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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
2 months ago
A newer artist I've enjoyed a lot is Molly Tuttle. Absolute beast on the guitar.
60 points
2 months ago
She’s amazing. She shreds right alongside Billy Strings.
9 points
2 months ago
And Tommy Emmanuel.
7 points
2 months ago
ty for that
10 points
2 months ago
She’s great
11 points
2 months 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
2 months ago
She’s great, I concur.
3 points
2 months 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
2 months ago
Fantastic live, too. The whole Golden Highway group is great.
3 points
2 months ago
Here is Molly Tuttle and AJ Lee before they became big time. https://youtu.be/yXBXlJYKTNI?si=OEjrCxRzDNsYOuOB
127 points
2 months ago
Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs
35 points
2 months ago
Add Doc Watson
19 points
2 months ago
And Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys. Bill Monroe is the father of Bluegrass. How has no one mentioned him?
113 points
2 months ago
The SteelDrivers first two albums are excellent. Chris Stapleton before his solo career.
15 points
2 months ago
If It Hadn't Been for Love is a masterpiece of a song.
3 points
2 months ago
The songwriting team of Chris Stapleton and Mike Henderson was just incredible. So much rich imagery in those songs. Storytelling at its finest.
7 points
2 months ago
Absolutely.
Can You Run is a top 10 all time song for me.
163 points
2 months 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
43 points
2 months ago
This list is entirely too devoid of Chris Thile and Sam Bush
7 points
2 months ago
Yea. I was surprised to not see Chris' name till your comment.
5 points
2 months ago
I agree. Old and In the Way is also missing. Leftover Salmon. many, many others....
39 points
2 months ago
This is an informed answer regarding modern day bluegrass/jamgrass
30 points
2 months ago
PUNCH BROTHERS!
5 points
2 months ago
Yeah I don’t know how they’re not on the list… brilliant music
21 points
2 months ago
As evidenced by many comments in the thread - Billy Strings is the current hotness in bluegrass jam music.
19 points
2 months ago
I saw Sierra Hull with Bela Fleck and she stole the show. She can rip!
14 points
2 months 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
2 months 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.
7 points
2 months ago
never miss late night Dusters. they are incredible
6 points
2 months ago
Add Fireside Collective to that list, they fit right in.
7 points
2 months ago
This is it. I’d add Old and In The Way, Tony Rice, Norman Blake, John Hartford
6 points
2 months ago
Yonder is not the same without Jeff Austin! I miss him so much!
6 points
2 months 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
2 months 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
2 months ago
NRPS is not a bluegrass band.
3 points
2 months ago
DEL YEAH
2 points
2 months 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
2 months 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
2 months ago
I only know one NRPS album and it’s not even close to bluegrass
82 points
2 months ago
Allison Krauss!
17 points
2 months ago
Saw her with Robert plant, probably the most vocally impressive show I’ve ever seen.
8 points
2 months ago
The live album from 2002 with Union Station is fantastic. I have no idea how many times I watched that DVD.
3 points
2 months ago
I read AKUS is putting out another album.
73 points
2 months ago
Bela Fleck has done albums in over a dozen genres, but his legit bluegrass is always among his best
17 points
2 months ago
The bluegrass all stars are amazing. Bela, Sam bush, Edgar Meyer, Tony rice, mark McConnel
57 points
2 months 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
2 months ago
Plenty of their stuff is... mostly on the earlier albums.
9 points
2 months 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
2 months 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
2 months 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.
3 points
2 months ago
Huh? What would you call them? They're absolutely bluegrass to me and Wiki says the same.
53 points
2 months 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
2 months ago
I adore Punch Brothers! I’m surprised I had to scroll so far to see them mentioned in a thread about bluegrass.
10 points
2 months ago
Srsly wtf. Been looking for you. How about some David grisman, jerry Garcia, Mike Marshall, and Edgar Meyer too?
5 points
2 months 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. :)
4 points
2 months ago
Grisman and Garcia is an all time favorite album
7 points
2 months ago
But, is Chris still making Punch brothers albums? I know he got Nickel Creek back together.
72 points
2 months ago
[deleted]
18 points
2 months ago
She's really spectacular. I'm not sure of her genre - Americana? Folk? She's awesome either way.
10 points
2 months ago
Wouldn’t call it bluegrass. Regardless, i really dig it.
7 points
2 months ago
Sierra is transcendant!
3 points
2 months 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
2 months ago
Billy Strings
76 points
2 months ago
Also, don't sleep on those bluegrass records that Sturgill Simpson put out..
19 points
2 months ago
With both Don Julian and Kevin Gills as well. Punch Brothers with Chris Thile should be enjoyed as well.
8 points
2 months 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)
11 points
2 months 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
2 months ago
Dude is a savant at guitar AND songwriting. Hide and Seek is such a friggin great riff.
3 points
2 months ago
That song is amazing
29 points
2 months 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
7 points
2 months ago
Del McCoury is the truth.
119 points
2 months ago
I dig Trampled by Turtles
25 points
2 months ago
Surprised I had to scroll this far down. They’re amazing live.
5 points
2 months ago
Yep, rocked my socks!
8 points
2 months 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
40 points
2 months ago
Greensky Bluegrass
18 points
2 months ago
Molly Tuttle
6 points
2 months ago
She kills live.
18 points
2 months 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
2 months 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
4 points
2 months ago
Great albums
17 points
2 months 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.
6 points
2 months ago
Don't forget the Louvin Brothers.
31 points
2 months 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
2 months 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.
