If you’re in need of new music, or simply need the perfect autumn album, Newgrass is the choice for you. “Progressive bluegrass,” or Newgrass offers a new and beautiful twist on traditional music. Newgrass differs from bluegrass in its instrumentation (often incorporating drums and electric instruments) and varies more in style by pulling from many genres of music. It got its start with the band The New Grass Revival in 1971 and continues to develop today. Below are some artists to check out this fall.
1. The New Grass Revival: Deviation 1984
The New Grass Revival band is credited with creating the new progressive style of bluegrass in the 1970’s. This album from 1984 shows Béla Fleck at his finest, experimenting with a more complex electric bluegrass style. Béla Fleck has since moved on from the band becoming one of the premier artists of the genre. You may recognize him from Before These Crowded Streets by the Dave Matthews Band.
2. The Punch Brothers: The Phosphorescent Blues 2015
Released in 2015, this album features strong blues and jazz influences, with a calm, reflective theme. You may recognize the album cover as one of René Magritte’s paintings, “The Lovers.” The song “Julep” has been played over 15.8 million times on Spotify, and the band released their newest album All Ashore in July which already has 500,000 plays. With members such as Chris Thile, Noam Pikelny, Chris Eldridge, and formerly Brian Sutton, who all have all had great successes individually it’s no surprise the band has been so effective.
3. Greensky Bluegrass: Handguns 2011
Greensky Bluegrass experiments with electric bluegrass sounds. Incorporating heavy traditional bluegrass with rock n’ roll styles, the band has earned over 6 million views for their song “Windshield” of the album If Sorrows Swim. Their album Handguns from 2011 best features their electric style with songs like “Bring Out Your Dead.”
4. Trampled By Turtles: Palomino 2011
Palomino reached #1 on the US Billboard Bluegrass Chart and kept in the top 10 for 52 weeks. The first song on the album “Wait So Long” has been played over 27 million times on Spotify. Trampled by Turtles keeps a high-paced, electric, but traditional bluegrass style. They specialize in fast, high-energy songs.
5. Mipso: Dark Holler Pop 2013
Mipso is a string band out of Chapel Hill North Carolina. Their album Dark Holler Pop keeps a reflective theme with songs like “Louise” and “A Couple Acres Greener.”
6. Yonder Mountain String Band: Love. Ain’t Love 2017
Yonder Mountain String Band takes a more traditional approach to bluegrass, however, their latest album Love. Ain’t Love shows an impressive range of style. You can expect a heavy bass line in most songs but pieces like “Used to It” and “Kobe the Dog” shows this can change rapidly.
7. Nickel Creek: A Dotted Line 2014
Nickel Creek formed in 1989 with members Chris Thile (also from the Punch Brothers), and siblings Sara and Sean Watkins. They received the 2003 Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album. Selected songs from their critically acclaimed album A Dotted Line received over 3 million views on Spotify.
8. The Railsplitters: The Faster It Goes 2015
The Railsplitters keep to a modern bluegrass sound with heavy jazz influences. They often incorporate harmony in their pieces, and singer/guitar player Lauren Stovall is guaranteed to lure listeners in with a gentle but powerful voice. Marquee Magazine recently gave them a rating of 4/5 stars.
9. The Infamous Stringdusters: Laws of Gravity 2017
Receiving two Grammys and many International Bluegrass Music Awards this band takes a more traditional approach to bluegrass. Laws of Gravity received the 2018 Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album, but songs on the album such as “This Ol’ Building,” and “Let Me Know” display their range in the genre.
10. The String Cheese Incident: Carnival ’99 1999
The String Cheese Incident is undoubtedly the most unique band on this list. Best described as Psychedelic Bluegrass, this band incorporates many different styles of music (calypso, rock, reggae, and more) into their songs. Carnival ’99 may best display how quickly their style can change with “Shenandoah Breakdown” having a very obvious traditional bluegrass feel, changing into the following song, “Missin’ Me” with a funk beat.
References
The New Grass Revival
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deviation_(B%C3%A9la_Fleck_album)
The Punch Brothers
Nickel Creek
https://www.amazon.com/Dotted-Line-Nickel-Creek/dp/B00IMUXK2K
The Infamous Stringdusters
Greensky Bluegrass
https://www.amazon.com/Handguns-Greensky-Bluegrass/dp/B005W4S4MA
Trampled By Turtles
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palomino_(album)
Mipso
https://www.mipsomusic.com/new-album-1/
Yonder Mountain String Band
https://www.amazon.com/Love-Aint-Yonder-Mountain-String/dp/B071D9D5FX
Railsplitters
http://marqueemag.com/2015/06/the-railsplitters-the-faster-it-goes/
The String Cheese Incident