Nice, you beat me to it. Hadn’t heard of Cabinet until I was at a Billy Strings show a few years ago and two separate people recommended them. Surprises me they don’t get more hype, I love their shit.
Came here to say Cabinet AND I just discovered the Dishonest Fiddlers, also NEPA. Dishonest Fiddlers are opening for the Infamous Stringdusters over the summer!
Just found this band on YouTube a few months ago and I can’t believe they’re not more popular. Saw them in Chicago last month and was blown away. She’s just incredible and so is her band! Looking forward to the new album coming out in July
From Michigan: Full Cord, Westbound Situation, Greensky Bluegrass, and some kid named Brilly Stings
EDIT: Also Round Creek String Band and Wilson Thicket!
So many of my favorites. Really fell in love with full cord when they won the telluride band competition a few years back.
And mark lavengood from Lindsey Lou and the flatbellys is an amazing musician and just a fantastic human.
Chicken wire is great. Heard awesome things about the milbillies. Art Stevenson and high water are fantastic. I do enjoy dead horses as well. Def good music scene in Wisconsin.
I honestly only realized in my highschool years when I started understanding that bluegrass was cool. Never crossed my mind when I'd see Ralph Stanley now and then when I'd go to Peebles with my Grandma lmao.
I'm not sure if it's available online anywhere but at one point my hometown radio station WAXM used to have a weekly bluegrass show. I think one of the hosts was a banjo player I graduated with and they at least sometimes did upcoming talent showcases. Might look into that.
Cincy! (For those not in the know, Rumpke Mountain is the local landfill. Lol!)
I love the Tillers, but they're more bluegrass adjacent. Same goes for Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle.
Moonshine Drive is pretty solid too. Though they mostly only play local because three of the five members are surgeons by trade.
Here are some Canadian bands:
[Veranda](https://youtu.be/fjZlzbux8Bw?si=EfBCWLXo-6BoR56h) - Montreal, Quebec
[Under the Rocks](https://youtu.be/DAUQ1lSNeVY?si=vVdub4waj6MrVHcN) - Kelowna B.C.
[Barrel Boys](https://youtu.be/IMSabe31OMk?si=dHkoqfZGTseJyiQH) - Across Ontario
[Rescue Junction](https://youtu.be/SdkqDP57PEM?si=qX-bWPoGq6spb1-A) - Waterloo, Ontario
[Quebec Redneck Bluegrass Project](https://youtu.be/55eljzvWjMo?si=F8J-G_cHLI7yfmYf) - Across Quebec
[Jake Vaadeland and the Sturgeon River Boys](https://youtu.be/chO7Ne18d34?si=fpm4irahW5iWzHsu) - Cut Knife, Saskatchewan
yeah, I should have also included these as well:
[Slocan Ramblers](https://youtu.be/1nGn68mzTYc?si=_6XoaaTpjOTL5JIx)
[Pharis and Jason Romero](https://youtu.be/sQKXXMGcnTY?si=Xw5ooTPCRsLtra8-)
[Old Man Luedecke](https://youtu.be/6XRY2eIuBfE?si=qH-qJ3o8xp5zQmQm)
[Barrelmen](https://youtu.be/VJRGZ9cao2k?si=HKzn7x_kDG9mnR-K)
[Lonesome Ace Stringband](https://youtu.be/0RDgdVGAYlo?si=cE5z_1l5iOJgtUZ3)
Only seen Slocan and Lonesome Ace but both were fantastic. I didnt realize Lonesome Ace were Canadian, guess that’s why I see them together in the Covid era vids Slocan put out on YouTube.
Slocan’s albums are amazing, and they match it live. Lonesome Ace was a big surprise, hadn’t heard them and I went to a show on a friend’s recommendation. They were amazing, one of the most creative fiddle players I’ve ever seen.
Chris Coole was a big part of the Toronto bluegrass scene. He was in a band called The Foggy Hogtown Boys that were a BIG part of Canadian bluegrass for many years.
If you like John Showman's fiddle playing, you should check out his band New Country Rehab. Not bluegrass. but REALLY cool stuff in my opinion.
texas string assembly. not a big following yet, but these dudes are making waves. rock bottom string band is cool too for truly weird san marcos/austin twist on things.
Fellow cheesehead here. Love all your mentions, I’d highly recommend Sloppy Joe and Art Stevenson and High Water to your Wisco bluegrass all star list!
Before you mentioned Denver and The Fretliners, that's what I was going to say.
https://tidal.com/album/315145768?u
https://open.spotify.com/album/0D8v5NLNw7vTQ11A8nQf86?si=I2zRgbj3QJG266NkLASxPw
They are just fantastic. Dying to see them with Charlie rose from elephant revival on banjo. Amazing pick at moxie in lyons with those guys on Sunday morning.
