G2, our favorite young Swedish bluegrass outfit, will also be heading west to the US later this month. They will perform at the Bluegrass Legends Concert Series in Chicago on 9/26, and then on the Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour on the 28th.

After that, it’s on to IBMA in Nashville where they will be featured in the Wednesday brunch showcase (9/30), and on the Awards Show the next day (10/1). That is an honor for any bluegrass artist, but for G2, it will also mark the first time a European band will perform on the show.

G2 has been working on a new CD and though it won’t be ready in time for their US trip, they will be bringing a 3 song sampler to share with promoters and record labels. The new project will be released on a Swedish label, Cosmos Records, but the band is hopeful of finding a licensing and distribution agreement with a US label while they are in Nashville.

Here’s a taste of two of the tracks from the sampler, new songs from G2 guitarist and lead singer, Christoffer Olsson. Both will be featured on the next CD.

G2 consists of Tobias Strömberg on resonator guitar, Jens Koch on banjo, Christoffer Olsson on guitar, Jimmy Sunnebrandt on bass, and Erik Igelström on mandolin. Christoffer sings lead on both of those tracks, with assistance from Cia and Skip Cherryholmes on Gold Rush. Molly and BJ Cherryholmes contribute twin fiddles on that track as well.

Here’s a video of the guys at The Station Inn when they were in the States last year for IBMA. It shows that they know their traditional grass as well as the modern sound.