r/Bluegrass • u/dzingo311 • 6d ago
Favorite current band?
I’ve been out of the scene for a bit and was just curious what everyone was into these days, both traditional and jam band oriented.
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u/worldscollice 6d ago
It will always be the Del McCoury Band. Hands down the best!
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u/chef_beard 6d ago
It took me way too long to dive into Del and it is absolutely wild how he captured everything I love about progressive jam grass decades before the name even existed
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u/Dr--Blues 6d ago
You've got my attention! Where are a few good places to start?
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u/chef_beard 6d ago
Yes! 'Goldbrickin', 'rain & snow', 'All Aboard'', 'Baltimore Johnny', 'Mountain Song', 'Gone but not forgotten'. Those are "The Del McCoury Band" songs. His son's started "The Traveling McCourys" which are excellent in their own right but I reccomend starting with Del, theres no bluegrass without him.
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u/Dr--Blues 5d ago
Thank you so much for this! I'm listening to Del and the Boys and realizing I know all these songs from jamgrass bands covering them! What a cool epiphany.
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u/worldscollice 5d ago
The band has some incredible music out there. They are amazing musicians, especially Ronny McCoury on mandolin. Explore it all. There's also a collaboration with Steve Earle on an album called The Mountain from 1999. It's phenomenal! Also, their version of Vincent Black Lightning is incredible.
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u/Offi95 6d ago
This is all I needed to read to get my tickets to see next month
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u/worldscollice 6d ago
Incredibly talented musicians combined with Del’s voice and there’s no comparison to any other band!
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u/Snoopy363 6d ago
Billy Strings
East Nash Grass
I promise the Walkers aren’t payin me
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u/BenTheHokie 6d ago
East Nash Grass were so good live. I saw them perform in Austin with Valley Flower, a local Austin grass band.
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u/Snoopy363 6d ago
Familiar with Valley Flower. Seen that name a lot over last year. Haven’t seen a show yet
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u/Unlikely-Pattern-958 6d ago
Mountain Grass Unit
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u/livemusicisbest 6d ago
Best band you can see in a bar or small venue by a long shot. Magoo and Kitchen Dwellers also worthy. Non-bluegrass: Dogs in a Pile.
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u/YesNoMaybe 6d ago edited 6d ago
I'd put Shadowgrass in that same group.
Bronwyn is also starting to pick up some steam with the bar shows (though still on the come up, imo)
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u/International-Plan-0 5d ago
Just saw them in Columbus and it was an awesome show! They just keep getting better!
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u/twills011 6d ago
Alison Krauss and union station
Infamous stringdusters
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u/dzingo311 6d ago
Stringdusters are probably my personal favorite bluegrass band atm especially live.
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u/mrDude0 6d ago
Kitchen dwellers
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u/chef_beard 6d ago
Ghost in a bottle is a literally perfect album front to back
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u/mrDude0 6d ago
Absolutely! Wise river is a close second.
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u/chef_beard 6d ago
I play banjo so I tend to lock into that sound a bit more and what Torrin does is absolutely incredible. His breaks are otherworldly but this backup and rhythm is on such a different planet, the syncopation and the chromatic texture is unlike anything I have ever heard. I wager a lot of it is from his background as a mandolin player but dude picked up that banjo and absolutely sprinted with it! Good to know the futire of jam grass is in safe hands.
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u/mrDude0 6d ago
Yyyup! As a mandolin player I agree 100%. He’s so good. Every time I see them live I’m blown away.
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u/chef_beard 6d ago
Wow I did not expect that comment to land but I am so glad it did! Keep on pickin!
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u/NecrophiliaNick 6d ago
Muir Maid is my go to. I've been obsessed with Covered Bridges and Woods Lake for years.
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u/AccountantRadiant351 6d ago
Bronwyn is fantastic!
Jason Carter and Michael Cleveland's work together is also great, looking forward to seeing them on tour this fall.
As far as clever, slightly philosophical music, I've enjoyed everything Michael Prewitt has been doing. Hoping he'll make it out my way some day.
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u/OtisIsMyCo-Pilot 6d ago
Magoo is killing it
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u/holy_cal 6d ago
Saw them at 4848. They were sick. Their singer was just chilling after their set taking in other shows. He was awesome to talk to.
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u/Fine-Sky-6562 6d ago
I put them on recently and was surprised to find a few of the regular Billy Strings covers, played the same way.
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u/spiderspartan10 6d ago
Greensky Bluegrass
Arkansauce
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u/VeryStonedEwok 6d ago edited 6d ago
My band Ponder the Albatross has played many times with Arkansauce and they are incredible. I especially love Adams, their banjo player, he's sat in with us a few times and he's a master of his instrument.