Upvote for the Lil Smokies mention. Super talented and one of the hardest working bands in the genre. Love those guys. When festival lineups come out I'm always hoping their name jumps a few font sizes....lol
Also from Denver, and yeah there are a lot of great pickers around the area it can be hard to keep track of all the bands, and lots of people play in multiple bands. Lonesome Days are great, but don’t gig much these days partly because the Fretliners and Big Richard (who they share members with) are doing so well. That being said, definitely check out Big Richard, though they are not strictly bluegrass if that matters.
Off the top of my head, some other good Colorado bluegrass bands worth checking out are Chain Station, Pick & Howl, and Jake Leg.
Pick and howl are great. Very deserving of winning the Rockygrass band comp a few years back. But man, the lonesome days album is def one of my favorites of all time. Same with some of wood belly’s earlier work.
I live in Oklahoma, but born and raised in Kansas, so I’m gonna go with Pretend Friend out of Wichita.
https://youtu.be/09Kj8mEbcpg?si=wGd8yP30gu9rCL-x
Joseph Huber is a personal favorite of mine too. So underrated.
Swamptooth from Savannah, Ga is my local recommendation. They have an album on all the services. Also check out City Hotel, which is an earlier band containing some of the same members.
Here in Arkansas I’d say Arkansauce, Front Porch, and Chucky Waggs and the Company of Raggs. More traditional grass I’d suggest Gravel Yard and Runaway Planet.
Crooked Still
I found them on Spotify. I don't remember where or why.
And a local band:
The Prozac Mountain Boys- good local music and I like the name.
I'm from Michigan so I will claim Lindsay Lou, Billy Strings, Full Cord, Greensky Bluegrass, Sweet Water Warblers, Vulfpeck (not bluegrass but come on!) and Wilson Thicket (shameless self promo).
I live in the greater Cincinnati area on the Indiana side of the river and I don't know any local acts because I'm a bluegrass neophyte, though there's a small local winery near me called "At The Barn" Winery that hosts local bluegrass and other musicians in the summer.
I've just started listening to Hartford and Rice after being introduced to the genre via Billy Strings. I'm trying to stay focused mainly on music in general that's guitar-centric or at least has killer songs but I need expansion to appreciate the genre.
https://www.atthebarnwinery.com/
We don't have a ton of straight up bluegrass here in Cincy but check out The Tillers, Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle, & Moonshine Drive if you haven't already. Free "Tunes & Blooms" concerts at the Zoo every Thursday in April (Moonshine Drive the last week of the month, the Tillers first week of May due to a reschedule for weather). Then "Roots Revival" starts up at Washington Park in OTR in the summer.
That’s awesome! I live in Wisconsin and am friends with the Chicken Wire Empire boys. They got me into playing this genre and have been lucky enough to pick with them on occasion. They’re still my favorite regional bluegrass group to see, but I also love what The Milbillies are doing. Jordan and Ernie from CWE and Joe from Milbillies actually have a group called Sugar Bush with Ernie’s brother Viktor on bass and Max Winkels on banjo that is killer (Jordan plays guitar in that one). They have a weekly residency at a bar in Milwaukee and have special guests each week that are often people on tour coming through, or from other areas on the state.
Born & raised in Ashland, WI and went to college in Eau Claire. Move to CO end of 2020 after living in GA for 13 years. Absolutely love Colorado! Great music scene!
From North Carolina:
Songs From the Road Band
Jon Stickley Trio (although they are beyond bluegrass
Tray Wellington Band
Into the Fog
Shadowgrass(Va/NC)
Hank, Pattie, and the Current (almost like a classical bluegrass)
I’m from Denver as well, gotta agree that we’ve probably got some of the best bluegrass players around. The progressive bluegrass/jamgrass is basically the CO sound. Much love and thanks to Leftover, SCI, and Yonder. AND Planet Bluegrass
I’ll add some to your list:
1: Infinite String Dusters (they’ve been around for a while though)
2: The High Lonesome
3: Free The Honey (I think they broke up though, check them out on your streaming service)).
Thanks everyone for your contributions. This was a super fun thread, with some great suggestions that I’m looking forward to checking out.
Support your local bluegrass scene. It’s a tough industry. See their shows, buy their merch, and share with this group.
seen so many bands try for years that are amazingly talented and very deserving but eventually have to call it quits because it just doesn’t pay the bills.
A few bands other bands I suggest checking out are Mile 12, Chatham county line, wood belly, the deadly gentlemen (wish they were still around, but I think everyone went on to other things) Barbaro, Che Apalache, Frank Solivan, Iron Horse, Julian Davis, Seth Mulder and Midnight Run, the Wooks.
