I commented a few weeks back on the volume of new CDs scheduled for release this Spring. What I didn’t mention at the time is how many are from female artists.

Of course, we’ve had talented women involved in bluegrass since the early days, but not to the extent we enjoy them today. In the next few months we’ll see new releases from Rhonda Vincent, Dale Ann Bradley, Alecia Nugent and newcomer Sarah Jaroz. We’ll be doing a piece soon on the new Bearfoot CD, but first we want to highlight a talented young singer from California who has a bright future in bluegrass music.

Patuxent Music has released Look For Me, the debut recording from Angelica Grim, which features her strong and distinctive voice on a set of 12 songs, supported by an all-star backing band. The maturity and confidence you hear in her singing might surprise you, until you learn a bit more about her background.

At age 19, Angelica has been singing bluegrass for as long as she can remember. She had the good fortune to be born into a musical family, and to find encouragement and support from bluegrass organizations where she grew up.

“My dad was a country musician so he taught me to sing as soon as I could talk. He used to say ‘Sing so the neighbors can hear you!’

In 1993 my family won tickets to the Grass Valley Fathers Day festival, and we’ve gone every year since. My first time onstage was 1995 with the Kids On Bluegrass program at Grass Valley. I participated in that for 12 years. I sang as a hobby mostly until I was about 13, then picked up the guitar to back myself up when I sang.

One year at Grass Valley I went to a vocal workshop that Rhonda Vincent was teaching and she asked for a volunteer to help demonstrate harmony. I volunteered, and after the workshop she asked if I would like to sing harmony on a song for her evening set. I of course said yes, and that week I decided that I wanted to pursue music professionally.

I got involved in the California Bluegrass Association when I was about 14. I started going to board meetings and things and eventually they appointed me as their Teen Ambassador. I went to festivals and told teens about the CBA and about bluegrass. I also emceed at Grass Valley and at SuperGrass. A couple years later they appointed me to the Talent Advisory Group for the Grass Valley festival.”

Angelica has moved away from California, and is nominally located near Buffalo, NY, though she spends almost all her life on the road. She travels with The Doerfels – she and TJ Doerfel are man and wife – and is often featured as a guest vocalist on their shows. They expect to relocate soon to Branson, MO. (more…)

Will The Doerfels be the next young family band to leave a mark on the bluegrass world?

Like many other bluegrass family acts before them, the band is composed of a group of talented siblings, but they differ from the template in two notable ways. Their recordings and stage shows feature the young Doerfels alone – no parents or older pickers are involved – and their music (which they write) is more modern than is common for family outfits in bluegrass.

The senior member (T.J. on banjo) is only 20 years old, joined by his sister Kimberly (19 on fiddle), and brothers Eddy (16 on mandolin), Joe (14 on bass) and Ben (13 on guitar). Their new CD, What I’m Looking For, has been released on Patuxent Records, as has a video of the title track, written by T.J., who shared a few words with us about the song.

“I got the idea for the song from fellow musicians that were very successful but even with all their success were not satisfied. So when we play this song I like to keep in mind what I’m looking for. For me it’s not really fame and riches (those things would be nice as I am a full time touring musician) but ultimately I know there is someone much bigger than me who wants my attention and as long as I’m looking for him with everything I do I am satisfied even through the many hardships of life.”

You can find out more about The Doerfels by visiting their web site or MySpace page.