ShadowGrass
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ShadowGrass - The Nine Yards - 2016 Galax Fiddlers Convention
About
Four talented, young bluegrass musicians met at a local fiddler's convention in 2014 and joined forces to form ShadowGrass. All hail from along the Crooked Road in Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, a region referred to as "America's richest breeding ground for traditional musicians." This area was home to greats including the Carter Family and the Stanley Brothers, and continues to be a stronghold for old-time, gospel, and bluegrass music.
Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys forged bluegrass in the commercial radio jamborees of the 1940s. Monroe took the values of older Appalachian styles, amped up the speed, and introduced a new repertoire of classics to create a new country sound. An extensive system of competitions and youth bands developed to identify the genre's most gifted young pickers.
The members of Shadowgrass are also aided by highly accomplished musicians eager to mentor the next generation. Presley Barker, a 12-year-old flatpicking phenom, has studied guitar with Blue Ridge masters Steve Lewis and National Heritage Fellow Wayne Henderson. Two years ago, he took first place-defeating his mentor Henderson-in the Adult Guitar Competition at the Galax Old Fiddler's Convention. Luke Morris, age 16, is already becoming a mentor to other young musicians as junior mandolin instructor with his local Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) program. Banjo whiz Clay Russell, age 16, has played MerleFest and IBMA Convention. Rounding out the group is 12-year-old Kyser George, already considered one of the most solid bass players in the area. As a band, ShadowGrass placed in the adult bluegrass band category at the 2016 Galax Fiddler's Convention.
"Hopefully, we in the younger generation can keep the music alive and teach other young pickers along the way," says Presley. Shadowgrass proves that the future of bluegrass is in good hands with this new generation of outstanding pickers emerging from this musical hotbed.
Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys forged bluegrass in the commercial radio jamborees of the 1940s. Monroe took the values of older Appalachian styles, amped up the speed, and introduced a new repertoire of classics to create a new country sound. An extensive system of competitions and youth bands developed to identify the genre's most gifted young pickers.
The members of Shadowgrass are also aided by highly accomplished musicians eager to mentor the next generation. Presley Barker, a 12-year-old flatpicking phenom, has studied guitar with Blue Ridge masters Steve Lewis and National Heritage Fellow Wayne Henderson. Two years ago, he took first place-defeating his mentor Henderson-in the Adult Guitar Competition at the Galax Old Fiddler's Convention. Luke Morris, age 16, is already becoming a mentor to other young musicians as junior mandolin instructor with his local Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) program. Banjo whiz Clay Russell, age 16, has played MerleFest and IBMA Convention. Rounding out the group is 12-year-old Kyser George, already considered one of the most solid bass players in the area. As a band, ShadowGrass placed in the adult bluegrass band category at the 2016 Galax Fiddler's Convention.
"Hopefully, we in the younger generation can keep the music alive and teach other young pickers along the way," says Presley. Shadowgrass proves that the future of bluegrass is in good hands with this new generation of outstanding pickers emerging from this musical hotbed.
