20 Popular Bluegrass Bands of All Time - Bluegrass Journey Even though the group disbanded in 2011, each of the family members continues to make their mark in various parts of the industry. From Suzannes bluesy, adventurous vocals on Lovin You and Blue Bayou to the sweet, ethereal tone of Evelyns voice on Lizzy and the Rainman and Another Lonesome Morning, it is easy to see why singers from Alison Krauss (who produced the album) to Flatt Lonesomes Kelsi Harrigill and Charli Robertson point to the Cox Family as major influences of their own sound. The 20 Best Guitar Songs for Intermediate Players (with Chords). Release Date July 22, 2003. All members write original compositions and sing. Over the years, Hazel & Alice were heroes, role models, icons, and, eventually, dear friends. Its truly an important moment in the history of women in bluegrass. Thankfully for them, ridiculous can also be heaps of fun. The groups members are guitarist Pete Bernhard, upright bassist Lucia Turino, and guitarist and tenor banjo player Cooper McBean. Either way, Nugents voice carries an unmistakable feeling of urgency that makes every line believable and, when she cuts loose on a ballad, makes every note a world of hurt. Through the years, as weve both grown up, the inspiration has only increased and the infuriation is now much more constructive. 18 bluegrass bands scheduled to play throughout day While often well-intentioned and placing well-deserved credit upon the influence of Hazel & Alice, this idea is false. Laurie Lewis, Hazel & Alice Wont You Come & Sing for Me, When I first started playing bluegrass in 1975, there were two women who were role models: Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard. Hot Hot Heat are actually still around, desperately trying to better their 2003 breakthrough hit, to this day. The band specialized in progressive bluegrass with more than 20 albums. Inspired by African, European, Scottish and Irish influences, Appalachian musicians first emerged at the turn of the 20th century, claiming instruments like the banjo, fiddle, dulcimer and guitar. When Ways came out in 2000, it was a big moment for those of us who were just coming up through the cracks between folk revivals. The worlds defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking whats new and whats next since 1952. Another sub genre emerged in the 1990s, colloquially known as mash or mash grass. She signed with Rounder Records in 1985 and released her first solo album in 1987. Check out the list of the best artists from the 00s below and be sure to vote up your favorites. These talented women turned the tables with Blue Rose. Trading in riff-heavy, slightly glammy garage rock, however, its fair to say the Mooneys were always actually operating a good couple of decades back from either the 90s or noughties. The traditional sound from the Appalachians is at the base of their music, but it is supplemented with a modern twist. Its full of energy, tasty licks, tight harmonies, and good, catchy songs, and it has reached an audience that most bluegrass albums never will. When I listen to this record, I do hear maturity, but more prominently, I hear individuality, vulnerability, confidence, transcendence, and infuriating, ridiculous chops. These cookies do not store any personal information. That said, it's up to you to determine what are the best bluegrass bands. See photos, tips, similar places specials, and more at ASSU 2000 Oyonnax Their previously unreleased debut album Funfairs and Heartbreak emerged in 2006; annoyingly, it was actually quite good. As a young guitar virtuoso, Billy has breathed new life into songs by classic bluegrass artists like Doc Watson and Tony Rice. Over the years, bluegrass music has spread from being a strictly American genre of roots music and country music to a standalone musical style. I'm Corbin Buff, and Ive been playing guitar for over 10 years now. In Seeking a Definition of Mash: Attitude in Musical Style. Shes surrounded by an all-star band made of up of some of my biggest heroes, and I believe any musician can learn a lot from this album. They performed on the radio station at the beginning and sold their first record in 1947, which was successful. You can get a feel for this in their Bluegrass Underground performance in the video above. I first saw them play the Grand Ole Opry and was struck by the prodigy-level playing and mature voices of the Cherryholmes clan including daughters Cia and Molly in harmonies that can only be honed within a family. Jordan Laney, While Emmylou is not known as a bluegrass singer, per se, Roses in the Snow made an enormous impact on the bluegrass world by opening a wide door for many new-to-bluegrass-fans to come through. Always carrying the ridiculous aura of a glorified indie in-joke, The Others lead by gobby frontman Dominic Masters were a legend in their own lunchtime. I had the pleasure of seeing them live (when they were still Mandolin