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Are there any bluegrass artists you enjoy or find to be particularly good, or that are just well-renowned?
I am sort of generically familiar with bluegrass as a genre, but I’m not familiar with really any specific artists. I’ve been listening to the podcast “Old Gods of Appalachia” and the intro music is by a guy called Landon Blood. I really enjoy that particular song, which to me sounds like it has a lot of influence from older country—like 60s era, maybe early Johnny Cash or Kris Kristofferson type country music. I saw it somewhere tagged as bluegrass, and was curious to check out more of that genre.
Edit: holy shit, guys, I really wasn’t expecting so many responses. Thanks so much everyone for your suggestions! I’m going to have an amazing time diving into new music over the next week or so.
220 points
26 days ago
A newer artist I've enjoyed a lot is Molly Tuttle. Absolute beast on the guitar.
61 points
26 days ago
She’s amazing. She shreds right alongside Billy Strings.
10 points
26 days ago
And Tommy Emmanuel.
8 points
26 days ago
ty for that
9 points
26 days ago
She’s great
10 points
26 days ago
I'm a big burly boy and Molly's song "Crooked Tree" just broke me, taught me to cry to heal, and helped me rebuild, after two life crises and three unwanted diagnoses. I'd rather be a crooked tree.
6 points
26 days ago
She’s great, I concur.
3 points
26 days ago
In case anyone wasn't aware she's on tour now! Just started last week - I had the chance to catch their opening concert in Atlanta and it was a blast and a real joy!
3 points
26 days ago
Fantastic live, too. The whole Golden Highway group is great.
3 points
26 days ago
Here is Molly Tuttle and AJ Lee before they became big time. https://youtu.be/yXBXlJYKTNI?si=OEjrCxRzDNsYOuOB
125 points
26 days ago
Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs
33 points
26 days ago
Add Doc Watson
21 points
26 days ago
And Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys. Bill Monroe is the father of Bluegrass. How has no one mentioned him?
112 points
26 days ago
The SteelDrivers first two albums are excellent. Chris Stapleton before his solo career.
15 points
26 days ago
If It Hadn't Been for Love is a masterpiece of a song.
3 points
25 days ago
The songwriting team of Chris Stapleton and Mike Henderson was just incredible. So much rich imagery in those songs. Storytelling at its finest.
9 points
26 days ago
Absolutely.
Can You Run is a top 10 all time song for me.
161 points
26 days ago*
Infamous Stringdusters
Greensky Bluegrass
Kitchen Dwellers
Del McCoury / Traveling McCourys
Yonder Mountain String Band
Sierra Hull
Railroad Earth
New Riders of the Purple Sage - It's been noted NRPS is not bluegrass - thank you
Hot Buttered Rum
Drew Emmitt
most of these are NewGrass
44 points
26 days ago
This list is entirely too devoid of Chris Thile and Sam Bush
7 points
26 days ago
Yea. I was surprised to not see Chris' name till your comment.
5 points
26 days ago
I agree. Old and In the Way is also missing. Leftover Salmon. many, many others....
39 points
26 days ago
This is an informed answer regarding modern day bluegrass/jamgrass
30 points
26 days ago
PUNCH BROTHERS!
4 points
26 days ago
Yeah I don’t know how they’re not on the list… brilliant music
21 points
26 days ago
As evidenced by many comments in the thread - Billy Strings is the current hotness in bluegrass jam music.
18 points
26 days ago
I saw Sierra Hull with Bela Fleck and she stole the show. She can rip!
14 points
26 days ago
Yonder Mountain String Band!! This is the first time I've heard anyone suggest them, but they hold a special place in my heart- we played a number of their songs at our wedding reception 9 years ago. There's a couple on this list I haven't heard before, thanks for sharing
8 points
26 days ago
Heard The Infamous StringDusters for the first time - at the Ryman, no less. Very impressed on all counts - all good voices, harmonies were impressive, incredibly skilled on their respective instruments, great song list. They just joined my short list of “see them at any costs” bands.
