Vine Grove Bluegrass Festival
Our Projects

J.D. Crowe & the New SouthJ.D. Crowe & the New South

www.jdcrowe.net
Friday September 24th 7:15-8:00 & 10:15-11:00

J.D. Crowe and the New South are among the most influential bluegrass bands of the past three decades, with a visionary sound that suggests both a rich past and a wide-open future. From 1975's classic J.D. Crowe and the New South (affectionately referred to by fans by its catalog number, 0044), to their newest project, 2006's Lefty's Old Guitar, bandleader/banjo player/guitarist/vocalist Crowe has lead an array of brilliant musicians in a mission to continually reinvent and update bluegrass while simultaneously JD Crowepaying tribute to the legacy of tone, taste, and timing established by Crowe's musical idols.

A formidable presence on the bluegrass scene since 1956, J.D. Crowe first turned heads when the legendary Jimmy Martin hired the young Kentuckian fresh out of high school. Crowe, who was inspired to pick up the five-string banjo after hearing Earl Scruggs, stayed with Martin for five years - learning invaluable lessons in musicianship, band leading, and harmony singing in the process. His already remarkable banjo playing - clean, crisp, and always in the pocket no matter what the tempo - is in evidence on classic Martin tracks like "Hold Whatcha Got" (1958), "You Don't Know My Mind" (1960), and throughout the classic 1960 album Good 'n Country. After graduating from Martin's employ, Crowe formed the Kentucky Mountain Boys with Doyle Lawson, Red Allen (later replaced by Larry Rice), and Bobby Slone. Their three albums hinted at the repertoire of The New South, integrating contemporary non-bluegrass compositions with more traditional material. On a Kentucky Mountain Boys record, one could find songs by Tom Paxton and Gram Parsons sharing an album side with cuts written by Flatt & Scruggs and Jimmy Martin.

hr

 

Bluegrass Festival