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BROKEN COMPASS BLUEGRASS (USA)
Just one more hot young band out of California ... Co-production with Festival Country de Craponne Vertical Divider
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Broken Compass Bluegrass is one more band to come out of the California Bluegrass Association Kids on Bluegrass programme (Frank Solivan, Annie Stanninec, Molly and Sully Tuttle, AJ Lee, Crying Uncle), that we love to present to you at Bluegrass in La Roche. With an average age of just 20, they are already seasoned performers with an astonishing level of maturity as composers, singers and musicians. They enjoy playing the traditional Bluegrass songs while also wandering easily into the exciting realms of jam grass with energy and virtuosity. We’ve seen them a few times now and can’t wait to share them with you Kyle Ledson (mandolin, guitar), Django Ruckrich (guitar, mandolin), Mei Lin Heirendt (fiddle, guitar), Sam Jacobs (bass) Album : Fool's Gold (2023)
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CISCO & THE RACECARS (USA)
From a back porch community project to top Arizona band ... Vertical Divider
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In 2024, Bluegrass in La Roche is delighted to welcome Jam Pak, an Arizona based association founded 30 years ago by Anni Beach to help kids find strength through the community of music: “The mission, indeed the singular goal, of this organisation is to make people and ourselves happy with our music. Everything we do revolves around this goal. And from that, many good things follow.” Cisco & the Racecars is a band that grew out of this community and has grown to become one of the premier Bluegrass bands in the Southwest. As well as playing an energetic style with diverse arrangements and instrumentation of old and new songs, the musicians give back by mentoring the next generation of players in the Jam Pak program. Francisco Briseno (banjo), Mark Hickler (guitar), Giselle Lee (fiddle), Chester Carmer (mandolin), Katie Carmer (cello), Joelle Tambe-Ebot (bass.) |
BUSTER SLEDGE (NOR)
Another project from the great Scandinavian tradition ... 
photo Ingvil Ljones
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Scandinavia has long been an important hub of innovation for Bluegrass in Europe and when you add a songwriting fiddler from California into the mix, it’s definitely got to be worth checking out. We got to see them at IBMA WOB last year and with adventurous story-telling lyrics backed by a tightly-woven ensemble sound peppered with streaks of improvisatory action in the back, Buster Sledge delivers in a way that is as exciting for bluegrass-nerds as it is for normal civilians. We can only agree with Mike Wistow’s description in Folking.com of a "musical experience that leaves you simultaneously with a smile on your face at the same time as a sense of awe for what’s been achieved.” Michael Barrett Donovan (fiddle), Mikael Jonassen (banjo), Jakob Folke Ossum (guitar), Vidar Starheimsæter (bass) Album : Nice Time on Earth Today (2023)
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STACJA FOLK (POL)
2022 young talent band back on the main stage... Vertical Divider
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Back after a great showcase in our Young Talent slot in 2022, this is a band where musicians all come from different cities in Poland to meet at the “Folk Station” (Stacja Folk). Song-writer Karolina has been a fan of Americana music since childhood and the group reflects influences from blues, bluegrass, pop, jazz and sung poetry, which all blend together to make their characteristic sound with expressive fiddle and melodic guitar backing Karolina’s clear, vibrant vocals. They have received many prestigious awards in Poland over the last 3 years both as a band and as an instrumentalist (Michalina). Karolina Bułas (mandolin), Michalina Putek (fiddle), Rafał Wiercioch (guitar), Maciej Kozioł (bass) Album: W drogę ruszam i… (2023)
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RICK FARIS BAND (USA)
IBMA New Artist of the Year 2022 ... Vertical Divider
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Rick grew up playing in his parents’ Faris Family Band before joining the award winning Special Consensus with Greg Cahill (Bluegrass in La Roche 2023), playing first mandolin and later guitar for 11 years. In 2021, he decided to form his own band and signed to Dark Shadow Recording. Success came quickly as Rick received the New Artist of the Year Award at IBMA 2022, along with nominations for album and song of the year. Further nominations followed in 2023. Rick is also a first class luthier and has just moved his Rick Faris Guitar Co. to Owensboro, near to the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum, as part of that town’s drive to consolidate its place as the Bluegrass Capital of the World. As well as performing two sets at the festival the band will be teaching the camp in the week before the festival. Rick Faris (guitar), Chris Luquette (mandolin), Eli Gilbert (banjo), Jim Bob Faris (bass) Album : Uncommon Sky (2023)
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LLUÍS GÓMEZ BLUEGRASS 4TET (EUR)
3 countries, 1 continent, lots of music ... Vertical Divider
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This truly European band is led by Spanish banjo maestro Lluís Gómez, who is joined by Ondra Kozák from the Czech Republic, Raphaël Maillet from France, and Maribel Rivero from Spain - four virtuoso instrumentalists and singers, all already well-known individually in La Roche and on the European Bluegrass scene. Within this collaboration, they play straight and progressive Bluegrass with added spices from their respective national musical cultures. You will hear songs in Spanish, Catalan, French, Czech and English, through covers and original compositions. Lluís Gómez-(banjo), Ondra Kozák (guitar, fiddle), Maribel Rivero (bass), Raphaël Maillet (fiddle) New Album to be released in 2024 Album release 2024
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BLUEGRASS CWRKOT (CZE)
Why only the 1st time here??? 
