| Greensky Bluegrass | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States |
| Genres | Progressive bluegrass, jam band |
| Years active | 2000 - present |
| Website | www.greenskybluegrass.com |
| Members | |
| Dave Bruzza Paul Hoffman Michael Bont Anders Beck Mike Devol |
|
Greensky Bluegrass is a five-piece American bluegrass band. The band was founded in Kalamazoo, Michigan in the year 2000 and has toured consistently throughout the past decade, playing many of the nation's finest clubs, music halls and festivals.
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Formed in the fall of 2000 by Michael Arlen Bont (banjo), Dave Bruzza (guitar), and Paul Hoffman (mandolin), Greensky has undergone a musical evolution as unique as the music it has produced. As newcomers to the bluegrass scene, the three sought to define themselves within the framework of their bluegrass favorites while establishing a voice of their own, drawing upon an array of influences and varied musical backgrounds. This voice first became evident in their May 2004 release of Less than Supper, recorded with bassist Chris Carr and dobro player Al Bates. Both Bates and Carr left the band shortly thereafter, and in the fall of the same year, Greensky Bluegrass welcomed bassist Michael Devol.
In the early summer of 2006 the band were winners of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition,[1] earning them a spot on the main stage of the 2007 festival. Soon thereafter they released their second studio album, Tuesday Letter. This project, produced by Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth, has proven a milestone in the quartet's growth as musicians and increasing exposure to a national community.
In November 2007 the band released its first live recording Live At Bell's, documenting two shows at Bell's Brewery in their hometown of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Just over a month later Greensky Bluegrass added Anders Beck of Wayword Sons to the line up, replacing Al Bates on dobro. His playing is adding great depth to their existing material and opening many doors to new songs. In August 2008 the band released their third studio recording Five Interstates, also produced by Railroad Earth violinist Tim Carbone.
A live series, All Access was released in 2010 with volumes 1 & 2, featuring live performances in their entirety. Volume 3 is expected in early 2012.
Their fourth, and most critically acclaimed album, Handguns, made its debut on Billboard's Bluegrass Charts at #3 in October 2011, and has spent the subsequent 9 weeks on the chart, landing at #33 for 2011 on Billboard's Year End Bluegrass Chart.
Live performance is central to Greensky Bluegrass’ presence in today’s eclectic acoustic scene. Touring extensively since 2005, Greensky has developed great versatility in the performance arena, earning audiences nationwide. The mixing of original compositions with traditional bluegrass numbers gives the band a broad spectrum in which to display their technical chops, vocal abilities, and lyrical insight. A spirit of improvisation remains evident in live shows, which contributes to an ever-growing population of returning fans and show traders.
On-stage collaborations have paired the boys with Railroad Earth, The Hackensaw Boys, Bill Kreutzman & Papa Mali, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, and Steppin’ In It. The band has also shared bills with influential acts including Ralph Stanley, Peter Rowan and Tony Rice Quartet, Yonder Mountain String Band, Sam Bush Band, New Monsoon, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Keller Williams, Hot Buttered Rum, Vince Herman, The Mammals, Jeremiah Birnbaum and The Ramblers, The Avett Brothers, Darrell Scott, King Wilkie, David Grisman Quintet and more.
From left to right:
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| US Bluegrass | ||
| Less Than Supper |
|
— |
| Tuesday Letter |
|
— |
| Live at Bell's |
|
— |
| Five Interstates |
|
— |
| All Access Vol. 1 |
|
— |
| All Access Vol. 2 |
|
— |
| Handguns |
|
3 |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||