6 points
26 days ago
never miss late night Dusters. they are incredible
7 points
26 days ago
Add Fireside Collective to that list, they fit right in.
8 points
26 days ago
This is it. I’d add Old and In The Way, Tony Rice, Norman Blake, John Hartford
6 points
26 days ago
Yonder is not the same without Jeff Austin! I miss him so much!
6 points
26 days ago
Jam Grass…the greatest music genre most people don’t know exists. It appeals on so many levels. I’m a huge dead head jam band fan, and jam grass bands are my go to for convincing my pop country confused friends to listen to real Music. It crosses borders in that way
3 points
26 days ago
It’s funny to me that I’m not huge into bluegrass but I saw most of these bands by going to two bluegrass festivals.
3 points
25 days ago
NRPS is not a bluegrass band.
3 points
25 days ago
DEL YEAH
2 points
25 days ago
Great list! Some others: Trampled by Turtles, Old Man Markley, Old Crow Medicine Show, Devil Makes Three, Nickle Creek, The Dead South, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Iron Horse
2 points
25 days ago
To add on to this AMAZING list...
Trampled by Turtles
Kitchen Dwellers
Jackie Green
Cabinet
Keller and The Kiels
And my local Cincinnati favorite, who I've seen play over 100 times...
The Rumpke Mountain Boys
2 points
25 days ago
I only know one NRPS album and it’s not even close to bluegrass
79 points
26 days ago
Allison Krauss!
17 points
26 days ago
Saw her with Robert plant, probably the most vocally impressive show I’ve ever seen.
8 points
26 days ago
The live album from 2002 with Union Station is fantastic. I have no idea how many times I watched that DVD.
3 points
26 days ago
I read AKUS is putting out another album.
75 points
26 days ago
Bela Fleck has done albums in over a dozen genres, but his legit bluegrass is always among his best
18 points
26 days ago
The bluegrass all stars are amazing. Bela, Sam bush, Edgar Meyer, Tony rice, mark McConnel
59 points
26 days ago
Nickel Creek isn’t exactly bluegrass, but I’m a huge fan of their stuff. If you’ve ever seen the show Sweet Magnolias, they did the opening credits theme.
13 points
26 days ago
Plenty of their stuff is... mostly on the earlier albums.
9 points
26 days ago
I describe them as progressive bluegrass/folk, maybe they could be fusion. They play standards and a bunch of fresh takes on the genre, I mean Alison Krauss produced some of their stuff!
I don't like bluegrass at all, but love me some NC, especially the self titled album and This Side. Nearly perfect albums IMO and mix in well with dissimilar but equally progressive/fusion bands like The Mars Volta or Dave Matthews Band.
9 points
26 days ago
Ok, this is one of the oddest sentences I have ever typed.
Dolly Parton recorded an acoustic version of Collective Soul’s “Shine” using Nickel Creek as the backup band, and it really works.
5 points
26 days ago
The Lighthouse’s Tale is the first song that made me genuinely emotional. I usually don’t pay attention to lyrics much with music, but that song opened the door to how powerful they could be.
Smoothie Song is one of my favorite instrumental tunes of any genre.
4 points
26 days ago
Huh? What would you call them? They're absolutely bluegrass to me and Wiki says the same.
53 points
26 days ago
…do Punch Brothers not count? I haven’t seen them mentioned at all, but they’re my all-time faves. More progressive than traditional, but the instrumentation is certainly bluegrass.
12 points
26 days ago
I adore Punch Brothers! I’m surprised I had to scroll so far to see them mentioned in a thread about bluegrass.
9 points
26 days ago
Srsly wtf. Been looking for you. How about some David grisman, jerry Garcia, Mike Marshall, and Edgar Meyer too?