Orange) and can vouch that it was an incredible show. She comes right out and sings Born in the mountains, 50 years ago her age at the time of this recording in 76 while most of the cover versions get slippery with many years ago. The only quandary I had in including this record on my list of favorite bluegrass albums by women is that Im rarely able to listen past the brilliance of track four, which happens to be the one song Ola Belles son, David, sings solo while accompanying himself on the autoharp. So, who are the best bluegrass bands? Using a cello here and a banjo there, McCallas musical and lyrical languages bob and weave however they must to remain true to their subjects. Emerged since the 18th from Appalachia, Bluegrass today is no longer your grandpas type of music anymore. Occupying a more singular niche were The Dead 60s, who attempted to bring ska punk into the new millennium via a singer (Matt McManamon) who looked like he was two beats away from decking you at any point. Debut Capture/ Release is still an everyman classic. I remember singing along with and trying to pick out every harmony part that I could find as a little girl, playing the tape over and over to do so. Back Home Again resulted in her being crowned the Queen of Bluegrass, and 2001s The Storm Still Rages only enforced the moniker. Founded in Colorado, Yonder Mountain String Band is a recent bluegrass band since 1998 with five members. With Amazon Musics free trial, you get access to over 60 million songs completely free and you can listen anytime, anywhere. My goal is to help others by putting everything I wish Id known starting out into one easy-to-access, helpful website.For my best writing, check out my books . Formed in Missoula, Montana, The Lil Smokies have built a national following through constant touring, performing at Red Rocks, LOCKN, High Sierra, Telluride, Bourbon & Beyond and more. Dale Anns music is very much the product of the contrast in her upbringing a 70s childhood set against the backdrop of rural Knox County and Im particularly proud of Somewhere South of Crazy for the way it weaves those disparate influences together. Though a handful of scholars have discussed the social stigmas of the style, no one yet has investigated the simple musical question about mash: what is it? Who Are The Best Bluegrass Artists of All Time? Black Wire Her influences are all over the map and she embraces the variety. Little Man Tate And the sad, sad heartbreak songs on this album are nearly unparalleled. Their famous albums include Wondrous Love, Marbletown, and Original Traditional. His instrumentation was also in the movie Ou. The Little Flames This record is the perfect example of how music that you digest during your most highly impressionable age and stage of development stays with you forever. The bands music combines modern bluegrass with elements of folk, rock, country, jazz, Celtic and other Americana influences. From her early days in the Carolina Chocolate Drops to her current standing as a MacArthur Fellow, Rhiannon Giddens has shown us, time and again, that she aint messing around. Now pretty much a byword for slightly naff indie of the mid-2000s, its not so much that Boy Kill Boy were offensive so much as wildly inoffensive. She is a student of history and an advocate for justice, folding both of those duties together in her music which uses our past to gauge our present. Hearing two more of my favorite singers, Alison Krauss and Suzanne Cox, on harmonies made it extra special. Megan Lynch, While Dale Ann Bradleys voice is as big and as lonesome as the mountains which she calls home, few female artists in bluegrass are as adaptive. OK, so a track entitled I Know Kung Fu doesnt hint at much scope for musical growth and integrity, but at the time it was as fun as a dancefloor-filler can be. The Ultimate Guide On How To Play Bluegrass Ukulele What You Need To Learn! During the 1970s, they became popular and famous with their progressive bluegrass style. White Rose Movement Pennebaker. Best of '90s Bluegrass on Apple Music Weighted Mind has been hailed as a coming-of-age record for Sierra, but I think that categorization is far too simplistic. There are for sure many famous bluegrass bands out there. Born from the ashes of cult Scottish heroes The Yummy Fur, its a wonder 1990s ever became popular at all. Greensky Bluegrass is a five-piece American bluegrass/rock band founded in Kalamazoo, Michigan in mid-2000. Second LP No Hope, No Future was a damn sight better than its bleak title suggested, and stick on 07 hit We Are Not The Same and youll find the Shoes at their infectious peak. This is also what I play myself CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE, Chords, Tabs & Video Lessons for 100 Epic Songs This free guide that I created for fellow guitarists gives you chords, tabs, and video lessons for the 100 best songs to learn on guitar I spent many hours putting this guide together to help you get