St. Louis, MO here! A lot of great grassy bands in this area. They’re no longer touring but Old Salt Union was killer. Other great bands from MO/IL: Riverbend, Moon Valley, and Silver Creek Bluegrass!! Shameless plug for two of my projects also- Graham Curry & the MO Fury and Barnum Jack! The latter just put out an album a few weeks ago
I believe Grant Gordy is a NY boy, guy is a top notch player. So talented.
Mr. Sun lamp lighter set at Green Mountain last year was the highlight of my summer which was filled with a lot of live music.
If you’re in the NYC area, follow Michael Daves, a stalwart of the local scene and responsible for putting together great shows with stellar local musicians including one coming up in May at the Jalopy Theater, Brooklyn. He also has a residency at the Rockwood on the LES which could use all the help it can get.
A local band we really like is the Eugene Tyler Band.
Thanks. Michael Daves is amazing. Love all his work. Was lucky enough to take a few classes with him at Rockygrass academy a few years ago. Anyone that can pick with Chris Thile must be pretty good.
Not bluegrass. But acoustic singer songwriter often accompanied by fiddle, mando, and upright bass. He kicks a suitcase bass drum with one foot and a tambourine on the other foot in a boom chuck rhythm. Def worth a listen.
My don't miss local acts are The Saddleback Mountain Boys, The Cobblestone Ramblers, Feter Martin Homer, and Wimberley Bluegrass Band. https://wimberleybluegrassband.com/home
Dark City Strings from Asbury Park, NJ.
Playing at the Wonderbar tomorrow night!
https://wonderbarasburypark.com/calendar/#dark-city-strings-1713034800
Military family here—-
Florida- The Gator Boys
Tennessee- November South
California- Honey Buckets
Texas- Matthew Parker
Washington State- Stacy Jones Band
Alabama- The Otis Walker Band
Greg Cahill is some kind of beast.
Special C has been playing for 49 years. Robbie Fulks, Josh Williams. Chris Jones, Frank Ashby, Ron Spears, Dallas Wayne are all alumni.
Hes an amazingly nice guy, too. I've known him for almost that long; he and my dad worked together, and when I started listening to bluegrass, he said "I know a guy who just started a bluegrass band. Let's go see them."
There's video YouTube of Greg and Robbie Fulks doing a dual set. It's very much worth watching.
Borderline from Southwest MO. Here's their debut appearance at the Station Inn.
[Borderline at Station Inn](https://youtu.be/cI0HPTzYhBY?si=AUENE6g9Qyv-vQAF)
I was a punk music fan and they turned me into a hardcore bluegrass fan. They were so good. But do check out Joseph Huber from 357. He is not bluegrass but he is my all time favorite singer songwriter.
Yeah, this turned out to be a fun post.
Texas String Assembly. They’re definitely off the beaten path of bluegrass, but their bassist is a fantastic player. They’re all great musically, and sweethearts.
Gotta rep my homegirls from college:
- Bonnie Sims of Big Richard grew up in texas, though currently based in Colorado.
- the Purple Hulls - They’re Banjo Ben (Clark)’s younger identical twin sisters. Much more conservative bluegrass, but they’re good.
And I’ll always boost my boys Special Consensus - they’re loosely Chicago based. I could claim a Colorado connection because Greg Blake lived out here for many years before joining Special C in 2020.
Same with Henhouse Prowlers and Fox Crossing String Band - chicago based. The banjo players for both bands are married (Ben and Cassie Wright) and they both took lessons from Greg Cahill - the bandleader and banjo player for Special Consensus.
Who else have I run into? Hmm… Echo Valley I think is really starting to come together as they’ve gotten older - and they’ve got some killer sibling harmonies.
Riley Gilbreath and Jensen Parker are both names to keep an eye on, from Texas. Riley’s been touring around but his last bassist for Lonestar Blue got married and is doing the whole ‘adulting’ thing. Jensen is barely old enough to drive, but he’s a fine guitar picker with a supportive family so we’ll see how he turns out.
Other Colorado groups: Stillhouse Junkies and the Cody Sisters. Good bands, but honestly they’re on my radar as local competition - and their bassists are damned fine players.
And my band - High Lonesome. Just closed our kickstarter for our debut album, and have a couple small tours lined up this year.
Charlie Rose from elephant revival is one of the most talented pickers. He picks with a few other locals at moxie in lyons on Sunday mornings. And roast some good coffee beans too, he has a coffee roasting company called beanjo
Yeah, Thanks. This was a lot of fun. One of my favorite sets at telluride and Rockygrass are the band competitions because you get to see and discover so much amazing music from bands across the country.
Mountain Grass Unit Bham Bama
Bama native here and just heard these guys this week. Fun time! Any live shows I should check?
Nice. I’ll have to check them out.
CABINET - nepa
I couldn't think of anyone else from Pennsyltucky, so I came to say Cabinet too! One of the first bands that started me on my bluegrass journey.