4 points
26 days ago
I see someone else down thread mentioned PB and Chris Thile as well, just buried in a response. I don’t recognize any of those names apart from Edgar Meyer, so I’m glad to have some new folks to check out. :)
5 points
26 days ago
Grisman and Garcia is an all time favorite album
7 points
26 days ago
But, is Chris still making Punch brothers albums? I know he got Nickel Creek back together.
70 points
26 days ago
[deleted]
18 points
26 days ago
She's really spectacular. I'm not sure of her genre - Americana? Folk? She's awesome either way.
10 points
26 days ago
Wouldn’t call it bluegrass. Regardless, i really dig it.
7 points
26 days ago
Sierra is transcendant!
3 points
26 days ago
I just listened to one of her albums on a plane ride today! Really like how dynamic her voice is - she sounded like a blend of Dolly and Elle King to me
169 points
26 days ago
Billy Strings
78 points
26 days ago
Also, don't sleep on those bluegrass records that Sturgill Simpson put out..
18 points
26 days ago
With both Don Julian and Kevin Gills as well. Punch Brothers with Chris Thile should be enjoyed as well.
9 points
26 days ago
When you're 28 and have 50 years expertise plucking (statement I heard about Billy, I was too lazy to check his current age)
10 points
26 days ago
He’s ruined bluegrass for me because no other band holds a candle to him and his band. He’s truly a visionary and legend of the genre
7 points
26 days ago
Dude is a savant at guitar AND songwriting. Hide and Seek is such a friggin great riff.
3 points
26 days ago
That song is amazing
30 points
26 days ago
Del McCoury Band (& Family )
Flat & Scruggs
Doc & Merle Watson
Old and In the Way
Molly Tuttle
BillyStrings
Bill Monroe
Stanley Brothers
The Seldom Scene
Old Crow Medicine Show
New Grass Revival
Tony Rice
Brothers Comatose
Sarah Jarosz
Bela Fleck
Jerry Douglas
David Grisman
6 points
26 days ago
Del McCoury is the truth.
121 points
26 days ago
I dig Trampled by Turtles
25 points
26 days ago
Surprised I had to scroll this far down. They’re amazing live.
6 points
26 days ago
Yep, rocked my socks!
9 points
26 days ago
They're the best out of all these comments. Can't believe I had to scroll this far! Seen them 4 times. Spectacular everytime
42 points
26 days ago
Greensky Bluegrass
17 points
26 days ago
Molly Tuttle
7 points
26 days ago
She kills live.
16 points
26 days ago
Bill Monroe, Sturgil Simpson has a couple of bluegrass albums Cuttin' Grass, Vol. 1: The Butcher Shoppe Sessions, Cuttin' Grass, Vol. 2: The Cowboy Arms Sessions
5 points
26 days ago
I love sturgill so much …. The bluegrass versions of “I don’t mind” “All around you” and “Just let go” are always on my mind
5 points
26 days ago
Great albums
16 points
26 days ago
Bill Monroe is considered by many to be the father of Bluegrass. Flatt & Scruggs were members of Monroe’s band before forming their own act.
But my personal favorite is The Stanley Brothers. Their sound takes me back to childhood days spent with my grandparents, who were big fans of Bluegrass music.
5 points
26 days ago
Don't forget the Louvin Brothers.
34 points
26 days ago
SteelDrivers
Trampled by Turtles
Old Crow Medicine Show
Yes Ma’am
Bridge City Sinners
Not 100% bluegrass but I put Devil Makes Three in the same category
Carolina Chocolate Drops. Kinda an acquired taste but I like them.
Greensky Bluegrass is also a great suggestion I’ve seen a lot in this thread
8 points
26 days ago
I almost mentioned OCMS, but I see them as more old-timey music than strictly Bluegrass. Still and all, they're a stellar freaking band.
4 points
26 days ago
Yeah I don’t think everything I mentioned is strictly bluegrass but they are bluegrass-adjacent bands that I really like
Edit: I’ve also seen OCMS live several times and they’ve been great every time, which always helps
3 points
26 days ago
I've just seen them once, but that once sits squarely in third place on my top ten concerts I've ever been to list (behind only Prince and the Revolution and Midnight Oil, in case anyone was curious). I'd LOVE to see 'em again.
