As the winners of the 2007 European Band Of The Year at the European World of Bluegrass, they garnered the IBMA showcase slot “reserved” for the EWOB winners. They played on the Wednesday brunch showcase during IBMA week, but unlike most invited showcase acts, they were also featured on the International Bluegrass Music Awards show and the weekend Fan Fest.

But this wasn’t a matter of pure kismet; the band had laid the groundwork in advance. Banjoist Jens Koch had attended IBMA on a number of occasions, and the entire band was there in 2008. They generated quite a buzz from their late night showcase slots last year, and worked the networking hard that whole week.

Perhaps most importantly, they retained US representation (Roe Entertainment) following IBMA 2008, and booked two brief tours here prior to IBMA ‘09. Nothing shows an eagerness to perform in the US more than, well… performing in the US!

Jens shared a few impressions of their recent IBMA experience:

“We felt like we did a good performance on the main stage, and the energy in that room was great. I think that it’s great to have people sit down and enjoy the music with some food, that never hurts. We got great reactions after that showcase and to us it meant the world compared to doing all the late night showcases where very few people actually show up and personally I think that it’s hard to perform that well in a little showcase room due to our constant fight with jet-lag (it’s like 8 or 9 in the morning for us when we do late night showcases), less sound reinforcement and the small crowds. So we loved to play the brunch showcase.

Playing the Awards Show was such a treat. It felt very special to walk on that stage and I think one of us said ‘what the heck happened down there?’ as we came back to the dressing room in the Ryman, followed by ‘My record collection was sitting in the front row looking at me.’ Scary and nice at the same time. The vibe at the Ryman was definitely something else!”

Their second CD on Sweden’s Cosmos Records is due out shortly, and a number of US labels have expressed an interest in licensing it for distribution in the States.

G2 has plans for another US tour during the summer of ‘10, and maybe two. Jim Roe of Roe Entertainment tells us that their exposure at IBMA this year has made a big difference in arranging dates for the band.

“It’s a great selling point that they played on the awards show – not everyone gets to play that show.

We had a lot of interest following their Wednesday showcase. One major festival contacted me right away about having them next year after hearing them live. We’re not sure yet whether they’ll be able to do it, but the immediate response was very encouraging.”

Jim said that they will be in the US from mid-June of 2010 through at least the end of July.

“Their tour will start at the Grass Valley Festival in California, and we also have them booked at ROMP in Louisville. They are booked at Mohican Bluegrass just before IBMA, and we are still filling open dates. If we can keep them busy all summer, the band will stay over here from June all the way up to IBMA in September.

They also did as many media appearances as possible while they were here this fall, including live sets for WAMU’s Bluegrass Country and Bluegrass Breakdown, syndicated on Tennessee Public Radio.

There was also a set for The Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour, which was broadcast a few weeks ago on their many affiliate stations. Though primarily a radio show, Woodsongs also offers their programs on video, and you can see G2’s performance online, or in the player below. Just click the image if the player controls don’t appear.

Click here to view the embedded video.

G2 was so visible this year that a number of European bluegrass enthusiasts got to grumbling about how well they were treated at IBMA versus other acts that have made the trip. Acousticure, the 2008 EWOB band champs (from Hungary), made their first trip to IBMA this year, and they could do a lot worse than emulating the example G2 has set for success in the US market.

UPDATE 11/17: Dan Hays, executive director of IBMA, sent along a clarification about the showcase selection process as it involved G2.

“G2 was actually chosen for an official showcase performance slot based on their own merits and IBMA’s selection criteria….rather than assuming a slot reserved for an EWOB winner. In fact, IBMA does not reserve a slot for EWOB winners or any other competition from Europe, the US or elsewhere. All of IBMA’s official showcase artists are selected from amongst those that apply and best fulfill the criteria for those presentations and we wouldn’t want anyone to think G2 was chosen on anything other than their own merits and through processes open to everyone.”

Darren Beachley & Legends Of The Potomac were up first. That may sound like a fairly grandiose name for a new band, but with former Seldom Sceners Tom Gray on bass, Mike Auldridge on resonator guitar, and former Bluegrass Cardinal Norman Wright on mandolin and tenor vocals, the name fits.

