News

It’s officially fall here in Philadelphia. That means it’s time to take stock of the touring acts coming through town this season. Luckily for us, there are too many for just one post, but don’t fret; the Philly Bluegrass Calendar has you covered with a full list. Or you could make scheduling easy on yourself and win the Bluegrass Passport Contest, which will award to one winner a pair of tickets to five hot bluegrass shows at the Ardmore Music Hall this fall. Prefer to order a la carte? Here are 10 tasty options for your consideration:

October 7: Sam Bush at the Ardmore Music Hall

The man often credited with originating the “newgrass” genre kicks of the Ardmore Music Hall’s stacked lineup of bluegrass shows, touring behind his new record, “Storyman” (Sugar Hill). Don’t forget to enter the Bluegrass Passport Contest by Friday, September 30 for a chance to win a pair of tickets to this and four other shows!

October 14: Sierra Hull at Tin Angel

Sierra Hull, who played World Cafe Live this summer, returns to Philly with two sets at Tin Angel, one of our favorite rooms for bluegrass music in the city. If you haven’t seen her perform lately, don’t miss the chance to see her and her incredible band, which features Edgar Meyer pupil Ethan Jodziewicz on bass and the multi-talented Justin Moses on, well, everything.

October 16: Yonder Mountain String Band at Ardmore Music Hall

Yonder Mountain String Band may be going on 18 years together, but the band is keeping it fresh, recently adding mandolin virtuoso Jake Jolliff (Joy Kills Sorrow). Yonder and the Ardmore Music Hall’s jam-friendly scene should make this one a hot ticket. Make sure not to miss the opener, Billy Strings, who is rocking the bluegrass world lately with his blazing-fast guitar picking. [**Bluegrass Passport show**]

October 22: The Grateful Ball feat. The Travelin’ McCourys + Jeff Austin Band at Ardmore Music Hall

The Travelin’ McCourys and Jeff Austin make AMH the third stop of their new “Grateful Ball” tour, which grew out of a successful experiment in St. Louis in June, according to JamBase. The plan is for each band to perform a set of their own, and then come together to perform a set of Grateful Dead songs. You can get a taste of what to expect below, with the McCourys performing “Cumberland Blues,” a studio recording of which they also just released. [**Bluegrass Passport show**]

October 28: Mipso at World Cafe Live

Mipso may not be as well-known a name in the bluegrass world as Bush or McCoury, but that just means you can catch Mipso in the intimate World Cafe Live Upstairs before they totally blow up. The band was nominated for an International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Band Momentum Award last month, and more accolades are almost surely in their future. Soul-ster Sam Lewis opens.

November 2: Chatham County Line at Tin Angel

There’s more great bluegrass at the Tin Angel this fall, when Chatham County Line passes through on November 4. Tight harmony vocals, well-crafted songs, and a wry sense of humor make these guys a ton of fun to watch. And their condenser mic setup should be a great fit for Philly’s famous listening room.

November 4: Mandolin Orange at Boot & Saddle

Mandolin Orange drops their new record this Friday, September 30. But if you’re like me you’ve already been listening to it for the past week on the Wall Street Journal‘s music blog, Speakeasy. And you’ve probably already scored tickets to this show.

November 6: Tony Trischka’s Early Roman Kings: The Music of Bob Dylan

Bela Fleck banjo mentor Tony Trischka (banjo, pedal steel), Stash Wyslouch (guitar, vocals),  Sean Trischka (drums, vocals), and Jared Engel (bass) play Bob Dylan songs. At the Tin Angel. What more do you need to know? Grab tickets here.

December 4: Dirk Powell & Riley Baugus at Crossroads Music

On December 4, the Crossroads Music series presents two masters of the old-time music genre in Dirk Powell and Riley Baugus. The pair met at a fiddler’s convention back in the 1980s, and continue to collaborate to this day, perhaps most notably on the soundtrack for the 2003 film Cold Mountain.

December 7: Front Country at World Cafe Live

Once known as the Bay Area’s favorite bluegrass band, Front Country recently decamped for Nashville, and was just named Nine Artists To Watch For At AmericanaFest 2016 by NPR Music. On December 7, they’ll be another example of a young, genre-pushing bluegrass band to visit World Cafe Live Upstairs, following Mipso’s October show.

PRESS RELEASE / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Becky Blumenthal
Ardmore Music Hall
610-649-8389
marketing@ardmoremusichall.com

Ardmore, PA, September 15, 2016 — The fast-approaching autumn concert season marks the launch of the first ever Bluegrass Passport Contest sponsored by the Ardmore Music Hall (AMH) and PhillyBluegrass.com. Through September 30, fans can enter for a chance to win a pair of tickets to AMH’s upcoming bluegrass shows at phillybluegrass.com/passport. Nationally touring acts including Sam Bush, Yonder Mountain String Band, The Travelin’ McCourys, The Jeff Austin Band, and Anderson East will be passing through Ardmore, PA this fall, as will local favorites Mason Porter and Hezekiah Jones.