better at guitar, faster. link to The 15 Best Guitar Songs Without A Capo (Chords Included), link to The 20 Best Guitar Songs for Intermediate Players (with Chords), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8AzsOxTYgw, The Infamous Stringdusters Toward the Fray (Official Audio) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8AzsOxTYgw), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYN1oPe4kR8, Railroad Earth Mighty River (Live) PBS Season V (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYN1oPe4kR8), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtsmTQ-ielM, Hackensaw Boys By And By | #RamblinRoots | Live in TivoliVredenburg (2017) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtsmTQ-ielM), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub-naDJbKFY, Billy Strings & Don Julin Full Performance (Live on KEXP @Pickathon) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub-naDJbKFY), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9jwGansp1E, Mandolin Orange Wildfire 11/2/2016 Paste Studios, New York, NY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9jwGansp1E), The Top 12 Best Mandolin Players of All Time, The 30 Best Bluegrass Flatpicking Guitarists Of All Time, The Top 10 Best Bluegrass Songs of All Time, The 10 Best Bluegrass Gospel Songs Of All Time. Bluegrass bands first emerged in the 18th century, but bluegrass music as we know it today (that incorporates country western) first became relevant post-World War II. Kathy Kallick, Sally Van Meter, and Bethany Raine were three-fifths of the band that recorded Part of a Story in 1986 for Kaleidoscope Records and, more than 30 years later, I still find myself coming back to this album. Missy Raines, North by South by Claire Lynch is creative and, at the same time, quite bluegrass-y. Watchhouse has produced six albums of Marlins original works of American roots music. Del McCoury Band Del McCoury Band was known formerly as Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals. A musical instrument repairer, math, an artist, a physician, and a cartographer. His research and never-before-seen photos make Bluegrass a new authority on the genre's strongest influencers. The band currently consists of songwriter Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz, who are married to each other. I hope you found your favorite one on the list. You get the feeling they were about eight years too early. And their 2007 release, Waterloo, Tennessee, proves why. In 1968, she released her first album as a band leader following singles that featured her mandolin playing. Shitdisco The Sunshine Underground if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'acousticworld_net-leader-2','ezslot_10',155,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-acousticworld_net-leader-2-0'); Check out the following articles for more great bluegrass music: Corbin has played guitar for over a decade, and started writing about it on Acoustic World in an effort to help others. I'm Corbin Buff, and Ive been playing guitar for over 10 years now. 10 Great Appalachian Albums - Paste Magazine Like the idiosyncratic successors to Pulp (Sheffield natives too), the bands output was danceable but literate a melting pot of jagged riffs, Tolstoy references and vintage threads which was sadly cut unfairly short when chief songwriter Dorian Cox suffered from a stroke. Bluegrass Albums - Billboard Thile is best known for his work in the progressive acoustic trio Nickel Creek and the acoustic folk and progressive bluegrass quintet Punch Brothers.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'acousticworld_net-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_9',155,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-acousticworld_net-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); The Devil Makes Three is an Americana band from Santa Cruz, California, United States. Bluegrass in the 1990s in some ways saw a continuation of what had happened in the 80s, with blending elements of popular music and culture with bluegrass instruments and musical sensibilities. Donna juxtaposes B-chord, jam-style bluegrass with introspection centering around the oft-displaced female voice something few albums have accomplished since. Of course, you'll see not all of these musicians got started in the 2000s, but they certainly recorded popular hits throughout this time. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'acousticworld_net-leader-1','ezslot_2',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-acousticworld_net-leader-1-0');Although the folk and bluegrass collective Hackensaw Boys has known a multitude of different formations, they have never compromised on quality. I highly recommend getting tickets if Watchhouse is touring near you. Suzie, if youre wondering, was their big track. This list includes both classic and modern / contemporary bluegrass musicians and bands, as well as the names of the places where each got its start. Creed (Post Grunge/Alternative Rock) 12. