Sad news for fans of Swedish bluegrass group, Downtown Ramblers. The band has announced today that they will no longer be performing together after an eight year run that found them touring across Europe and in the US.
In recent years, the band has been named top band in the Swedish Bluegrass Championship in 2007, and Top European Band at the European World of Bluegrass festival in ’09.
In a statement this morning, they list the usual pressures as the cause of the breakup.
“It hurts to tell you that we in our band have decided to put an end to the Downtown Ramblers from now on. This has been discussed in the band for a loooong time now and we’re sorry we can’t find a way to keep playing as a band. Now, don’t you worry folks, we’re all great friends, just as before, but for now, everyone in the band need to focus on kids, families and other musical projects which needs to be prioritized for the time being.”
Downtown Ramblers had been based on the songwriting of mandolinist Oskar Reuter and the vocals of Emilie Junsten, assisted by Martin Blomberg on banjo, Par Ojerot on guitar, and Karl Annerhult on bass. Their style was quite contemporary, which they liked to call “Nordic urban bluegrass,” with strong elements of European pop-flavored music as well as grass.
Have a look/listen in this video shot at a festival in 2013.
In their final farewell, Downtown Ramblers express gratitude for all their fans and friends in bluegrass.
“Now, we want shout out a huge thank you for being such an amazing support throughout the years – T H A N K Y O U ! ! Without your support we wouldn’t have gotten this far! To mention everyone would just take too long, so that big Thanks goes for all of you!
Everyone in our band will continue picking and playing, and we’d love to see you all in the future, somewhere, somehow.
Thank you for everything folks! We love you all!”
Goodbye, Downtown Ramblers.