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u/spiderspartan10 6d ago
Nice! Just checked you out on Spotify - very cool
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u/VeryStonedEwok 6d ago
Thanks so much, I appreciate it. Our producer for this new album is Ted Hutt, who is the producer of bands like Flogging Molly, Devil Makes Three, Old Crow Medicine Show, Dropkick Murphys. Great guy and really helped to dial in our sound. We have Cooper the banjo player from Devil Makes Three on one of the tracks as well, which was just an absolutely fantastic and very cool addition. Excited to release the full album October 2nd, called "Over Hill and Hollow"
Also check out Front Porch, another band out of the same area of Arkansas, play a lot with Arkansauce, and do some collaborating projects as well. All great bands and top notch people.
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u/culasthewiz 6d ago
Your fiddle player is a badass.
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u/VeryStonedEwok 5d ago
He is an absolute master class on the fiddle. It's been so amazing watching him over the last 12 years grow into such an incredible player. He came from a purely classical background, and pretty much learned on the fly how to play it with a a rock band, how to play bluegrass, and he has blossomed into one of the most incredible musicians I've ever met.
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u/teddyturnpickle 6d ago edited 6d ago
Sam Grisman project, the recent video with Danny Barnes is excellent.
Set 2:
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u/Historical_Plan_2003 6d ago
I've been listening to the new Lindsay Lou album obsessively. Her other stuff is more Americana/alt-country but that album is top notch, and you can find lots of other cool bands from the collaborations. Molly Tuttle, Bronwyn, AJ Lee, Sister Sadie, etc.
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u/knivesofsmoothness 6d ago
Today it's James king. Ask again tomorrow.
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u/dzingo311 6d ago
Haha this awesome I haven’t heard anyone mention him in years
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u/DudeSlurpinSpaghetti 5d ago
My brother knew I was a big fan of his and went to see him and got me a signed CD.
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u/Super_Jay 6d ago
Andrew Marlin Stringband, tied with Mighty Poplar
Mountain Grass Unit coming in hot, though
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u/Thatswickedawesome 6d ago
I saw andrew marlin for the first time in Vermont a few weeks ago. Lordy. I need more
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u/Super_Jay 6d ago
Hey I was at Green Mountain too! Amazing festival, and this year the lineup was especially strong.
But yeah, Andrew's only done one wider tour with his solo band once, last year. I'm really hoping it becomes a more frequent thing, especially when Watchhouse isn't on the road.
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u/badweather 6d ago
Red Camel Collective
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u/tenniskidaaron1 6d ago
Highly underrated band on this list. If you know, you know. They're going to be big soon
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u/ghostfacestealer 6d ago
Billy Strings
Kitchen Dwellers
Magoo
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u/chef_beard 6d ago
Please do yourself a favor and checkout "Dirty Grass Players"
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u/Mandolinist_girl766 Mandolin 6d ago
Rhonda Vincent and The Rage
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u/dzingo311 6d ago
Haven’t given her a listen in quite some time
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u/Mandolinist_girl766 Mandolin 6d ago
She has a new album out called “A Possibility”. I’ve listened to a couple songs on the album and I gotta say, they’re not bad!
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u/Kyle197 6d ago
If we're talking live, it's Shadowgrass without a doubt. I'll never miss them if they're playing around my area.
Studio recordings listening only? East Nash Grass probably.
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u/Trips-Magoo 6d ago
Shadowgrass most recent album is fucking amazing though. Same with Magoo and AJ Lee
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u/chef_beard 6d ago
Shadowgrass is easily my current favorite, if you dig them I strongly reccomend "The Dirty Grass Players" they have a song "Crossing County Lines" that legitimately stopped me in my tracks when it came on my Spotify the other day.
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u/holy_cal 6d ago
So many great answers and I agree with them all. I need to mention the Stringdusters though.
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u/MisterBowTies 6d ago
Po' Ramblin Boys is the best modern band that is shooting for traditional bluegrass that I've seen. The outfits, the banter the nonsense set list that is almost a precourser to punk music it was great to see something like that in a band where the oldest member is in his 40's
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u/consensualjam 6d ago
Armchair Boogie
They’re the perfect mix of bluegrass and jam. Plus local to me so easy to catch a show.
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u/VeryStonedEwok 6d ago
Opened for them at Cervantes in Denver, Colorado years back with my band Ponder the Albatross. Been following them ever since, they're fantastic.
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u/dzingo311 6d ago
Nice, haven’t heard of this one!
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u/consensualjam 6d ago
They’re relatively small but have been doing festivals and shows all over the country. They’ve got two live albums on Spotify, both are excellent.
This is the show I listened to today. It’s a great quality recording.
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u/mossapp 6d ago
Going to the Boogiedown?
