I don't consider myself as a solo performer because first and foremost, Portugal is a country where bluegrass music is almost unknown, and it's very hard to book gigs as a band, and even worse as a solo banjo performer,”
Bluegrass Beyond Borders
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Bluegrass Beyond Borders: Professional Deformation from the Czech Republic
Based in the Czech Republic, Professional Deformation is a relatively new band, but one borne from plenty of professional experience. Each of the musicians involved — Jakub Racek (guitar, vocal), Radek Vaňkát (reso-guitar, vocal), Petr Vošta (banjo, vocal) and Karel
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Bluegrass Beyond Borders: Blue Mountain Boys and their unique Swedish sound
Sweden's Blue Mountain Boys describe their sound as "rooted in traditional and neo-traditional American bluegrass music with hints of old time music, western swing and early country music." Even so, they don't negate the musical influences inherent in their own
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Bluegrass Beyond Borders: Norway’s Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra
Better known as the land of the midnight sun than as a place where the grass grows blue, Norway has nevertheless managed to spawn a band that stays true to tradition despite the seeming disparity between Scandinavia and Appalachia. Based in
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Bluegrass Beyond Borders: Ontario’s Concession 23
Band names can be a funny thing. Consequently, Canada's Concession 23 naturally inspires some curiosity as to how their handle originated. Fortunately, vocalist and mandolin player, Kevin Golka, has a ready explanation. "When we formed the band, we wanted it to
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Bluegrass Beyond Borders: The Straps play bluegrass in Belgium
It may seem unlikely to some, but Belgium's affinity for bluegrass is hard to deny, with six-piece The Straps helping to provide a supply. "Our sound is a mix of bluegrass and old-time music sound," says singer and mandolin player Sébastien
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Bluegrass Beyond Borders: Thumping Tommys pound out tunes in London
Leave it the Brits to put a clever spin on anything they undertake. That's especially true when it comes to their version of bluegrass. Not surprisingly then, the Thumping Tommys are no exception. The band, which consists of Alex Hunter
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Bluegrass Beyond Borders: Woodspell plays Catalan bluegrass in Barcelona
Although Woodspell coalesced at the beginning of 2020, its origin can be traced back three years earlier when the members of the Barcelona-based bluegrass band first met at the Barcelona Bluegrass Camp in 2017. It was certainly prophetic, given that the
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Bluegrass Beyond Borders: The Louvat Brothers bring their bluegrass to Belgium
While Belgium might seem an unlikely point of origin for an eclectic bluegrass band, The Louvat Brothers prove that nationality has no bearing when a genuine love of music is concerned. Indeed, over the past 25 years, Steve Louvat and
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Bluegrass Beyond Borders: Say Hello to Howdy Bluegrass from Basque Country
It's clear even at the outset that Howdy Bluegrass has an absolute devotion to… well…bluegrass. Based in the Basque Country, a tiny nation situated between France and Spain on the Atlantic side of the Pyrenees Mountains, their name certainly tells