Their set featured music from an upcoming CD on Patuxent Records, with Darren Beachley (former member of Quicksilver) on guitar and lead vocals and Mark Delaney on banjo.

No matter how well they played or how solid the material they chose, nothing could overshadow getting to hear Wright’s soaring tenor on stage again! His voice was clear and strong and anyone who cherished his recordings with the Cardinals had to be immediately swept up in the sound – as I surely was.

The name also fits given that their style calls to mind what could be described as the Washington, DC bluegrass sound. Both The Country Gentlemen and Seldom Scene emerged from that community in the 1960s and ’70s, and Darren and the Legends carry it forward just fine.

Next up was G2, a young bluegrass band from Sweden. Wonder what a Swedish bluegrass band sounds like?

Well with these guys, it sounds exactly like it does in Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky or Tennessee. Their style is modern, but it’s clear that all five of them have intently studied the music, and they play it with a confidence and authority you might not expect from a young European band.

Almost all of their music is written by guitarist Christoffer Olsson, who also handles the lead vocals. As resonator guitarist Tobias Strömberg mentioned during the set, “It’s hard to believe all those big words come out of such a little man.” Olsson’s songs are thoughtful and original, avoiding the sort of stereotypes that can plague artists who work in a style that is foreign to their culture.

But all of these musicians could go to work for Doyle Lawson. Mandolinist Erik Igelström has obviously mastered his instrument, but plays with a highly individual style. Bass player Jimmy Sunnebrandt, like most of the band, grew up with a father who played country and bluegrass fiddle. Erik told a story about Jimmy as a tyke going with his father to shows, where he would sit in the front row reading Donald Duck comics until his dad would call him up to play a tune with them on fiddle. After he was finished, he would return to his seat and his reading.

Banjo picker Jens Koch really stands out, and is among the very best young, traditional bluegrass banjo players in any country. He works effortlessly in the JD Crowe/Ron Stewart idiom, and I can see him becoming one of the tops on his instrument in the next few years. Strömberg was impressive as well.

Igelström mentioned that the band is planning to spend as much as four months in the US in 2010, working as many dates as Roe Entertainment can get them heading into IBMA. It was a very strong performance.

Audie Blaylock & Redline finished out the afternoon set.

Establishing yourself as a band leader can be tough, even after working with Rhonda Vincent and Michael Cleveland. Audie has been building a band since this time last year, and the one he has assembled is top notch.

His solid guitar playing holds down the rhythm section with Matt Wallace on bass, Patrick McAvinue on fiddle and Evan Ward on banjo. Darrell Webb had been playing mandolin and singing tenor, but he is process of setting up his own band, so his status with the band is temporary.

Blaylock is a singularly powerful vocalist, and this group blends with him perfectly. Their trios were matched breath for breath, and the quartet number they did, Goodbye – from their self-titled debut CD – was stunning. And it was no fluke… I heard them again this evening and they nailed this song both times.

Fiddler McAvinue also merits special mention. He is an adventurous player, with an aggressive style of his own. His solo album, Rutlands Reel is an excellent recording you may want to consider.

All in all, a very entertaining group of artists, with enough variance in style to show that bluegrass music simply doesn’t all sound the same.

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.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Banjo player Jens Koch tells us that they spent this past weekend tracking at Cosmos Studio in Stockholm, bringing them roughly to the halfway mark on the new project. Jens says that don’t have a title yet, but expect to see the new album released later in 2009.

“We’re having a blast making this project and of course, we can’t wait to get it finished. This time, we’re able to spend more time in the studio, which is nice. Our first album was made a bit faster and our move to Cosmos Studios certainly allows us to get that little extra into this project. The songs for this album are all originals, mostly written by our lead singer Christoffer and also, some co-writes, which makes our sound more personal.”

The guys even sent along a video they shot over the weekend, which introduces the band members and the new studio where they are recording this time around.

G2 banjo picker Jens Koch shared this photo of Christoffer and Benjamin, along with some band news from their home in Sweden. He says that the guys are about to start recording a new album.