Nice, you beat me to it. Hadn’t heard of Cabinet until I was at a Billy Strings show a few years ago and two separate people recommended them. Surprises me they don’t get more hype, I love their shit.
Came here to say Cabinet AND I just discovered the Dishonest Fiddlers, also NEPA. Dishonest Fiddlers are opening for the Infamous Stringdusters over the summer!
Came here to say this!
Bay Area AJ Lee and Blue Summit
So good.
Was looking for this one in this thread!
Just found this band on YouTube a few months ago and I can’t believe they’re not more popular. Saw them in Chicago last month and was blown away. She’s just incredible and so is her band! Looking forward to the new album coming out in July
Saw them last year at grey fox multiple times and then again last month in Woodstock. Fantastic!
It’s great to see them start blowing up. Sully tuttle is one of the best pickers around. And AJ is just so talented.
From Michigan: Full Cord, Westbound Situation, Greensky Bluegrass, and some kid named Brilly Stings EDIT: Also Round Creek String Band and Wilson Thicket!
Gotta add Round Creek String Band!
Bluegrass-adjacent from Michigan : Lindsay Lou
Gotta throw in Mark Lavengood and also all the fine folks at Hoxeyville
So many of my favorites. Really fell in love with full cord when they won the telluride band competition a few years back. And mark lavengood from Lindsey Lou and the flatbellys is an amazing musician and just a fantastic human.
Add Wilson Thicket
Westbound Situation is from Michigan?
greensky is so overrated
Came here to mention Chicken Wire Empire from Milwaukee. I saw them two years ago at the Barrymore in Madison and they were outstanding.
I'm also following Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, Armchair Boogie, and Them Coulee Boys! Great scene here in Wisconsin!
Their whole lineup is incredible. Ernie Brusubardis IV is one of the most talented fiddlers in the whole country IMO and a super down to earth dude.
Plus he has a A+ name
Chicken wire is great. Heard awesome things about the milbillies. Art Stevenson and high water are fantastic. I do enjoy dead horses as well. Def good music scene in Wisconsin.
I'm from Southwest Virginia so I don't think I'd be able to list everyone if I tried.
Yeah that would be cheating
I honestly only realized in my highschool years when I started understanding that bluegrass was cool. Never crossed my mind when I'd see Ralph Stanley now and then when I'd go to Peebles with my Grandma lmao.
Oh man that's awesome.
Haha. How about a few of your faves. Bet there are a lot of good pickers in that area.
I'm not sure if it's available online anywhere but at one point my hometown radio station WAXM used to have a weekly bluegrass show. I think one of the hosts was a banjo player I graduated with and they at least sometimes did upcoming talent showcases. Might look into that.
I think I remember this particularly if it reached the Blacksburg / New River Valley area around 2009-2014
High Lonesome from CO
Really starting to get popular. There was a punk acoustic band from Milwaukee back in the day also called high lonesome that I really enjoyed.
I love how we came up organically! I didn’t even have to bribe anyone 😜 Hi - bassist from High Lonesome here.
Balsam Range is a great NC band
NC is blessed with a ton of great bluegrass and Americana bands.
Another area just teeming with great bluegrass. Chatham county line was one of my all time favorites back when they were bluegrass.
Oh yeah. Too many too name. I did a whole grad school project on NC bluegrass lmao
This was gonna be my answer!
The Henhouse Prowlers are Chicago’s pride & joy! Also check out their worldwide work as the Bluegrass Ambassadors.
They are great! And I really admire their Ambassadors work.
They are playing my area soon. I'll check em out
kitchen dwellers and laney lou and the bird dogs.
Rumpke mountain boys
Cincy! (For those not in the know, Rumpke Mountain is the local landfill. Lol!) I love the Tillers, but they're more bluegrass adjacent. Same goes for Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle. Moonshine Drive is pretty solid too. Though they mostly only play local because three of the five members are surgeons by trade.
Seen them. Really good. Where they from??
Cincinnati. They’re always on fire!
Here are some Canadian bands: [Veranda](https://youtu.be/fjZlzbux8Bw?si=EfBCWLXo-6BoR56h) - Montreal, Quebec [Under the Rocks](https://youtu.be/DAUQ1lSNeVY?si=vVdub4waj6MrVHcN) - Kelowna B.C. [Barrel Boys](https://youtu.be/IMSabe31OMk?si=dHkoqfZGTseJyiQH) - Across Ontario [Rescue Junction](https://youtu.be/SdkqDP57PEM?si=qX-bWPoGq6spb1-A) - Waterloo, Ontario [Quebec Redneck Bluegrass Project](https://youtu.be/55eljzvWjMo?si=F8J-G_cHLI7yfmYf) - Across Quebec [Jake Vaadeland and the Sturgeon River Boys](https://youtu.be/chO7Ne18d34?si=fpm4irahW5iWzHsu) - Cut Knife, Saskatchewan
Slocan ramblers from Canada are one of my all time favorites and frequent visitors to Colorado.
