Bluegrass Festival and Events calendar - June 26
Tennessee
June 26 — Earl Scruggs with Family and Friends with The Infamous Stringdusters - Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman - Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tenn. Tickets are available for $24.50. The Ryman auditorium is located at 116 Fifth Ave. North. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, The Ryman Box Office, online at Ryman.com or call 615-458-BLUE.
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No commentsThe Infamous Stringdusters up the ante on new Sugar Hill Release
The Infamous Stringdusters - “The Infamous Stringdusters” (Sugar Hill Records)The Infamous Stringdusters stunned the bluegrass world at last years IBMA awards. The ‘Dusters, you might recall, took home the awards for Emerging Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and they also recorded the IBMA’s “Song of the Year” which was the title track from Fork in the Road, their debut on Sugar Hill Records. Not to bad for a band who at the time had a single CD to their credit.
On the group’s second release, the self-titled The Infamous Stringdusters, the band delivers a set of material that coalesces a near perfect balance of traditional bluegrass sensibility, newgrass’s aversion to the norm and jamgrass’s explorative instrumentation.
The band’s song-writing abilities are at the heart of the project. Members of the band wrote or co-wrote nine of the CD’s thirteen songs. Personal standouts on the CD include: Travis Book’s “Won’t Be Coming Back,” “You Can’t Handle The Truth” (co-written with Tim Stafford & Benny Galloway) and “Bound For Tennessee” along with Jesse Cobb’s “Golden Ticket,” an instrumental which feels like a tip of the hat to New Grass Revival who paved the way for this fork in the road if you will.
“Three Days in July” by John Weisenberger & Mark Simos, “I Wonder” by John Pennell (co-writer on “Fork in the Road) & Jeff White, “Get it While You Can” by Edward D. Barnes and Sarah Siskind’s “Lovin’ You” are the cover tunes on the album.
The Infamous Stringdusters are Travis Book (bass), Jesse Cobb (mandolin), Andy Falco (guitar), Jeremy Garrett (Fiddle), Andy Hall (dobro) and Chris Pandolfi (banjo).
The Infamous Stringdusters also feature a triple threat in the vocal department with three very capable lead singers. Jeremy Garrett, Travis Book and Andy Hall trade off on lead vocal duties throughout the CD and the diversity makes an already great album that much more interesting to listen to.
Travis Book’s “Won’t Be Coming Back,” a song about leavin’ home to find your way in life, pretty much sums up The Infamous Stringdusters musically speaking. A lot of respect and reverance for tradition and a strong desire to explore and bring something new to the music.
On this release, The Infamous Stringdusters prove “Fork in the Road” wasn’t beginner’s luck. While the music on “The Infamous Stringdusters” looks forward… to the future of bluegrass, There’s more than plenty of respect and tradition alive in the instrumentation and spirit of the music.
“Won’t Be Coming Back” - The Infamous Stringdusters
Infamous Stringdusters CD Release party happens June 6th
The Infamous StringdustersMake your plans now. The Infamous Stringdusters along with Sugar Hill Records have announced that the ‘Dusters will play an album release party in honor of the band’s self titled, sophomore release at the Station Inn, in Nashville, Tenn. on June 6th. Showtime starts at 9:00 PM and cover charge is $12.00. “The Infamous Stringdusters” will be released on June 10.
When “The Infamous Stringdusters” comes out on Sugar Hill Records, some may assume from the title that it’s a debut recording. Those already aware of the Stringdusters phenomenon will know differently. That 2007’s “Fork in the Road” was the album that boldly introduced this daring, disciplined band to the world of bluegrass and a wider world of music enthusiasts who heard it and decided, “if that’s bluegrass, then I love bluegrass.” “Fork in the Road” was named Album of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA). Its title track was named Song of the Year, and the band itself earned the honor of best emerging artist in a competitive field. It was a stunning cap to an amazing 2007.
Yet “The Infamous Stringdusters” feels like an introduction of a sort. Whereas “Fork in the Road” was made during their first potent months together, the new CD represents all the band has become during two years of intense touring, meticulous woodshedding and brotherly jamming. It’s their first record with accomplished guitarist Andy Falco, whose blues-infused licks and stunning virtuosity has added a new facet to the band’s musical personality. It’s the first with the band’s dream producer Tim O’Brien, a Grammy-winning musician who has pioneered and embodied the progressive school of roots and bluegrass that underlies the Stringdusters sound. And of course it’s the first with these songs - nine band originals supplemented by a few carefully chosen tunes from colleagues in the acoustic music community.