“The cold winter slows things down a bit here, but we’re busy working on new material and it looks like all the songs except one will be originals, about 70% written within the band. This time we have some co-writes with people outside of the band and some originals from other people. I think this new CD will have a tougher and a bit more aggressive attitude, and the songs are a bit more varied.”

Jens says that will be tracking at Cosmos Studios in Stockholm, and hoping to have Brent Truitt help with the final mixing.

He says that the new project should be released in June ‘09.

Congratulations to Christoffer and Belinda from The Bluegrass Blog!

In 2009, they will be here July through September performing at festivals and music events, based near Nashville. They want to take advantage of the momentum built from a shorter US tour this year, and the buzz they created at IBMA in October. They were featured at multiple late night IBMA showcases, presented at the awards show, and played a set at Fan Fest.

G2 hopes to make a permanent move to this country sometime in 2010.

Banjo player Jens Koch shared a few words about G2’s plans for the future.

“When we came to Nashville for IBMA this year, we all pictured ourselves living in the US next year…and it felt good. Since being there a few times with G2, we feel urged to do it. We need to move to the US to get to do what we all love to do, so we’ll start with a few months next year and see how it works out.

Working with Jim Roe of Roe Entertainment also feels like a good thing and we’re hoping for lots of work in the US the forthcoming year. In the same time as looking for places to live (maybe in the Nashville area) we are in the beginning of recording our second album, which will be released next year.

Right now we’re discussing details with a producer who we might work with. 2009 is going to be an interesting year for us – a step which for us is huge, leaving our home country. Lucky us – we have found such good friends over in the US!”

Find out more about G2 on their web site, or at Roe Entertainment.

I caught a bit of the Songwriter Showcase hosted by Ron Block and Sierra Hull during the afternoon. The duo performed one of Sierra’s own compositions for the assemblage, before introducing Cia Cherryholmes to oversee hosting duties. Due to a pressing business appointment I was unable to stay longer to check out the young songwriters who were taking the stage as John and I left. So many great songs, so little time…

I made it to only one “official” showcase Tuesday evening, and that was to hear Junior Sisk & Rambler’s Choice. Junior has been one of my favorite singers for years. I love the material he writes, and the soul that comes through in his vocals. I just had to hear him at least once while I was here. This was my first time hearing the new band live. They sounded great with Junior leading the way.

Later than evening as I meandered the halls, I attempted to find a way into the room for a bit of a listen to Dailey & Vincent. It seems I wasn’t the first to have that idea! The crowd was spilling over about 10 feet into the hall. I managed to make it almost to door frame before reaching such a density of listeners that I could proceed no further and just snapped off a photo over the top of the crowd.

I later listened as G2 visited with fans in the hall before proceeding to present their brand of Swedish influenced bluegrass. It was a great set, featuring original material that sounds as if it originated in the Appalachian Mountains rather than Northern Europe. Absolutely amazing that a group of young guys that far from the home of the music have grown into a bluegrass band deserving of being heard at any festival here in the heart of bluegrass country.

I was excited for an opportunity to hear my friend Frank Solivan perform with his band Dirty Kitchen. I’ve been hearing about this band for some time. I’ve heard most of the principles at various times in the past, but never as a unit. Frank recently announced his departure from the Navy Band to pursue his own musical endeavors, judging by what I heard Tuesday night, his future is bright.

I also managed to put an ear to the sets of Gold Heart, Liberty Pike, and David Peterson before retiring for the night. IBMA, there’s nowhere else like it!

Wednesday’s (10/1) lineup include will include performances from Lonesome River Band and Steep Canyon Rangers, plus a discussion about IBMA’s Leadership Bluegrass program. Katy Daley told us that today’s broadcast will start with a live duet performance of Jerusalem Ridge by Michael Cleveland and Jesse Brock.

Appearing on (Wednesday 10/1) are:

• Michael Cleveland and Jesse Brock
• Archie Warnock on Leadership Bluegrass
• G-2 Bluegrass Band
• Audie Blaylock
• Lonesome River Band
• Steep Canyon Rangers

You can listen to Bluegrass Country via audio streaming online, and via HD Radio (88.5-2) in the Washington DC market. They will be coming to you online from their suite in the Renaissance Hotel 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00-7:00 p.m. (EDT).