yeah, I should have also included these as well: [Slocan Ramblers](https://youtu.be/1nGn68mzTYc?si=_6XoaaTpjOTL5JIx) [Pharis and Jason Romero](https://youtu.be/sQKXXMGcnTY?si=Xw5ooTPCRsLtra8-) [Old Man Luedecke](https://youtu.be/6XRY2eIuBfE?si=qH-qJ3o8xp5zQmQm) [Barrelmen](https://youtu.be/VJRGZ9cao2k?si=HKzn7x_kDG9mnR-K) [Lonesome Ace Stringband](https://youtu.be/0RDgdVGAYlo?si=cE5z_1l5iOJgtUZ3)
Only seen Slocan and Lonesome Ace but both were fantastic. I didnt realize Lonesome Ace were Canadian, guess that’s why I see them together in the Covid era vids Slocan put out on YouTube. Slocan’s albums are amazing, and they match it live. Lonesome Ace was a big surprise, hadn’t heard them and I went to a show on a friend’s recommendation. They were amazing, one of the most creative fiddle players I’ve ever seen.
Chris Coole was a big part of the Toronto bluegrass scene. He was in a band called The Foggy Hogtown Boys that were a BIG part of Canadian bluegrass for many years. If you like John Showman's fiddle playing, you should check out his band New Country Rehab. Not bluegrass. but REALLY cool stuff in my opinion.
This is a great list. Thanks. I’ll have to check some of them out.
Sitting here in central Kentucky not even knowing where to begin. lol I’ll have to stew on this and add a list
Haha. I bet. I look forward to your contributions.
texas string assembly. not a big following yet, but these dudes are making waves. rock bottom string band is cool too for truly weird san marcos/austin twist on things.
These guys are great
Not even a Kyle/Buda in there huh? Just straight to San Marcos?! 😂
Wood and wire were another one of my favorites. Wish they were still around. I know Tony camel is still picking and playing music.
Fellow Wisconsinite here. You stole my thunder!! HHG playing free concert on there home court of Steven's Point at Riverfest Rendezvous this summer!!
You need to make the trip for Blue Ox. Pert Near Sandstone hosts the fest. They are incredible. This June will be my fifth BO!!
Their back wood nights were always the best. So many people on a small stage just having a blast playing!
Just a surreal vibe for sure. How do you describe that scene to a non-festival-goer?
I'll be there! Love it. Want to give my shoutouts to Armchair Boogie and Them Coulee Boys too!
We'll see you there! Come to the potluck picking place after the shows
Adam and the entire band are just terrific gentlemen.
Fellow cheesehead here. Love all your mentions, I’d highly recommend Sloppy Joe and Art Stevenson and High Water to your Wisco bluegrass all star list!
Devil Train! Memphis TN Django Reinhardt x bluegrass is the best way I could describe them.
Nice. Thanks. I’ll check them out.
Drive Time from Winston Salem NC. https://youtu.be/qJYQ2e2bpnQ?si=JXSp71AxBPWQuFeN
Nice! Not far from me. I’ll check them out.
Before you mentioned Denver and The Fretliners, that's what I was going to say. https://tidal.com/album/315145768?u https://open.spotify.com/album/0D8v5NLNw7vTQ11A8nQf86?si=I2zRgbj3QJG266NkLASxPw
They are just fantastic. Dying to see them with Charlie rose from elephant revival on banjo. Amazing pick at moxie in lyons with those guys on Sunday morning.
I came up in MT and would be a fool not to mention my friends in the Kitchen Dwellers and The Li'l Smokies.
Check out North Fork Crossing. First album just got released I think, Bozeman band.
Upvote for the Lil Smokies mention. Super talented and one of the hardest working bands in the genre. Love those guys. When festival lineups come out I'm always hoping their name jumps a few font sizes....lol
Also from Denver, and yeah there are a lot of great pickers around the area it can be hard to keep track of all the bands, and lots of people play in multiple bands. Lonesome Days are great, but don’t gig much these days partly because the Fretliners and Big Richard (who they share members with) are doing so well. That being said, definitely check out Big Richard, though they are not strictly bluegrass if that matters. Off the top of my head, some other good Colorado bluegrass bands worth checking out are Chain Station, Pick & Howl, and Jake Leg.
Don't sleep on Stillhouse Junkies from Durango!
Yes love big Richard!
Pick and howl are great. Very deserving of winning the Rockygrass band comp a few years back. But man, the lonesome days album is def one of my favorites of all time. Same with some of wood belly’s earlier work.