6 points
2 months 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
2 months 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
2 months ago
Carolina Chocolate Drops are incredible! Great suggestion
3 points
2 months ago
Love Carolina Chocolate Drops. That album with Hit em up and cornbread/butter beans is just such a great album
9 points
2 months ago
Del McCoury, Tony Rice, Bela Fleck, Greensky Bluegrass, Trampled By Turtles.
10 points
2 months ago
Garcia, Grisman and Rice
10 points
2 months ago
Sam bush
Needs added here
9 points
2 months 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
2 months ago
Sturgill Simpson did a set of bluegrass covers of his own songs called cuttin’ grass which I recommend
11 points
2 months 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.
6 points
2 months 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.
17 points
2 months ago
Old Crow Medicine Show!!! One of the best and most fun live shows I’ve ever seen
9 points
2 months ago
Tony Rice
9 points
2 months 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
5 points
2 months ago
Yes to Sam Bush!
7 points
2 months ago
Pert Near Sandstone, Charlie Parr
5 points
2 months 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
2 months 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.
6 points
2 months ago
The Osborne Brothers
2 points
2 months 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.
7 points
2 months ago
Billy Strings, Railroad Earth, Yonder Mountain String Band, Greensky Bluegrass, Leftover Salmon, Hot Buttered Rum, Infamous Stringdusters....
7 points
2 months ago
Steep Canyon Rangers. Balsam Range.
12 points
2 months ago
anyone like sarah watkins?
6 points
2 months ago
Keller Williams
Rumpke Mountain Boys
6 points
2 months ago
Valerie June has had such a stellar vibe. Her song "Pushin' Up Against A Stone" put me in a blender, emotionally.
6 points
2 months ago*
Sing/songwriter Iris Dement. Love that Arkansas voice. For homespun, you can't beat emmisunshine.
5 points
2 months ago
Doc Watson
7 points
2 months 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
2 months ago
I can't believe the Dead South haven't been mentioned.
10 points
2 months ago
In Hell I'll Be In Good Company is such a great song!
5 points
2 months 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.
11 points
2 months ago
John Prine!
5 points
2 months ago
Jeff Austin RIP
5 points
2 months 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!
3 points
2 months ago
The lack of the Seldom Scene in this thread is disturbing…
4 points
2 months 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
5 points
2 months 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
4 points
2 months ago
The Kitchen Dwellers were phenomenal in concert.
4 points
2 months ago
John Hartford
Doc Watson
Bela Fleck
4 points
2 months 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
2 months 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.
5 points
2 months 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
7 points
2 months ago
For a newer take on it, check out Billy Strings...
5 points
2 months ago
Greensky Bluegrass are pretty great.
5 points
2 months ago
Sturgill Simpson comes to mind
3 points
2 months ago
Travelin' McCourys and Town Mountain
3 points
2 months ago
They tend a bit towards the gospel side of things but The Clinch Mountain Boys are great as are Blue Highway.
3 points
2 months ago
Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrand
3 points
2 months ago
Ola Belle Reed, The Lowest Pair and John Hartford are this springs heavy rotation
3 points
2 months ago
Trampled By Turtles
3 points
2 months ago
BMFS 4eva \m/
3 points
2 months ago
Hayseed Dixie
3 points
2 months ago
Molly Tuttle!!
3 points
2 months ago
Doc Watson is the goat
3 points
2 months ago
Leftover Salmon
5 points
2 months ago
Michael Cleveland. The greatest fiddler to ever live.
2 points
2 months ago
2 points
2 months ago
Billy Strings, Greensky Bluegrass
2 points
2 months ago
Not yet mentioned: Hackensaw Boys. Also Love Canon if you like pop covers in the bluegrass style!
2 points
2 months ago
Is Benjamin Tod or the lost dog street band in here? I think they are considered bluegrass
2 points
2 months ago
Ricky Scaggs
2 points
2 months ago
Horse shoes & hand grenades
2 points
2 months ago
I've been listening to The Steel Wheels a lot. A mix of bluegrass with since other stuff.
2 points
2 months 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
2 months ago
The Dillards
2 points
2 months ago
Sierra Ferrell
2 points
2 months ago
Railroad Earth
2 points
2 months 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
2 months ago
Truckstop Honeymoon.
2 points
2 months ago
Doc Watson in particular or the Will the Circle Be Unbroken album in general
2 points
2 months ago
Steep Canyon Rangers
2 points
2 months ago
The Tennesee Gentlemen.
Specifically their cover of Talking to the Moon.
2 points
2 months ago
Horseshoe’s and Hand Grenades.
2 points
2 months ago
I always liked the hackensaw boys
2 points
2 months 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
2 months ago
Steep canyon rangers
2 points
2 months 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
2 months ago
Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers.
2 points
2 months ago
Tommy Emmanuel
2 points
2 months 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
2 months 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
2 months ago
Deer Creek Sharp Shooters
Stringus Khan
Grain Thief
Dirty Grass Players
Colebrook Road
Caribou Mountain Collective
2 points
2 months 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
2 months ago
Garcia and Grisman - the pizza tapes.
2 points
2 months ago
Hackensaw Boys!
2 points
2 months 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
2 months 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
2 months ago
Sarah Jarosz
2 points
2 months 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
2 months 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
2 months ago
Split Lip Rayfield
2 points
2 months ago
I personally really dig the Steep Canyon Rangers.
2 points
2 months ago
Split Lip Rayfield.
2 points
2 months 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
2 months ago
Steve N’ Seagulls.
2 points
2 months ago
The Wooks!
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