Three years ago – before G2 caught the ears of fans and critics alike at EBMA and IBMA – he broke his left wrist horribly in a snowboarding accident. Two bones snapped, and though the bones were set, they didn’t heal properly, requiring that they be re-broken and rebuilt.

“They transplanted some bone from my hip to my wrist so that the radius bone would be long enough, and have the right angle.

Then they used some metal screws and plates (pre-war, of course…I’ve been told it was titanium from Gibson’s Kalamazoo factory in the 30s) to fasten it all together.”

He was unable to play at all for six weeks after the accident, and tells us that after the hardware was installed, played in pain for the next two years.

“The tendons in my wrist and forearm had constantly been grinding on those screws and the plate, causing pain and inflammation. But finally, after a long wait, I got them taken out.

What a relief!! I felt a difference right away because my fingers run a little smoother.”

Though winter sports are a big thing in Sweden, Jens says that he now considers himself a former snowboarder, and agrees that bluegrass music and extreme sports aren’t a good mix.

“Maybe we should all stick to golf or…building snowmen.”

G2, along with the newly restored Koch wrist, will be an invited showcase act at the 2008 IBMA World Of Bluegrass convention in Nashville this fall. Audio samples from their debut release, Where The Tall Grass Grows, can be found on the band’s web site.

42 band from 12 different countries will be performing at this year’s festival. In addition to the performances, there will be a trade show, workshops, a children’s program, and lots of jamming.

The EWOB won the the award for Best Event of the Year at the 2003 IBMA Awards Show. And this year looks set to uphold the tradition of a world class event.

The conclusion of the Saturday night concert will be the awarding of the European Band of the Year 2008. The award is giving based on voting by all the performing musicians at the festival. The winning band will have the opportunity to perform as guests at the annual IBMA World of Bluegrass event, the following year.

Last year’s wining band, G2, will be performing this year (2008) at IBMA.

If you’re in Europe, or inclined to visit this summer, make sure you find your way to Voorthuizen during the first week in May.

They played two songs from their debut CD, Where The Tall Grass Grows, and sat for an interview segment. The songs they chose were What Would I Say and Where The Tall Grass Grows.

Banjo player Jens Koch tells us that the publicity people with their label, Cosmos Records, arranged for them to perfom on TV4, a major coup for a young band.

“This was a great experience for us! Loads of fun! It’s a big thing to get to play on this show. Some bands would do anything to get the gig.”

Video clips of their guest spots can be found on the TV4 web site. Unfortunately, the TV4 video player does not seem to like Macs, though some Mac users can play them with the latest Flip4Mac plugin.

Showcase opportunities are open to bands from Europe, the United States, or anywhere else. You can download a pdf application by visiting www.ewob.eu. Click on the US flag in the lower left for an english version of the page, then select “Contact” from the menu and “Bands” from the submenu. EWOB askes that you fill out the pdf and send it in with your CD, and band photos, to the address provided. They also ask that you fill out the online form so they know to expect your application package.

2008 will be the 11th EWOB. The deadline for application is November 20, 2007, so you’d better hurry.

Much like the IBMA, many European promoters attend the EWOB looking for bands to hire for the coming season. This is a unique opportunity for US bands to play for these promoters, meet them, and book some dates in Europe.

The three days of EWOB are the climax of a month of festivals and concerts held in the Netherlands every May (bluegrass month). During these three days, over 40 bands, including 4-5 from the USA and Canada, will perform. The festival is accompanied by a trade show featuring luthiers, music shops, event promoters, press, radio DJs, and more.

The musicians who play at EWOB choose their favorite European band to send to Nashville the following year to perform at IBMA. This year’s winner is G2. Be sure you read this recent post by John about G2.

Brance and I caught one of their after hours showcase performances, and ran across them jamming with some of the Infamous Stringdusters on another occasion at the Sugar Hill Records suite. They are all impressively talented players, all the more so for the adeptness and intimate familiarity with the nuances of modern bluegrass given that they are all still in their twenties, and grew up far from where bluegrass festivals and fiddlers conventions are common.

