The Bluegrass state of Kentucky takes its name from a lawn variety long favored by thoroughbreds, and it gave its name to a style of music which is uniquely American, because it takes in several traditional styles brought by immigrants from their lands of origin.

"Old Time Country" as it existed in the early days of broadcasting was descended from the British Isles music brought by settlers from England, Scotland, and Ireland. In the 1940's, this folk music was put into overdrive (Pete Seeger's quote i believe) as it met up with Delta Blues and the commercial imperatives of mass media. The name Bluegrass was applied to the style by the late Bill Monroe, and his contemporaries.

Even in the previous century, African-Americans put an early stamp on the style, as the banjo evolved from the banzaa which came here on slave ships, and as the slaves took up european instruments (fiddle, guitar) to play for plantation dances. Drums were forbidden for their organizing potential.

The music pioneered by Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys, Lester Flatt + Earl Scruggs, and others too numerous to mention has continued to live and breathe. In keeping with its roots in the folk process , it has drawn on outside influences, not always to the liking of its stalwarts.

The program is intended to provide a brief overview of the Bluegrass vocabularly, from breakneck instrumental to chilling vocal showpiece. While rooted in backporch tradition, Bluegrass is a performance oriented craft in which the audience is a most important stakeholder. Our group takes pleasure in bringing this rural music to urban audiences.