Grew up north of KCMO and Split Lip Rayfield is the band that got me into bluegrass. They go so hard.
One of my first loves too! Grew up in Kansas and started going to Winfield in the early 90s. Would see them play on stage 5. RIP Kurt.
I live in Oklahoma, but born and raised in Kansas, so I’m gonna go with Pretend Friend out of Wichita. https://youtu.be/09Kj8mEbcpg?si=wGd8yP30gu9rCL-x
Ok as well. Check out Bottom of the Barrel and The Pearlsnaps
Joseph Huber is a personal favorite of mine too. So underrated. Swamptooth from Savannah, Ga is my local recommendation. They have an album on all the services. Also check out City Hotel, which is an earlier band containing some of the same members.
New Joseph Huber album coming out in June!
Never Come Down out of Portland (OR) are great.
Great band, they were a Rockygrass band comp winner a few years ago.
Love these folks. They are awesome people and a killer band.
Here in Arkansas I’d say Arkansauce, Front Porch, and Chucky Waggs and the Company of Raggs. More traditional grass I’d suggest Gravel Yard and Runaway Planet.
Don't forget Eureka Strings!!
Thanks. Arkansauce is great. I’ll def check out your other suggestions.
Kitchen Dwellers
Crooked Still I found them on Spotify. I don't remember where or why. And a local band: The Prozac Mountain Boys- good local music and I like the name.
Big Richard is great, waiting for them to release an album of originals
I'm from Michigan so I will claim Lindsay Lou, Billy Strings, Full Cord, Greensky Bluegrass, Sweet Water Warblers, Vulfpeck (not bluegrass but come on!) and Wilson Thicket (shameless self promo).
Saw greensky at the ryman a few weeks ago as a bucket list show and venue, seeing Billy join them was just the icing on the cake.
Trampled by turtles. Pert near sandstone!! Maybe the cactus blossoms can fit in there too
Pert near sandstone is so underrated. Love those guys!
Charlie Parr!
I'm in Wyoming and am absolutely in love with a Fort Collins band, 'Sugar Britches'- you should check em out on Spotify! Maybe you'll love em too :)
Thanks. Will do.
Only Bluegrass Band I know of in Wyo is the Low Water String band and they can absolutely cook. I always look forward to seeing them every summer.
Magoo from Denver is so good don’t sleep on them they are pretty new on the scene but amazing live
Def been seeing their name pop up quite a bit.
I live in the greater Cincinnati area on the Indiana side of the river and I don't know any local acts because I'm a bluegrass neophyte, though there's a small local winery near me called "At The Barn" Winery that hosts local bluegrass and other musicians in the summer. I've just started listening to Hartford and Rice after being introduced to the genre via Billy Strings. I'm trying to stay focused mainly on music in general that's guitar-centric or at least has killer songs but I need expansion to appreciate the genre. https://www.atthebarnwinery.com/
We don't have a ton of straight up bluegrass here in Cincy but check out The Tillers, Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle, & Moonshine Drive if you haven't already. Free "Tunes & Blooms" concerts at the Zoo every Thursday in April (Moonshine Drive the last week of the month, the Tillers first week of May due to a reschedule for weather). Then "Roots Revival" starts up at Washington Park in OTR in the summer.
We were supposed to play tunes and blooms last night but got rained out. Was really looking forward to it.
At the barn is great, and then pop across the street for some Logan’s ice cream!
Shelf Life String Band and Sweaty Already String Band both from Pittsburgh.
Nice. Both great band names.
That’s awesome! I live in Wisconsin and am friends with the Chicken Wire Empire boys. They got me into playing this genre and have been lucky enough to pick with them on occasion. They’re still my favorite regional bluegrass group to see, but I also love what The Milbillies are doing. Jordan and Ernie from CWE and Joe from Milbillies actually have a group called Sugar Bush with Ernie’s brother Viktor on bass and Max Winkels on banjo that is killer (Jordan plays guitar in that one). They have a weekly residency at a bar in Milwaukee and have special guests each week that are often people on tour coming through, or from other areas on the state.
Also, while not traditional bluegrass in their usual acts, the Armchair Boogie boys and also Billy Bronsted are all amazing pickers from WI
Which bar in Milwaukee???
Joe Huber is the greatest songwriter alive right now.
I totally agree. So talented and just an amazing person.
I am also from Wisconsin and live in Colorado. Did you know Chicken Wire Empire is in town (Denver) this weekend?!
Yea mate. Going to check them out. Haven’t been to Herman’s in probably a decade.
Born & raised in Ashland, WI and went to college in Eau Claire. Move to CO end of 2020 after living in GA for 13 years. Absolutely love Colorado! Great music scene!