GRAMMY winning newgrass artist and revered mandolin player Sam Bush kicks off AMH’s slate of bluegrass shows on October 7th. Sam, most known for the innovative work with his New Grass Revival band, expanded the strict structural limits of bluegrass music by fusing it with jazz, rock, blues, funk and other styles. Additionally, he is a frequent headliner at the annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Colorado, earning him the nickname of the “King of Telluride.” With as many laurels as Sam has to rest on over the course of his decorated career, he remains humble and in touch with the youthful version of himself that propelled his ingenuity and creative drive.

Next on the lineup comes Yonder Mountain String Band, the quintessential progressive bluegrass quintet that, though it has gone through some reshuffling since the departure of Jeff Austin, has proven itself to be a name to be remembered within the bluegrass genre. Despite the changes, there has been no sign of slowed growth within the band. Their live shows remain ever changing and in constant renovation. This however, shouldn’t be taken as a negative. What is rendered is music that is always progressing and groundbreaking. Longtime fans of the group are keen on the band’s instrumental prowess, something to which violinist Allie Kral and mandolin virtuoso Jacob Jolliff have only added to. “At the end of the day, Yonder is a band with almost two decades of music under its belt, but we’re always a bit restless,” banjoist Dave Johnston had to say. “We want to move the music forward to new places, which keeps us on our musical toes.” YMSB will make their AMH debut on October 16th.

October 22nd will feature a doubleheader of newgrass as AMH hosts the Grateful Ball, featuring The Travelin’ McCourys and Jeff Austin Band. Both acts will be performing one set of their own tunes and then joining forces to share their own renditions of Grateful Dead songs. Jeff Austin of course got his big break with YMSB. But after twenty-plus years with the band, Austin has returned to the scene with a newfound sense of passion. Celebrated for his fleet fingers and penchant for improvisation on stage, he has cultivated his natural musical abilities and allowed himself to be driven by his boldest instincts. Partner that with the ultra-talented Danny Barnes on the banjo, as well as other renowned musical talents, and fans receive a completely revitalized live experience when seeing Austin on stage.

One would be hard pressed to find a band with the more credibility to play in both traditional and progressive bluegrass spheres than the boys of the Travelin’ McCourys. As the sons of bluegrass legend Del McCoury, Ronnie McCoury on mandolin and Rob McCoury on banjo continue to carry their father’s luminary torch by bringing bluegrass music that is uniquely their own to a new generation of listeners. Ronnie says, “We like to go in and play traditional bluegrass music the way we do it with Dad, but we also like to be able to step into situations where we can really stretch out. If we need to plug in, we’ll plug in. We’re open to anything.”

Then comes white hot rising star Anderson East on November 13th. The 27 year-old’s Soul-Americana outfit gained massive acclaim in 2015 after the release of his first full-length album, Delilah. Layered with triumphant brass sections, soulful textures of smokey organ riffs, and East’s fervid vocal performances, Delilah stirred the pot for things to come. His voice and aesthetic has drawn Ray LaMontagne and Joe Cocker comparisons and his high-energy shows have enthralled live audiences nation-wide.

Topping off the bluegrass bonanza with some local flavor, Philly favorites Mason Porter and Hezekiah Jones return to the AMH stage on December 10th. Rolling Stone recently described Mason Porter’s as “Bluegrass musicianship meets jam-band exploration, delivered with a self-confident Philly attitude.” With the ability to blend earthy, Appalachian instruments with more contemporary, urban-inspired rhythms, Mason Porter puts on an energetic and danceable live show night after night. Hezekiah Jones cruises down a musical path paved with wide-ranging inspiration. Incorporating Americana with infusions of an eclectic mix of New Orleans style Jazz, Harmonic Folk and Beatles-like Pop-Rock, the band’s creative limits are only set by their imagination.

For more information about our bluegrass passport contest visit phillybluegrass.com/passport and to purchase tickets to any of these shows, visit www.ArdmoreMusic.com.

The Ardmore Music Hall has established itself as a premiere landing spot for many renowned local and national touring musical acts. Features include a state-of-the-art sound system, a wide dance space, and 20+ craft beers on draught. The venue is located at 23 East Lancaster Ave, and is easily accessible by public transportation with the R-5 regional line. Visit the AMH website for the most up-to-date information regarding the venue and a full listing of upcoming events.