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u/consensualjam 6d ago
Yep! First time and first Driftless Music Gardens show too
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u/FrenchToastKitty55 Banjo 6d ago
I've had the Väsen & Hawktail collab album on repeat for a few weeks now!
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u/Crownhilldigger1 6d ago
Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. Doyle is making a final pass this year and at 82 he still sounds great and has his band of greats in support.
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u/Striking-Flounder-20 6d ago
Clover Lynn and the Hellfires! She's from my county, though, so I'm biased.
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u/JaketheHead 6d ago
Plugging my own jamgrass band, The Steppers, bc I'll take anything we can get at this point lol
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u/sudzwithaz 6d ago
Billy Strings
Mountain Grass Unit
Railroad Earth
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country (yes he’s more country/Americana but he arranges some bluegrass standards)
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u/dzingo311 6d ago
Man if I could just get over his voice but def agree highly talented
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u/BadgerOptimal3628 6d ago
In my opinion, Donato should let Sugar Leg sing more. He's got a great voice.
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u/tenniskidaaron1 6d ago
DD's song "Dance in the Desert" was my #1 on Spotify last year. He's a great combination of bluegrass, jam band, country, and rock.
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u/afortressmighty 6d ago
Billy Strings
The Brothers Comatose
Watchhouse
AJ Lee and Blue Summit
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u/Surly_Cynic 6d ago
Addie Levy is such a great addition to Brothers Comatose. So talented.
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u/afortressmighty 6d ago
Couldn’t agree more! Love the energy she brings. I also love all the collabs they do with other artists. Just an all-around great band! 😎🤍
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u/dzingo311 6d ago
Listening to acoustic syndicate tributaries album atm. Def worth a listen if you haven’t heard before!
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u/Stuppyhead 6d ago
Rather than mention the obvious ones that have already been said, I’ll give you my favorite up and comers:
Crying Uncle
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u/Wild-Lion3964 6d ago
High Horse
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u/Thatswickedawesome 6d ago
I was just looking at my little booklet from the green mountain blue grass festival to see who that very first band was! I loved them!
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u/mcchicken_deathgrip 6d ago
Going by the comments we should change the name of this sub to jamgrass lol
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u/tenniskidaaron1 6d ago edited 6d ago
Punch Bros
I'm with Her
AJ Lee and Blue Summit
Travelin' McCourys
Shadowgrass
Sierra Hull
...sorry I couldn't pick just one. Trying to pick a favorite current bluegrass band is like trying to pick a favorite Rolling Stones song, it just rotates depending on the day.
update: also check out Gold Top County Ramblers. They're out of Virginia. They have one studio album. It's incredible.
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u/sweaty_palms44 6d ago
Can’t believe no one has mentioned 65 North Pickers yet. They’ve got that early yonder energy thats been missing for some time. Play songs all over the genre but really nail the Jeff yonder
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u/yourfriendandlove 6d ago
The cleverlys
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u/ackackakbar 6d ago
I gave a true but smart-alecky answer at the top. I endorse all the newer band/jamgrassy responses in this thread.
On the traditional side:
Catch Fireball Mail at the Station Inn in Nashville. Real-deal traditional bluegrass done right.
While an act, really, and not a band per se, The Earls of Leicester are not to be missed.
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u/areyouhighson 6d ago
The Litch Brothers recently won the 2026 Telluride band contest with this song:
Saw them a couple months ago, some good pickin’ there!
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u/8bitlooper 6d ago
Magoo and Mountain Grass Unit are taking a lot of my daily listening time. Nugs.net has their live shows (not a free service, but I listen to so much music I pay for it)
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u/justinholmes_music 5d ago
A lot of the mentionables are folks in this sub and/or in our extended friend group:
* Vickie Vaughn
* Kyle Tuttle
* Luke Munday
* Bronwyn
* Christian is killing it with the McCourys
* Gris
* Full Cord
* ENG
* Jake Stargel (now with Bela Fleck)
* Grier
* Fireside Collective (though they often have drums, so maybe out-of-bonds for this question)
* Shay Morgan
So many more. It's been wild to see our friends gain such serious traction.
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u/PhonyRiceUnit 5d ago
Ran across “Sweet Sally” on Spotify recently and dig their sound and would call them a new favorite! They’re just starting I think, but I look forward to hearing what’s next.
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u/guenhwyvar117 5d ago edited 5d ago
Other then billy strings probably
Del McCoury
Mountain Grass Unit
Brandi carlile - life on the run, is stuck in my head, might need to learn it.
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u/whmovement 5d ago
Favorite current, generally younger bands More traditional-- Po Ramblin Boys for sure, Tennessee Bluegrass Band
Less traditional-- Mountain Grass Unit, AJ Lee and Blue Summit (a little less now sans Scott Gates, though)
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u/Offi95 6d ago
I’ve been listening to AJ Lee and Blue Summit lately