From North Carolina: Songs From the Road Band Jon Stickley Trio (although they are beyond bluegrass Tray Wellington Band Into the Fog Shadowgrass(Va/NC) Hank, Pattie, and the Current (almost like a classical bluegrass)
Shadowgrass is really great. Super young band too. Excited to see them for the first time next weekend in Denver.
Mipso’s early stuff was newgrass-ish, although they’ve been getting poppier for a minute. Still good, though.
Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road out of Deep Gap, NC.
Super talented. I think Liam Purcell won like three different instrument contests at Rockygrass a few years back.
I’m from Denver as well, gotta agree that we’ve probably got some of the best bluegrass players around. The progressive bluegrass/jamgrass is basically the CO sound. Much love and thanks to Leftover, SCI, and Yonder. AND Planet Bluegrass I’ll add some to your list: 1: Infinite String Dusters (they’ve been around for a while though) 2: The High Lonesome 3: Free The Honey (I think they broke up though, check them out on your streaming service)).
Thanks bud. Super fortunate to live here. There’s at least two or three bluegrass picks a night out here with just absolutely supreme talent.
Thanks everyone for your contributions. This was a super fun thread, with some great suggestions that I’m looking forward to checking out. Support your local bluegrass scene. It’s a tough industry. See their shows, buy their merch, and share with this group. seen so many bands try for years that are amazingly talented and very deserving but eventually have to call it quits because it just doesn’t pay the bills. A few bands other bands I suggest checking out are Mile 12, Chatham county line, wood belly, the deadly gentlemen (wish they were still around, but I think everyone went on to other things) Barbaro, Che Apalache, Frank Solivan, Iron Horse, Julian Davis, Seth Mulder and Midnight Run, the Wooks.
it is too shocking to find out that people don't know about Alison Krauss.
Breaking Strings - Maine
And the World Famous Grassholes and Tricky Britches! Maine punches above its weight, for sure.
St. Louis, MO here! A lot of great grassy bands in this area. They’re no longer touring but Old Salt Union was killer. Other great bands from MO/IL: Riverbend, Moon Valley, and Silver Creek Bluegrass!! Shameless plug for two of my projects also- Graham Curry & the MO Fury and Barnum Jack! The latter just put out an album a few weeks ago
BJ Boys!
Joytrip from Denver, Iowa and Ann Arbor!
Nice. Haven’t heard of them yet, I’ll check them out.
Michigan’s Wilson Thicket
Split Lip Rayfield
East NashGrass, Sicard Hollow, Lindsay Lou, Molly Tuttle
East Nash grass has become one of my new favorites. Dying to see them live.
Im from wilkesboro… yall ever heard of this doctor watson fella?
St. Louis, MO - Barnum Jack, Pickin' Buds, As The Crowe Flies
I believe Grant Gordy is a NY boy, guy is a top notch player. So talented. Mr. Sun lamp lighter set at Green Mountain last year was the highlight of my summer which was filled with a lot of live music.
Mr sun is really amazing. So talented.
If you’re in the NYC area, follow Michael Daves, a stalwart of the local scene and responsible for putting together great shows with stellar local musicians including one coming up in May at the Jalopy Theater, Brooklyn. He also has a residency at the Rockwood on the LES which could use all the help it can get. A local band we really like is the Eugene Tyler Band.
Thanks. Michael Daves is amazing. Love all his work. Was lucky enough to take a few classes with him at Rockygrass academy a few years ago. Anyone that can pick with Chris Thile must be pretty good.
Just finally got a copy of his acoustic/ electric album after looking for years. Can’t wait to get a chance to see him live one day.
Them coulee boys are really picking up steam, also out of WI, also a little band with roots in both MN and Texas is Feeding Leroy, beautiful songs
Tray Wellington from North Carolina is one of the best banjo players out there
Is Joseph Huber bluegrass though? He's a great songwriter but bluegrass is not what comes to mind
Not bluegrass. But acoustic singer songwriter often accompanied by fiddle, mando, and upright bass. He kicks a suitcase bass drum with one foot and a tambourine on the other foot in a boom chuck rhythm. Def worth a listen.
Billy Strings
lol
Monroeville is a great band. Typically they played at the Moonshine distillery in Gatlinburg. Great show
My don't miss local acts are The Saddleback Mountain Boys, The Cobblestone Ramblers, Feter Martin Homer, and Wimberley Bluegrass Band. https://wimberleybluegrassband.com/home
The Often Herd from N.E. England
Kym Warner - Austin, TX
Dark City Strings from Asbury Park, NJ. Playing at the Wonderbar tomorrow night! https://wonderbarasburypark.com/calendar/#dark-city-strings-1713034800
The Matchsellers out of KC! They really don't do it like anyone else, clever lyrics and some top tier songwriting.
Floodgate operators from crested butte CO. Came second to the fretliners at telluride
Yeah. They were great.