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Petr Brandejs has been a leading light in the Czech and European Bluegrass scene, as a banjo player, teacher and festival organiser for over 3 decades. Bluegrass Cwrkot is his traditional Bluegrass project co-founded with his brother and band leader, Pavel, in 1989. As well as many classics, they sing nearly-forgotten, old songs and some of their own material, played in the same spirit. They have played all over Europe, have released 7 albums and won the audience popularity vote at EBWO in Voorthuisen, NL. Featuring some of the Czech Republic’s finest exponents of the genre, one wonders why this will be their 1st time at Bluegrass in La Roche! Slávek Podhráský (guitar), Pavel "Brandy" Brandejs (bass), Petr Brandejs (banjo) Marek Macák (mandolin), Jirka Loun (fiddle). https://cwrkot.cz/ |
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NEW BLUE QUITACH (FRA)
One of the last few long running French bands ... Vertical Divider
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One of France’s longest running Bluegrass bands, hailing from the south, NBQ remains close to the traditional Bluegrass sound and harmony singing, while proudly adding influences from rock, blues and Irish music, as well as French pop covers, for a dynamic, much appreciated show. They played at the legendary Toulouse Bluegrass Festival and also at La Roch in a previous incarnation and have opened for Kassav , Claude Bolling, Sanseverino, Bruce Daigrepont. They also represented French Bluegrass at the CBA Jam-a-thon in January 2022 and have been featured in Banjo Newsletter and Bluegrass Unlimited. Erick Millet (banjo), Benoît Robbe (guitar), Bernard Minari (mandolin), Jean Mo (bass) Nw album to be released in 2024
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THE BOATSWAIN BROTHERS & PITCH HILL BOYS (GBR)
After a hit show as young talents in 2023 ... Vertical Divider
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Appearing on the Day Stage last year as a Young Talent band, the crisp, clean drive of these gifted artists earned them a recall to play on the Main Stage this time. Hailing from the south of England, the Boatswain brothers started playing traditional Bluegrass duets before teaming up with Bradley Sparks, whose musical journey was rooted in the traditional sounds of Flat & Scruggs and the other early Bluegrass pioneer, and Jack Frederick with his impeccable mandolin chops and high speed breaks. The result is a high energy Bluegrass sound the delights audiences as they aim to pass on the Bluegrass bug to all those who hear their music. Oscar Boatswain - Banjo, Harley Boatswain - Guitar, Jack Frederick - Mandolin Brad Sparks - Bass |
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EAST NASH GRASS (USA)
The hottest band in Nashville in 2024 comes to La Roche … Vertical Divider
Photo J Fasano
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"Nashville's newest bluegrass ambassadors," East Nash Grass is a superb balance of undeniably hard-driving bluegrass alongside surprisingly introspective songwriting and earnest narration. What started out as an informal Monday evening collective at Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge and Bar in East Nashville has turned into the hottest show in town and made the band a must-have on the US Bluegrass Festival circuit. The each have impressive solo career bios with a Grand Master Fiddle champion, a Presidential Scholar for the Arts in Jazz, two IBMA Momentum Award-winners for Best Instrumentalist, and they all play and have played with some of the best (Tim O’Brien, Dan Tyminski, Blue Highway…). We are truly honoured and excited to welcome them to La Roche. James Kee (guitar), Maddie Denton (fiddle), Gaven Largent (dobro), Jeff Picker (bass), Cory Walker (banjo), Harry Clark (mandolin) Album : Last Chance To Win (2023) – East Nash Grass (2021) Album : Last Chance To Win (2023) – East Nash Grass (2021 + solo projects
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TAFF RAPIDS (GBR)
Great Bluegrass from Wales … Vertical Divider
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This excellent young band from Cardiff, Wales, brings a modern drive with a refreshing take on Bluegrass music. Whether covering traditional standards or modern classics, or performing captivating originals, their musical prowess and their Welsh heritage infuses the music for all to enjoy. A Taff Rapids show promises an electrifying performance with rich harmonies and strong instrumental contributions. Invited to showcase at the IBMA World of Bluegrass last September, they followed it up with a successful tour of Canada. They call their music “Blŵgras” and they plan to take it as far as they can, and introduce it around the world! David Grubb (Fiddle) Darren Eedens (Banjo) Siôn Russell Jones (Guitar) |
HAPPY HEARTACHES (SWE)
More original Bluegrass from the Great North of Europe ... 