Dobroist Andy Hall’s “Well, Well” captures a character in limbo between desperation and optimism. Bassist Travis Book contributed several songs, including the sentimental “Bound For Tennessee.” Fiddler and singer Jeremy Garrett lends layers of lonesome to his song “When Silence is the Only Sound.” Meanwhile, “Loving You” by Grammy nominated writer Sarah Siskind is a signature example of what sets the Stringdusters apart, with its off-kilter groove and dark-hued melody. The bluesy and slightly demented “Get It While You Can” was composed by Bad Livers mad genius Danny Barnes. And rippling newgrass instrumentals from the hands of mandolinist Jesse Cobb (”Golden Ticket”), banjo master Chris Pandolfi (”Glass Elevator”) and Hall (”Black Rock”) complement the album with flawless examples of the band’s trademark instrumental virtuosity.
In their breakout year of 2007, The Infamous Stringdusters played over 150 dates, including the biggest festivals in acoustic music, jammed on major stages with heroes like David Grisman and Sam Bush, and landed a development deal for motion picture music with Lions Gate Entertainment. With the release of “The Infamous Stringdusters,” 2008 promises more roads and more new fans in bluegrass and beyond.
No commentsThe Infamous Stringdusters Redefine Progressive Bluegrass with Sophomore Release for Sugar Hill
The Infamous Stringdusters. Photo by David McLister.Nashville, Tenn. — When “The Infamous Stringdusters” is released June 10 on Sugar Hill Records, some may assume from the title that it’s a debut recording. Those already aware of the Stringdusters phenomenon will know differently, that 2007’s “Fork in the Road” was the album that boldly introduced this daring, disciplined band to the world of bluegrass and a wider world of music enthusiasts who heard it and decided: ‘if that’s bluegrass, then I love bluegrass.’ Fork in the Road was named Album of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association. Its title track was named Song of the Year, and the band itself earned the honor of best emerging artist in a competitive field. It was a stunning cap to an amazing 2007.
Yet “The Infamous Stringdusters” feels like an introduction of a sort. Whereas “Fork in the Road” was made during their first potent months together, the new CD represents all the band has become during two years of intense touring, meticulous woodshedding and brotherly jamming. It’s their first record with accomplished guitarist Andy Falco, whose blues-infused licks and stunning virtuosity has added a new facet to the band’s musical personality. It’s the first with the band’s dream producer Tim O’Brien, a Grammy-winning musician who has pioneered and embodied the progressive school of roots and bluegrass that underlies the Stringdusters sound. And of course it’s the first with these songs - nine band originals supplemented by a few carefully chosen tunes from colleagues in the acoustic music community.
Dobroist Andy Hall’s “Well, Well” captures a character in limbo between desperation and optimism. Bassist Travis Book contributed several songs, including the sentimental “Bound For Tennessee.” Fiddler and singer Jeremy Garrett lends layers of lonesome to his song “When Silence is the Only Sound.” Meanwhile, “Loving You” by Grammy nominated writer Sarah Siskind is a signature example of what sets the Stringdusters apart, with its off-kilter groove and dark-hued melody. The bluesy and slightly demented “Get It While You Can” was composed by Bad Livers mad genius Danny Barnes. And rippling newgrass instrumentals from the hands of mandolinist Jesse Cobb (”Golden Ticket”), banjo master Chris Pandolfi (”Glass Elevator”) and Hall (”Black Rock”) complement the album with flawless examples of the band’s trademark instrumental virtuosity.
In their breakout year of 2007, the Infamous Stringdusters played over 150 dates, including the biggest festivals in acoustic music, jammed on major stages with heroes like David Grisman and Sam Bush, and landed a development deal for motion picture music with Lions Gate Entertainment. With the release of The Infamous Stringdusters, 2008 promises more roads and more new fans in bluegrass and beyond.
No commentsThe Infamous Stringdusters on KSUT radio
Bluegrass sensations the Infamous Stringdusters play “No More To Leave You Behind” at KSUT in Ignacio, CO