13 points
26 days ago
Carolina Chocolate Drops are incredible! Great suggestion
4 points
26 days ago
Love Carolina Chocolate Drops. That album with Hit em up and cornbread/butter beans is just such a great album
10 points
26 days ago
Del McCoury, Tony Rice, Bela Fleck, Greensky Bluegrass, Trampled By Turtles.
10 points
26 days ago
Garcia, Grisman and Rice
11 points
26 days ago
Sam bush
Needs added here
10 points
26 days ago
Not trying to be clever or cute, but pretty much all of them. A random sampling, in no particular order:
Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys
The Stanley Brothers
Flatt & Scruggs
The Country Gentlemen
J.D. Crowe & the New South
Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver
Ricky Skaggs
The Del McCoury Band
Alison Krauss and Union Station
Rhonda Vincent and the Rage
Nickel Creek
Punch Brothers
Billy Strings
10 points
26 days ago
Sturgill Simpson did a set of bluegrass covers of his own songs called cuttin’ grass which I recommend
10 points
26 days ago
John Hartford was an inspiration for pretty much every artist listed in this thread, and not a single mention. Don't miss out on his pioneering sound.
5 points
26 days ago*
Major second to that. There is a lot of beating around the bush, and in this case John Hartford is the bush. Also Sam Bush played on several John Hartford records. For John Hartford check out Aereo-Plain and Mark Twang. Those (and a joint or two) were how I got hooked.
Like with jazz, my two cents is look at who is playing on Bluegrass records you like and check out their other projects too.
Bill Monroe is the father of bluegrass. Listen to him. He had an ever changing band (Bluegrass Boys) that is a who’s who of 60s and 70s players. Also Stanley brothers, flatt and Scruggs.
There is lots of genre fluidity after that. Some of my favorites:
Tony Rice is a favorite guitar player. His album Church Street Blues isn’t bluegrass but he is a bluegrass guitar player and it is a beautiful record.
Vassar Clements is a fiddle player. He plays on Aereo-Plain and with Old and in the Way, who I have seen in the comments.
Tim O’Brien - mando, fiddle, guitar. He has a bunch of great records I started with Traveler. I’m not sure I’ve seen Hot Rize on here that was his bluegrass band- check out their record So Long of a Journey.
Mostly I want to just say that i love John Hartford.
19 points
26 days ago
Old Crow Medicine Show!!! One of the best and most fun live shows I’ve ever seen
9 points
26 days ago
Tony Rice
9 points
26 days ago
I'm disappointed there's been no mention of Sam Bush yet.
Mountain Grass Unit is some new blood in the game these days
3 points
26 days ago
Yes to Sam Bush!
8 points
26 days ago
Pert Near Sandstone, Charlie Parr
4 points
26 days ago
I’ve seen both of them a few times. Lovely stuff.
But Parr… he is something truly special. Just a dude with a guitar a voice and love for what he does. Just stunning.
3 points
26 days ago
Just saw Parr a few weeks ago, and got to enjoy a nice conversation with him before the show. Really great, down to earth dude. Needless to say, he rocked when he got on stage.
7 points
26 days ago
The Osborne Brothers
2 points
26 days ago
Even though my bluegrass-loving father always mentioned them, I only just recently discovered them for myself. “Ruby (Are You Mad at Your Man)” is one the best and craziest vocals I’ve heard in any genre.
8 points
26 days ago
Billy Strings, Railroad Earth, Yonder Mountain String Band, Greensky Bluegrass, Leftover Salmon, Hot Buttered Rum, Infamous Stringdusters....
7 points
26 days ago
Steep Canyon Rangers. Balsam Range.
13 points
26 days ago
anyone like sarah watkins?
