BLUEGRASS WITHOUT BORDERS

BY JOHN LEHNDORFF

Bluegrass lovers revere the genre’s legendary pickers and singers. And every July at RockyGrass — the high holiday for Front Range fanatics taking place each summer at Planet Bluegrass in Lyons — fans are treated to a veritable who’swho of musical icons like Del McCoury, David Grisman, Alison Krauss, Ronda Vincent and others who need no introduction.

But this year’s 51st iteration of the annual music blowout features plenty of fresh faces for the bluegrass-obsessed. While a few old-timers like Sam Bush, Béla Fleck and Peter Rowan will be on hand, the 2023 dance card is jammed with new voices, emerging acts and familiar names reinventing their sound.

Some headliners this year — think

Molly Tuttle and Sierra Hull — were once the new whiz-kid players of RockyGrass. The rest of the 2023 lineup is a study in contrasts. You’ll hear neo-traditionalists like the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, all-instrumental progressives like the band Hawktail, and the sophisticated chamber-grass of renowned bassist and composer Edgar Meyer. Compare that to Jeremy Garrett of the Infamous Stringdusters, who will stretch Bill Monroe’s definition of the genre with his fiddle-driven, looped folk-electronica solo project.

Other performers this year include everyone from The Lil Smokies and Stillhouse Junkies to Fireside Collective and local heroes Pick & Howl. And with the recent passing of Bobby Osborne and Jesse McReynolds — two living links to the dawn of bluegrass music — traditionalist Danny Paisley will remind the assembled pickers where that high, lonesome twang came from in the first place.

For a taste of a few of the next-gen voices blazing new trails during RockyGrass 2023, here’s a look at three acts you definitely won’t want to miss.

MIGHTY POPLAR: RECOVERING ROOTS

Mighty Poplar might technically be a new kid on the block, but this all-star band of friends is associated with some of the biggest acts in the scene: Andrew Marlin (Watchhouse), Chris Eldridge and Noam Pikelny (Punch Brothers) Greg Garrison (Leftover Salmon) and Alex Hargreaves (Billy Strings Band). Their self-titled debut album was released in 2023.

“Mighty Poplar started with our desire to play some real bluegrass — music that is so near and dear to our hearts. We got together for four days, and worked up these songs and recorded them really quickly. Playing together has been an utterly joyful experience. Hopefully, we’ll record and tour periodically.” — Chris

Eldridge

LARRY AND JOE: ‘VENEZUALACHIA’ MUSIC

Larry and Joe is a dynamic duo featuring standout players Larry Bellorín and Joe Troop. Bellorín grew up in Monagas, Venezuela, and is a master of Llanera music who can play at least 16 instruments including harp, banjo, cuatro, fiddle and guitar. North Carolina-born Troop is a Grammynominated bluegrass and old-time music player who led the transnational band Che Apalache.

“In 2021, I heard about this migrant musician working construction in Raleigh. When I saw some videos of him playing, I said, ‘Holy smokes, this guy’s the real deal!’ We started playing together soon after that. All of our musical components organically came together. Our message is that music has no borders.” — Joe Troop

“Bluegrass music wasn’t heard in Venezuela. We associated that with cowboys and the Wild West in movies. It was a great surprise for me when I heard bluegrass and old time music in North Carolina. It was like I had always been very familiar with it.”

— Larry Bellorín

AJ LEE AND BLUE SUMMIT: AMERICANA ACCENT

The California-based band led by singer, songwriter and mandolinist AJ Lee has released two albums: Like I Used To (2019) and I’ll Come Back (2021). Propelled by two guitars, mandolin, fiddle and bass, the sound straddles the line between Americana and bluegrass. Lee counts this year’s headliners Molly Tuttle and Sierra Hull among her early influences.

“I think that young people discovering bluegrass is what’s making it grow along with all the sub-genres like jamgrass. Having that outsider’s perspective helps keep the tradition alive and the music changing into something better. As long as no one says: ‘Bluegrass has to be this way … ’” — AJ Lee

ON THE BILL: RockyGrass 2023. July 28-30, Planet Bluegrass Ranch, 500 W.Main St., Lyons. $100-$235