April 17, 2023

Episode 29 Infamous Stringdusters

Episode 29 Infamous Stringdusters
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Music Trails with Mark Lafond

Meet the Grammy- award winning progressive bluegrass band The Infamous Stringdusters! Two of the founding members Andy Hall, and Chris "Panda" Pandolfi talk about the upcoming release of their 13th album A Tribute to Flatt and Scruggs as well as their Grammy- nominated 2022 album Into the Fray. We discuss the importance of touring, the advantages of having their own Americana Vibes recording label, as well as what makes for a great cover song.

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The Infamous Stringdusters

Musician/Band

“This tune has what we like to refer to in the bluegrass world as drive,” says The Infamous Stringdusters’ Andy Hall of their brand new take on Flatt and Scruggs’ “Down The Road.” “Not too fast…but powerful,” he laughs. And he isn’t wrong, especially in the capable hands of this GRAMMY-winning quintet. “Down The Road” is the second single from the Stringdusters’ upcoming album, A Tribute To Flatt & Scruggs—out April 21st via the band’s own Americana Vibes label.

Hot on the heels of yet another GRAMMY nomination—this time for their latest LP, Toward The Fray—the Stringdusters are revisiting the forefathers of the genre in a way not too distant from their GRAMMY-nominated A Tribute to Bill Monroe. “The concept of paying tribute to the Grandfathers or originators of Bluegrass is one we bounced around for awhile and after Bill Monroe, the most logical, I think any bluegrass musician would agree, is Flatt & Scruggs,” says Stringdusters bassist Travis Book. “They're legendary and without Earl's banjo, bluegrass just doesn't exist the way we know it today.”

"Down the Road Is a staple of the Flatt and Scruggs canon and one they recorded early in their career,” says Hall, “As is the case with many Flatt and Scruggs songs, it's very banjo driven. It's a fun one to play! We do it our own way and even put a little jam at the end.” When it came time for the Infamous Stringdusters to record A Tribute to Flatt & Scruggs, the band gathered in the studio and pressed record; all at once, all together, just like the bluegrass pione… Read More