle" kick up the fun-o-meter a few notches while americana flavored "Mister Rabbit " lends the album a beautiful lullaby track.

"I  think the band has come to a really good place musically on this album.  All of the instrumentation is  acoustic and yet it has a folk-rock overtone sonically" says Steven Courtney.  " Mike is playing some great stuff on the dobro,  Alden stretched out and played piano on a few tracks, Doug taps into the mandolin for the first time and Frank's bass work is stellar."

Other album track tiltles are "Rolling Home", "Strange Old Cat", "Three Monkey Pirates", "Happy Anniversary", "Little Rockin' Band", "Sail Away Lady, Sail Away", "Hey Mockingbird", and the album closer "Scarecrow."

The band is set to launch " THE ROLLING HOME" Traveling  MUSIC   Show, comprised of a rocking caravan of musicians, this spring with tour support concert dates booked through 2010.