Like American musicians who dedicate themselves to styles associated with other cultures – like Celtic or Gypsy swing – and get to travel to where the music is native, the guys in G2 were all excited to visit the US this year for the first time as a band, and even more so to be attending the IBMA convention. They only had the opportunity to play a few small showcases this year, but will be an invited main stage showcase act at IBMA 2008, and could make a big splash next year in Nashville.

Their debut CD, Where The Tall Grass Grows was released this week (11/7), which not only demonstrates their technical prowess as bluegrass pickers, but also the songwriting skills of guitarist and primary vocalist Christoffer Olsson.

Olsson wrote all but three of the thirteen songs, with themes that will be familiar to people anywhere, but with a decided emphasis on rural and/or small town life that is so much a part of the bluegrass idiom. In a nod towards the American roots of this now truly international art form, one of his songs is Going Back To Georgia. At IBMA last month, I overheard someone asking if he ever wrote songs in Swedish, whereupon he responded that, no, he didn’t… “because you can’t rhyme in Swedish.”

His vocal style is distinctive as well, owing as much to Chris Thile as Lester Flatt, and he delivers his songs with passion and conviction.

Band members include Tobias Str??mberg on resonator guitar, Jimmy Sunnebrandt on bass, Olsson on guitar, Erik Igelstr??m on mandolin, and Jens Koch on banjo. Each is solid throughout, but to my ear, Koch on banjo stands out notably for his consistently clear tone and flawless execution. He wrote the project’s lone instrumental, Crossroads Turnaround, where he channels Ron Stewart to a remarkable degree.

Audio samples can be found on the G2 website, where you can also purchase downloads or order the CD for mail delivery. In talking with the band, they mentioned that they had tried to price the CD as competitively as they could since international shipping is more costly ($4.50 to USA and €3.50 to Europe), but the current exchange rates between the US dollar and the Euro have made that difficult.

I’ll admit to a certain bias, as I have been following this bunch for over a year, and consider banjo picker Jens Koch to be a friend, but this has become one of my favorite new CDs, one that I hope bluegrass fans and radio hosts worldwide will give some serious consideration.

They were selected as the European Bluegrass Band for 2007, with Meantime from Slovakia in second, and Kreni from the Czech Republic in third.

G2 will represent the European Bluegrass Music Association at next year’s IBMA World Of Bluegrass in Nashville, giving them the opportunity to showcase their music before the throng of bluegrass industry folks in attendance. Congratulations guys!

The Audience Popularity Award was also announced last weekend at EWOB, with Wheel Drive from Netherlands taking first, G2 again in second, and Rawhide from Belgium in third.

As always, you can keep tabs on the European bluegrass scene by reading The European Bluegrass Blog.

Jens wanted to let us know that Jim would be appearing at CountryGala this weekend (2/17-18) at Vara Konserthus in Vara, Sweden. G2 will be appearing on the show both nights, and Jens will be performing on banjo with Jim.

You can hear samples of G2’s contemporary bluegrass music on their MySpace page.

The name came with their recognition that they were a part of the second generation of bluegrass players in Sweden, and they have been busy this past year writing, recording and promoting the group. They produced a three song demo within months of their first meeting (audio available on the G2 web site), which has won some high praise from bluegrass artists in both Europe and the US, including Blue Highway’s Tim Stafford:

“Sounds to me like you guys could be the vanguard of a new bluegrass movement in Sweden. I sure hope so.”

The feedback from the demo has prompted them to record a full length CD and the band, currently unsigned, is working now on writing and recording tracks for this project, with a projected release in the first half of 2007. G2 is also planning a US tour for the late summer of 2007, and is hoping to hear from venues (or an agent) in the US that can help fill in dates.

We heard recently from G2’s banjo player, Jens Koch, that they will be opening for Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver in Stockholm on Monday (9/4), and the guys are both thrilled and honored for the opportunity.

Keep an eye out for these young guys, who seem to be fine representatives of the second generation of bluegrass musicians in Sweden. They can be contacted via the Guest Book page on the G2 site.