Hardcore, traditional bluegrass

**fpaxton** · Oct-10-2006, 11:29am

I'm really hooked on hardcore, traditional bluegrass. Can anyone offer a few names of bands/artists that are 'not all that famous'?

Thanks

Frank

**mandopete** · Oct-10-2006, 11:46am

Yeah, here's one one for ya... Four Chords of Wood.

From the bluegrass mecca of Victoria, BC (that's Canada, eh?)

**MDW** · Oct-10-2006, 11:47am

Vern Williams

**F5G WIZ** · Oct-10-2006, 2:25pm

King Wilkie all young guys but awesome traditional old time sounding music.

**swampstomper** · Oct-10-2006, 3:30pm

Well, unfortunately for us Vern is no longer playing on this Earth. I assume you are looking for bands to see live at festivals? I can recommend the James King band (Kevin Prater on mando) as a unique experience and perhaps as close as you can get to the "real country" side of BG. Down in Alabama don't forget David Davis (mando) and the Warrior River Boys. And if you ever can see Dave Evans.... well... words can't describe the intensity and sincerity. Hope this is the kind of advice you were looking for.

**Nolan** · Oct-10-2006, 3:55pm

How "Not all that famous" are you looking?

If you haven't heard Dave Peterson and 1946 they're pretty hardcore. Larry Sparks would be another but those two are pretty well known in the bluegrass world.
Get Sirius radio and listen to the bluegrass station... you'll get a good sample that way.

**ourgang** · Oct-10-2006, 4:02pm

The "Earl Brothers" will grow on you. Really, Really, Really Hard Core. You have to give them more than one listen. Listen to them. Great players.

**Landgrass** · Oct-10-2006, 4:27pm

I was given a CD of a band called Bluegrass 101. "Live from Mackville, KY". Pretty hard core stuff. I'd never heard of 'em.

**sunburst** · Oct-10-2006, 6:06pm

Originally Posted by (F5G WIZ @ Oct. 10 2006, 15:25)

King Wilkie all young guys but awesome traditional old time sounding music.

Last time I saw King Wilkie, soon after the release of the last (I think it's still last) album, they hardly played any Bluegrass at all. I don't know if they've left trad-grass behind completely or not.

Check out the Blinky Moon Boys, if you can find that CD.

**mandopete** · Oct-10-2006, 7:46pm

Originally Posted by (sunburst @ Oct. 10 2006, 17:06)

Last time I saw King Wilkie, soon after the release of the last (I think it's still last) album, they hardly played any Bluegrass at all. I don't know if they've left trad-grass behind completely or not.

Word is that King Wilkie is out of bluegrass (another IBMA rumor).

**John M. Riley** · Oct-10-2006, 8:13pm

Anyone ever heard of the riley brothers over in southwest va?? Oh wait, that me and my brother! We are pretty hard core traditional... he plays with ralph stanley quite a bit, it dont get much more traditional than that...

**fredfrank** · Oct-10-2006, 8:27pm

Karl Shiflett and the Big Country Show.

**poymando** · Oct-10-2006, 9:08pm

I'd suggest:
Mac Martin & Dixie Travellers
Bob Paisley & Southern Grass
Jimmy Martin
Bray Brothers
Sid Campbell
Charlie Moore
Sauceman Brothers
Dave Evans
Red Allen
Lonesome Pine Fiddlers/Goins Brothers
Lilly Brothers

**maroon** · Oct-10-2006, 9:39pm

Great topic. May I recommend a band known as The Bluegrass Brothers.

http://www.thebluegrassbrothers.com/

The name isn't terribly creative but, hey, you wanted *traditional* bluegrass, right?

I had the pleasure of hearing The Bluegrass Brothers live last December. After their show, I stopped by their CD table and commented to one of the band how much I enjoyed their cutting, hard driving traditional sound. You would have thought I made his day. He stuck a big meaty hand out and shook mine heartily. With a big smile he said, "That's exactly what we are aiming for."

**maroon** · Oct-10-2006, 9:53pm

Originally Posted by (ourgang @ Oct. 10 2006, 17:02)

The "Earl Brothers" will grow on you. #Really, Really, Really Hard Core. #You have to give them more than one listen. #Listen to them. #Great players.

You know, when I first heard the Earl Brothers, I thought the same thing. #But the more I listened to it, the more I think they are kind of new fangled. #They certainly don't sound like any of the original bluegrass greats. #Nor do they sound like some of Dr. Ralph Stanley's old-time shape note style pre-bluegrass stuff. #

I put the Earl Brothers in their own category of "Outlaw Grass" (I may have read that term applied to them somewhere). #Pay particular attention to the lyrics of their music. #They kind of do what Waylon and Willie did (and Don Williams refused to do) to county music, lyrically, a few decades ago.

Again, although their music initially drew me in, after a while I didn't find them to be interesting musically. #To my ear, every tune has a over the top drone/modal minor-sound. #But maybe I haven't listened to enough of their music. #All I've heard of them has been on XM Radio and that may not be a fair representative sample of their sound.

**sunburst** · Oct-10-2006, 11:24pm

Originally Posted by (maroon @ Oct. 10 2006, 22:39)

...The Bluegrass Brothers.

The name isn't terribly creative but, hey, you wanted *traditional* bluegrass, right?...

I've known those guys for years.
The name came about because of Saturday Night Live, and the Blues Brothers. Yep, it was that long ago.
They used to have pictures with bowler hats, sunglasses, and scowls.

**banjo player** · Oct-10-2006, 11:30pm

Are you looking for bands currently touring around, or just CDs (or vinyl) to listen to?

**Michael Lewis** · Oct-11-2006, 2:07am

Old stuff, I have to second Vern Williams "Traditional Bluegrass" available on Arhoolie CD514. Great stuff with feeling.

**F5G WIZ** · Oct-11-2006, 2:22am

Originally Posted by (mandopete @ Oct. 10 2006, 20:46)

Word is that King Wilkie is out of bluegrass (another IBMA rumor).

What a shame if it is true. They really had a great bluegrass sound. I saw them at Dollywood almost exactly a year ago and they were great. Will have to check their webpage.

**bluegrassjack2** · Oct-11-2006, 2:26pm

I agree about the Bluegrass Brothers, also add the Wildwood Valley Boys to your list. They are out of Indiana. Also heard A band this summer in S.C. called, "The Watauga Mountain Boys"
If you had ur back to them, You could not tell them from the Stanley Bros. They were just Awesome. They are out of Mountain City, Tn. Also seen CF Baily for the first time this year and he sure put on a traditional Bluegrass Show at Dumplin Valley in Kodak, Tn.

**David Horovitz** · Oct-11-2006, 3:27pm

I'm not sure if you are looking for new (young) bands that play traditional bluegrass or old bands.

A young band that plays some great traditional bluegrass as well as originals that sound traditional is Hit & Run Bluegrass

**pickinNgrinnin** · Oct-11-2006, 3:49pm

I'll second the Dave Evans recommendation. Hard to get more hard core than Dave.

Check out The Chapmans: http://www.thechapmansonline.com/

Local Favorite, Midday Ramblers: http://www.middayramblers.com/

**j-hill** · Oct-11-2006, 4:34pm

Open Road is a band full of younger members who play traditional bluegrass and I have really enjoyed all of their releases. They site Vern Williams as an influence. My understanding is that one of their primary singers and songwriters, Bradford Folk, left the band to open a bar. I was very disappointed to hear that he had moved on.

Jason