East Nash Grass exemplifies the best of what bluegrass has to offer — as being named the 2024 IBMA

[International Bluegrass Music Association] New Artist of the Year would suggest. But their breathtaking

talent as singers, instrumentalists, and composers is just the beginning. While other acts chase their tail

in search of nostalgia, the secret to East Nash Grass lies in their unflinching ability to be themselves.

It certainly helps that they are a veritable supergroup of award-winners who have been performing longer

than anyone would guess that they’ve been alive. With a lifetime of experience in both new and legacy

acts (Dan Tyminski, Tim O’Brien, Sierra Hull, Rhonda Vincent, etc.), the tradition of bluegrass is

fundamental to who they are as musicians and performers. Yet it’s their irreverent, adventurous, and

audacious tendencies as next-gen performers that light a fire under audiences. Their ability to hone this

edge was forged in the crucible of a dive bar outside of Nashville, TN that they all but single-handedly

put on the (bluegrass) map during their seven-year weekly residency.

After hundreds of sets (and countless late-night jams), through personnel changes, industry changes,

and a never-ending string of unprecedented world events, East Nash Grass has coalesced into the

hair-raising ensemble of Harry Clark [mandolin], Cory Walker [banjo], James Kee [guitar], and IBMA 2025

Fiddle Player of the Year Maddie Denton [fiddle], Their love of both bluegrass and the absurd can be felt

in both their live shows and on their new album “All God’s Children” (Mountain Fever, 2025). Much like

watching a bowling ball and feather fall together, expectations of what should and shouldn’t work are

challenged as the paradox of authenticity is revealed. Shock leads to excitement as risks keep listeners

on the edge of their seats and irrefutable mastery drives home that this is no mere imitation of bluegrass:

this IS bluegrass.