meet the band
Eighteen Mile History
Eighteen Mile is a bluegrass band whose story is rooted in friendship, family, faith, and a shared passion for music.
The story of Eighteen Mile began when Carson Aaron, Savannah Aaron, and Hallie Ritter met while traveling with their college bluegrass band. Nearly every weekend, they traveled across the country, performing in churches and gaining years of experience on stages across the country. Those miles on the road helped forge the musical chemistry and close friendships that would eventually become the foundation of Eighteen Mile.
Carson Aaron
Carson Aaron, originally from Quitman, Arkansas, grew up surrounded by music and began playing in churches as a child. At just five years old, he started playing upright bass with his father's bluegrass band. By 17, he had joined the award-winning Branson, Missouri-based group Southern Strings, performing at venues including Silver Dollar City and the International Bluegrass Music Association's World of Bluegrass Festival.
Carson is a vocalist, instrumentalist, and songwriter. His musical versatility and love for traditional bluegrass have become an important part of Eighteen Mile's distinctive sound.
savannah aaron
Savannah Aaron came to bluegrass from a very different musical background. Originally from Rexburg, Idaho, she began playing violin at just three years old and spent her childhood immersed in classical and orchestral music. She participated in piano competitions, chamber groups, violin camps, honor ensembles, and youth orchestras, eventually serving as concertmaster of her school orchestra for seven years.
After discovering bluegrass, Savannah quickly established herself as a gifted fiddle player. Her classical training, combined with her growing appreciation for bluegrass, gives Eighteen Mile's music a distinctive instrumental voice. Savannah and Carson married in 2024, bringing an additional family connection to the band's music.
Hallie Ritter, a native of Robbins, North Carolina, also grew up surrounded by music. She began learning piano and guitar at nine years old and developed a love for bluegrass while performing alongside her brother, Jack. She played in several bluegrass groups and earned individual and band honors at fiddlers' conventions.
Hallie is also an accomplished songwriter and vocalist. Her ability to combine deeply personal stories of faith with the traditional sounds of bluegrass has become one of Eighteen Mile's defining characteristics.hallie ritter
Hallie's brother, Jack Ritter, brings another generation of bluegrass tradition to the group. He began playing bass at age 10 with a small church group that performed in churches and nursing homes. At 12, he began studying banjo and quickly became active in the local bluegrass community. He went on to win first-place honors at several fiddlers' conventions, including the Theron Caviness Banjo Player of the Year award twice.
Jack is also an accomplished songwriter. His instrumental song "Spider on the Banjo" reflects the combination of technical skill, traditional bluegrass influence, and creativity that he brings to Eighteen Mile.jack ritter
As the musicians continued performing together, their shared musical identity became increasingly clear. They began developing a sound that respected the traditions of bluegrass while embracing the harmony-driven arrangements and faith-centered songwriting of gospel and Southern gospel music.
Eighteen Mile is often compared to The Isaacs, whose music similarly crosses the boundaries of gospel, bluegrass, and Southern gospel. Like The Isaacs, Eighteen Mile combines strong family and vocal harmonies, acoustic bluegrass instrumentation, and songs centered on faith and personal testimony. While Eighteen Mile has developed its own sound and identity, the comparison reflects the band's ability to move naturally between genres.
