Three Generations

The family band Three Generations showcases three generations of family members (and some friends). The band was formed in the Seattle are in 2003 and has played at many of the bluegrass festivals in Washington. This 7 piece band features some great instrumentals and of course like any family band great harmony singing. 

Check out the clips from their newest cd  “I Should Love the Rain” 

Band members- Harold Christensen-Dobro, Nick Dumas-fiddle, Tammy Dumas-mandolin,Val Ranz-mandolin,  Chrisann Gray-guitar, Derek Gray-bass,  Austin McGregor- banjo

The Grascals

The Grascals will prove again at Wintergrass 2008 why they are the IBMA winners for Entertainers of the Year for both 2006 and 2007. Their second Rounder cd

Long List of Heartaches

features the same great harmonies as on their first release and has some great guest appearances by George Jones, Dierks Bentley and The Jordanaires.

Band members- Terry Eldridge-guitar, Jamie Johnson-guitar, Danny Roberts-mandolin, Terry Smith-bass, Jimmy Mattingly-fiddle, Aaron McDaris-banjo

Misty River

Fans of harmony singers will love the Vancouver-Portland area quartet Misty River. The four female women have been performing acoustic Americana music together since 1997. Victory Review has summed it up this way-“lush, pitch-perfect harmonies, gentle tasteful arrangements [and] fresh interpretation of songs.”

Band Members are- Laura Quigley-vocals and bass, Dana Abel-vocals, accordion & guitar, Chris Kokesh-vocals,fiddle & guitar, Carol Harley-vocals, guitar & clawhammer banjo

Dale Ann Bradley

Dale Ann Bradley is another 2007 IBMA Award winner that will be at Wintergrass 2008. Dale Ann won IBMA 2008 Female Vocalist of the Year! Dale Ann’s newest release is “Catch Tomorrow” is on Compass Records. Dale Ann was the voice behind The New Coon Creek Girls for years and has led her own group for over 8 years now. Dale Ann also sang for years at the Renfro Valley Barn Dance. A true bluegrass musician with her roots in rural Kentucky yet her voice is versatile enough to also bring songs from other genres of music.

Band members Dale Ann Bradley-guitar,Ramona Church-banjo, Mike Bub-bass, Tim Laughlin-mandolin, Jeremy Abshire-fiddle

Pearl Django

One of the world’s best Hot Club style jazz bands is a great fit on the Wintergrass 2008 lineup (Bluegrass fans should note this quote by former Bluegrass Boy fiddle legend Kenny Baker “bluegrass is nothing but a hillbilly version of jazz.” ) . Fans of hot fiddle and guitar music will be thrilled with Pearl Django’s music that revives the sound of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli by performing a great mix of standards and newer songs in the Hot Club style.
Band Members are Neil Andersson, guitar; Ryan Hoffman, guitar; Michael Gray, violin; David Lange, accorddion; and Rick Leppanen, acoustic bass.

Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-press

A rare West Coast bluegrass event! Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press will be at Wintergrass 2008! Grand Ole Opry member since 1964. Bobby’s voice is as perfect and as powerful as it has ever been. Check out their new Rounder“Bluegrass Melodies” CD . Bobby and his brother Sonny who retired a few years ago recorded as many classics as anyone in bluegrass. The Osborne Brothers recordings of “Rocky Top”, and “Kentucky” inspired their being named official state songs of Tennesee and Kentucky. Don’t miss this opportunity to see one of the last of the original founders of bluegrass.

Band members are Bobby Osborne-mandolin, Dana Cupp-banjo, Bobby Osborne Jr-guitar, Matt DeSpain-Dobro, David Crow-fiddle, Daryl Mosley-bass

The Infamous Stringdusters

2007 IBMA winners ( 3 awards Album of the Year,Emerging Artists and Song of the Year) The Infamous Stringdusters return to Wintergrass 2008 not only to perform but also to teach at the Wintergrass Academy this year. The band has a new member since Wintergrass, Andy Falco on guitar (Chris Eldridge has joined Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers who will also be at Wintergrass this year). If you saw them last year at Wintergrass you know why they won these awards. High energy, great lead singing and harmonies.

Here is a link to a 30 minute documentary made on a tour through Colorado courtesy of the Bluegrass Blog.

http://www.thebluegrassblog.com/four-days-of-infamy-infamous-stringdusters/

Band members are Andy Hall-Dobro, Jeremy Garrett-fiddle, Jesse Cobb-mandolin, Andy Falco-guitar, Chris Pandolfi-banjo

The Tallboys

The Seattle based band The Tallboys will be at Wintergrass in 2008 playing an oldtime style of stringband music. They are a band of younger musicians who have studied the older styles and are bringing the older tunes to a younger audience. The band can be seen on a regular basis at both The Tractor Tavern on the second Monday of every month and Conor Byrne’s on Tuesday nights in Ballard, WA. Visitors to Seattle may also catch them playing at the Pike Place Market like in these two clips.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ9jTFpIv6M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hmdOEwIWDY

Band members are Joe Fulton-fiddle, Charlie Beck-clawhammer and three-finger style banjo, John Hurd-bass, Charmaine Slaven-guitar and buckdance

Chris Thile & The Punch Brothers

Chris Thile & The Punch Brothers will be at Wintergrass 2008 on Friday Feb 22nd. This band features some of the best musicians who don’t hold back! Chris Thile–Mandolin, Chris Eldridge–Guitar, Gabe Witcher–Violin, Greg Garrison–Bass
Noam Pikelny–Banjo. Chris may be the best known member but the rest of the Punch Brothers are all on par with Chris! Check out their individual sites to see all their credentials!!

Loose Digits

 Loose Digits are a Seattle area band that has been playing together since the spring of 2006. This is how the band describes their music:

While resting on the laurels of driving bluegrass, the emotions of celtic, latin, and jazz find their way in. The result, however, is nothing generic or of the fusion persuasion, but an honest ensemble of great arrangement(s) and atmosphere. Band members are  Eli West — Guitar, Vocals,Matt Herron — Fiddle, Mike Canney — Mandolin, Vocals, Jim Marsh — Bass,
Greg Maass — Dobro

Check out their  myspace page for some audio and video clips.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=112130003