Grassland
Grassland began their journey in late 2012. Beginning as a bluegrass duo, then soon after as a trio with a drummer, the pieces began to fall into place and Grassland String Band was born. A few years later, the band had grown into a multi-generational six-piece band that included members with backgrounds in classical organ, bass, jazz guitar, banjo and violin. This diversity created a jazz-folk-pop and bluegrass influenced, improvisational live performance style -a hybrid the group calls Amerigrass. Now a widely-recognized seven-piece band entering its 13th year with four albums and a fifth in the works, Grassland has held steadfastly to its music roots.
At live shows, every element of the band is turned up to eleven. This is not a show you’ll see fans chatting through. The crowd yells “woo”s of encouragement. They slap their thighs. They sing along. They dance. The band’s chemistry positively fills the room as they grin their way through the set, extending some of their tracks into improvised jams. Sometimes it looks a little like bluegrass. Sure, it has a banjo, a fiddle and a mandolin. But there is the electric guitar, a drum kit, and the occasional keys and pedal steel. It’s jazzy, bluesy, soulful, country and rock. It’s something much more, something modern and amorphous. It’s music that crosses generations, crosses genres, and will cross your soul. It just happens.