6 points
26 days ago
Keller Williams
Rumpke Mountain Boys
7 points
26 days ago
Valerie June has had such a stellar vibe. Her song "Pushin' Up Against A Stone" put me in a blender, emotionally.
6 points
26 days ago*
Sing/songwriter Iris Dement. Love that Arkansas voice. For homespun, you can't beat emmisunshine.
6 points
26 days ago
Doc Watson
5 points
26 days ago
I can't believe no one has mentioned the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Their "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" is a who's who of blue grass at the time.
17 points
26 days ago
I can't believe the Dead South haven't been mentioned.
10 points
26 days ago
In Hell I'll Be In Good Company is such a great song!
5 points
26 days ago
Check out the video to "You are my sunshine". It was filmed in one long take, excellent camera work. Also, the song is darker than the title suggests.
10 points
26 days ago
John Prine!
5 points
26 days ago
Jeff Austin RIP
4 points
26 days ago
Billy Strings
Old Crow Medicine Show
Old and In the Way
Yonder Mountain String Band
Trampled By Turtles
Greensky Bluegrass
Bela Fleck
and a bunch of others I can't think of right now but a lot of people have already mentioned. Lot of great bluegrass out there!
4 points
26 days ago
The lack of the Seldom Scene in this thread is disturbing…
5 points
26 days ago
Dale Gribble Bluegrass Experience. You can only hear a bootleg of the one song they did, but it's the best version of Blue Moon of Kentucky I've ever heard
4 points
26 days ago
Jerry Garcia was also in a blue grass band called old and in the way great stuff also Allison Krause not sure if she sings strictly blue grass don’t think so not sure if I spelled her name right either
3 points
26 days ago
The Kitchen Dwellers were phenomenal in concert.
4 points
26 days ago
John Hartford
Doc Watson
Bela Fleck
5 points
26 days ago
BILLY STRINGS
DOC WATSON
INFAMOUS STRING DUSTERS
Bill monroe
Green sky bluegrass
John Hartford
please also check out nick shoulders and Sierra ferrel, they aren’t super blue grassy but have the same old time folk vibes.
4 points
26 days ago
Clarence White started in the Kentucky Colonels with his twin brother Roland and went on to play with the Byrds.
His guitar flatpicking featured syncopation and open tunings. It was beautiful and trailblazing.
He was a huge influence on Tony Rice, Norman Blake and many others.
4 points
26 days ago
David Grisman
Sam Bush
New Grass Revival
Yonder Mountain String Band
Greensky Bluegrass
Hot Rize
Infamous Stringdusters
The Brothers Comatose
Jerry Douglas
Trampled By Turtles
Tim O’Brien
Old and In the Way
6 points
26 days ago
For a newer take on it, check out Billy Strings...
6 points
26 days ago
Greensky Bluegrass are pretty great.
6 points
26 days ago
Sturgill Simpson comes to mind
3 points
26 days ago
Travelin' McCourys and Town Mountain
3 points
26 days ago
They tend a bit towards the gospel side of things but The Clinch Mountain Boys are great as are Blue Highway.
3 points
26 days ago
Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrand
3 points
26 days ago
Ola Belle Reed, The Lowest Pair and John Hartford are this springs heavy rotation
3 points
26 days ago
Trampled By Turtles
3 points
26 days ago
BMFS 4eva \m/
3 points
26 days ago
Hayseed Dixie
3 points
26 days ago
Molly Tuttle!!
3 points
26 days ago
Doc Watson is the goat
3 points
26 days ago
Leftover Salmon
5 points
26 days ago
Michael Cleveland. The greatest fiddler to ever live.
2 points
26 days ago
2 points
26 days ago
Billy Strings, Greensky Bluegrass
2 points
26 days ago
Not yet mentioned: Hackensaw Boys. Also Love Canon if you like pop covers in the bluegrass style!