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Once called the ABBA of Bluegrass, Happy Heartaches bridges the gap between Old Time and Bluegrass, adding their own nordic twist, a down to earth feeling on stage and a full dose of the fun factor. Since 2018 the band has performed their personal renditions of traditional and original tunes and songs all across Sweden and Scandinavia. Their four distinct voices, harmonies and daring instrumentals add a personal flair to the joyful, heart-wrenching music we all know and love so well. In 2019 they won the prestigious Grenna Festival Bluegrass Band Award. Their EP “Over There” was released in 2020 and a new CD is coming in 2024. Albin Ekman (fiddle), Alicia Jardine (banjo, mandolin), Brita Björs (Bass), Max Tellving (Guitar) Album : to be released in 202
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MAD MEADOWS (DEU)
Old friends of La Roche on the Main Stage for the 1st time ... Vertical Divider
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This international band (US, Germany, France) from Freiburg in the Black Forest, is already well known around La Roche through their longtime attendance and participation in jams and the Street Festival, without ever having played on the stage. This year, we right this wrong and the festival audience will have a chance to discover their authentic Bluegrass sound with revisits of classic songs interspersed with personal compositions, that make their sound timeless, perfectly captured in their CD. Edward Fernbach (mandolin), Beni Feldmann (guitar), Susanne Sievers (fiddle), Frank Benn (dobro), Alain Kempf (bass). Album : That Day (2022)
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BLUE WEED (ITA)
The future of Italian Bluegrass ... Vertical Divider
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Raised at the court of two legendary Italian bluegrass bands (Bluegrass Stuff and Red Wine), it is wonderful to see these young musicians start their own project in 2022 and take the European Bluegrass scene by storm so quickly, inspired by traditional and contemporary Bluegrass music. They all have years of musical study behind them and bring a fresh dynamic to the music with a wide range of sounds and styles of Bluegrass from its origins to the present day, tracing the social history of the times and its interactions with the American music of the second half of the twentieth century. Francesco Mosna (dobro, guitar), Matteo Camera (guitar), Marco Ferretti (banjo), Icaro Gatti (bass) |
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CAMPBELL JENSEN (USA)
A second chance to catch some country music "royalty" in La Roche ... Vertical Divider
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For the last 3 years these two have been writing, playing and singing together forming a unique meeting of musical genres with Ashley coming from the world of country and Americana and Thor having a diverse background from rock to gypsy jazz. Ashley Campbell started playing at a young age in her father’s band (yes, that’s country legend Glen Campbell), before finding success as a soloist, performing all around the world as a headliner and opening for Kris Kristofferson and the Bellamy Brothers, among others. They teamed up as a duo in 2021, creating a fresh sound with beautiful harmonies backed by exceptional acoustic guitar and banjo playing. In 2023, they brought a portable recording studio to a remote cottage on an island off the coast of Northern Ireland, and made an album. We are so excited to have them play for you at La Roche. Ashley Campbell (guitar, banjo), Thor Jensen (guitar) Album : Turtle Cottage (2023)
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BROKEN COMPASS BLUEGRASS (USA)
More from these wonderful California kids ... Co-production with Festival Country de Craponne France Vertical Divider
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