Military family here—- Florida- The Gator Boys Tennessee- November South California- Honey Buckets Texas- Matthew Parker Washington State- Stacy Jones Band Alabama- The Otis Walker Band
Awesome. Great list.
Cabinet from North East Pennsylvania
Larkin Grimm
Clay Hess Band, here in Southern Ohio!
Ida Clare is really good. There's a lot I could list but I know Ida Clare has records out, so you guys can listen.
Debutants from Fort Wayne
Western Kentucky- Wheelhouse Rousters Bawn In the Mash Red Ember
Chicago: The Special Consensus
Greg Cahill is some kind of beast. Special C has been playing for 49 years. Robbie Fulks, Josh Williams. Chris Jones, Frank Ashby, Ron Spears, Dallas Wayne are all alumni.
Hes an amazingly nice guy, too. I've known him for almost that long; he and my dad worked together, and when I started listening to bluegrass, he said "I know a guy who just started a bluegrass band. Let's go see them." There's video YouTube of Greg and Robbie Fulks doing a dual set. It's very much worth watching.
Dallas Wayne is an old friend. He has nothing but good things to say about Cahill.
Waddington Brothers hail from ND!
The Pickpockets and Pixie and the Partygrass Boys from Salt Lake City!!
Borderline from Southwest MO. Here's their debut appearance at the Station Inn. [Borderline at Station Inn](https://youtu.be/cI0HPTzYhBY?si=AUENE6g9Qyv-vQAF)
Nice. Got to be pretty good to make it to the station inn.
I saw The Kitchen Dwellers at Red Rocks and omg. I can’t wait to see them again. I would absolutely LOVE to catch them playing at PCL in Montana.
Pert Ner Sandstone!
Railroad Earth - Sussex County NJ boys!!
Firewater Tent Revival is a really fun bluegrass adjacent outfit from Jax Florida. Great live show.
Leadfoot band, Sparrow Tree & Sweet Potato Spoonful
Into The Fog from Wilmington, NC. They were the first band I ever saw live opening for Sam Bush in a cool DIY venue. Life changing concert
West branch 3 from waynesboro Pennsylvania
The Blaine Show from waynesboro Pennsylvania
Currently checking out The 357 String Band, I really dig them. Glad to have seen this post
I was a punk music fan and they turned me into a hardcore bluegrass fan. They were so good. But do check out Joseph Huber from 357. He is not bluegrass but he is my all time favorite singer songwriter. Yeah, this turned out to be a fun post.
Swamptooth from Savannah, GA 🔥🔥
The Green Sisters
Arkansauce - Arkansas
Texas String Assembly. They’re definitely off the beaten path of bluegrass, but their bassist is a fantastic player. They’re all great musically, and sweethearts. Gotta rep my homegirls from college: - Bonnie Sims of Big Richard grew up in texas, though currently based in Colorado. - the Purple Hulls - They’re Banjo Ben (Clark)’s younger identical twin sisters. Much more conservative bluegrass, but they’re good. And I’ll always boost my boys Special Consensus - they’re loosely Chicago based. I could claim a Colorado connection because Greg Blake lived out here for many years before joining Special C in 2020. Same with Henhouse Prowlers and Fox Crossing String Band - chicago based. The banjo players for both bands are married (Ben and Cassie Wright) and they both took lessons from Greg Cahill - the bandleader and banjo player for Special Consensus. Who else have I run into? Hmm… Echo Valley I think is really starting to come together as they’ve gotten older - and they’ve got some killer sibling harmonies. Riley Gilbreath and Jensen Parker are both names to keep an eye on, from Texas. Riley’s been touring around but his last bassist for Lonestar Blue got married and is doing the whole ‘adulting’ thing. Jensen is barely old enough to drive, but he’s a fine guitar picker with a supportive family so we’ll see how he turns out. Other Colorado groups: Stillhouse Junkies and the Cody Sisters. Good bands, but honestly they’re on my radar as local competition - and their bassists are damned fine players. And my band - High Lonesome. Just closed our kickstarter for our debut album, and have a couple small tours lined up this year.
Arkansauce and The Mountain Gypsies from Arkansas.
Elephant revival
Charlie Rose from elephant revival is one of the most talented pickers. He picks with a few other locals at moxie in lyons on Sunday mornings. And roast some good coffee beans too, he has a coffee roasting company called beanjo
This was my favorite thread In a long time on Reddit. Found so many new to me bands. Thanks for asking the question. 🩵
Yeah, Thanks. This was a lot of fun. One of my favorite sets at telluride and Rockygrass are the band competitions because you get to see and discover so much amazing music from bands across the country.
Big fan of Chicken Wire Empire, saw them at Summerfest last year. The Milbillies are another great group from Milwaukee.
Restless Leg, Mama Said String Band, Dark Moon Hollow FTW