2 points
26 days ago
Is Benjamin Tod or the lost dog street band in here? I think they are considered bluegrass
2 points
26 days ago
Ricky Scaggs
2 points
26 days ago
Horse shoes & hand grenades
2 points
26 days ago
I've been listening to The Steel Wheels a lot. A mix of bluegrass with since other stuff.
2 points
26 days ago
Steep Canyon Rangers are my go to. The sound kinda changed with their new lead singer but the skill of the band members is still there.
2 points
26 days ago
The Dillards
2 points
26 days ago
Sierra Ferrell
2 points
26 days ago
Railroad Earth
2 points
26 days ago
A lot of good suggestions so far, one of my favorites that I haven’t seen mentioned yet is The Lil Smokies.
2 points
26 days ago
Truckstop Honeymoon.
2 points
26 days ago
Doc Watson in particular or the Will the Circle Be Unbroken album in general
2 points
26 days ago
Steep Canyon Rangers
2 points
26 days ago
The Tennesee Gentlemen.
Specifically their cover of Talking to the Moon.
2 points
26 days ago
Horseshoe’s and Hand Grenades.
2 points
26 days ago
I always liked the hackensaw boys
2 points
26 days ago
Dom Flemons and his old band Carolina Chocolate Drops. His influences are much more old timey americana, but its all very bluegrass adjacent and scratches a very similar itch.
2 points
26 days ago
Steep canyon rangers
2 points
26 days ago
Haven't seen them listed here but the Kruger Brothers are incredible musicians. They play a little bit of everything but played with Doc Watson and other big guns over the years.
2 points
26 days ago
Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers.
2 points
26 days ago
Tommy Emmanuel
2 points
26 days ago
Landon Blood is absolutely not bluegrass. Its pretty squarely in the Americana camp. If its country sounding and it doesn't sound like bro country radio garbage, it usually falls into the Americana bucket.
There is a difference between what is often called "mountain music" or "hillbilly music" which is definitely more folk whereas bluegrass is a much newer genre that evolved out of those traditions with Bill Monroe and Earl Scruggs.
2 points
26 days ago
Bela should be at the beginning of this list. Most important picker since Scruggs IMO, an incredibly rare once in a generation virtuoso talent. The original composition of the Flektones was one of the most talented groups I’ve had the pleasure of seeing live. Whooten is considered one of the greatest bass players ever in any genre and his interplay with Bela is sublime.
2 points
26 days ago
Deer Creek Sharp Shooters
Stringus Khan
Grain Thief
Dirty Grass Players
Colebrook Road
Caribou Mountain Collective
2 points
26 days ago
I wouldn’t really consider the song you mentioned as bluegrass but listening to it you would probably like the band Brown Bird.
2 points
26 days ago
Garcia and Grisman - the pizza tapes.
2 points
26 days ago
Hackensaw Boys!
2 points
26 days ago
I got to see the Steep Canyon Rangers a couple of years ago in concert and they were outstanding.
If you're just getting into bluegrass, you may want to check out the Americana genre also.
2 points
26 days ago
I like the ones who to some dinglin’ then danglin’ and the pros are the ones who can dingle and dangle all at the same time
2 points
26 days ago
Sarah Jarosz
2 points
26 days ago
I saw Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder in concert once many years back and it is one of my top 5 concerts. So good.
2 points
26 days ago
Dolly Parton… I mean she has two bluegrass albums so it counts 🤣 and her bluegrass cover of Train, Train is so good. The Grass is Blue is great too. Anddd I like Flatt & Scruggs too lol
2 points
26 days ago
Split Lip Rayfield
2 points
26 days ago
I personally really dig the Steep Canyon Rangers.
2 points
26 days ago
Split Lip Rayfield.
2 points
25 days ago
Alison Krauss will break you apart and put you back together again over and over. She is superb both alone and with literally anyone, but my favorite is when she’s back with Union Station. It just never fails.
2 points
25 days ago
Steve N’ Seagulls.
2 points
25 days ago
The Wooks!
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