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Krauss has released fourteen albums, appeared on numerous soundtracks, and sparked a renewed interest in bluegrass music in the United States. The String Cheese Incident (or SCI) is an American band from Crested Butte and Telluride, Colorado, formed in 1993. From the new millennium to 2009, we heardsome truly great music from a broad range of bands and recording artists. The music on this record teases the edges of bluegrass open, with old-time fundamentals, straight-ahead grasss drive, and poetic, literary lyrics. Sure, across the spectrum of the decade The Thrills were one of its more parent-friendly exports, but dont let that write them off. The Storm Still Rages is one of the queens crowning achievements. She took that job very seriously, and she was working with men who were often uncomfortable with her leadership role. Banned from various venues for, among other things, sabotaging Snow Patrols equipment (thumbs up), the band had songs called things like Britain Is Shit played with crazed intent. Battle They also dedicate Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar to Hazel & Alice with thanks for breaking trail. Murphy Henry, Leyla McCalla A Day for the Hunter, a Day for the Prey, Having drawn a bit of courage from her time in the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Leyla McCalla ventured out with her own voice onA Day for the Hunter, a Day for the Prey. No, not Battles. In 2007, a law was passed making it illegal for DJs not to drop a Good Shoes song at any indie disco. He lives and writes in western Montana. Named after the 1991 film about a child prodigy, the band may not have been as ground-breaking as its protagonist but debut About What You Know still racked up some fans. Pull Tiger Tail Greg Reish, The 1970s California bluegrass scene was fairly devoid of female players and singers, and the Good Ol Persons were a beacon of light for many distaff pickers including me. See also: Bluegrass music, Country music, and List of country music performers. When youre forced to change your band name because a paper copying company is pissed at you, its never going to go well. Emerging from Appalachia, in particular Kentucky, bluegrass bands use elements of Scottish, Welsh and English folk music. They also went through many changes in its members throughout the decades. The Blue Grass Boy is considered as one of the first bluegrass bands formed by Bill Monroe, the father of bluegrass music. It was the first time I had ever heard any banjo playing outside the bluegrass realm. There is something loose and playful about their groove, a feel that separates a lot of California bluegrass of that time from its Appalachian cousin. Her voice is perfect, and the material is memorable. Suzanne and Evelyn were two of the most influential female voices in bluegrass during the 80s and 90s, and one listen to Beyond the City exemplifies why. I was completely fascinated, and my ears were opened to a whole new world of writing and playing. I feel lucky to have crossed paths, sung a bit, and laughed a lot with each of those women! On April 6th, 1960, Musician, singer and songwriter Warren Haynes was born in Asheville, North Carolina. Kati Penn-Williams, First off, who doesnt love Dolly? Over the decades, Del McCoury Band also went through several changes in its member before settling down its line-up in the 1980s. First recorded in 1927, various artists have recorded the song in the following years, including Johnny Cash and Al Hopkins. Murphy Henry, Martha Trachtenberg, Susie Monick, Carol Siegel, Sue Raines, and Nancy Josephson formed Buffalo Gals, the first-ever all-female bluegrass band, in the early 70s. Clor only released one self-titled debut, but guitarist Luke Smith is now a respected producer and worked on Foals Total Life Forever. 46 Quality Indie Bands Of The 2000s You Completely Forgot About - NME Genre. Despite this being an obvious recipe for success, the group split in 2008 after just one LP. Bluegrass Album Band Bluegrass Brothers Bob Paisley and the Southern Grass Kathy Boyd and Phoenix Rising C Chesapeake Charles River Valley Boys The Charlie Daniels Band The Coal Porters The Country Gentlemen The Cox Family Cherryholmes Chatham County Line Clinch Mountain Boys Crooked Still D Dailey & Vincent Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass Daniel Mullins, Dale Ann solidifies her place in bluegrass history with this album. Hot Rize also receive an award by the International Bluegrass Music Association, and a Grammy Nomination for their album Take It Home. Ten points for tenacity, lads. Since the beginning of the band, they had 15 record projects and several changes in members. (bout damn time, amiright?) One of the decades darker offerings, Good Books were more as you might have guessed likely to be found down the library than on the lash. It is arranged chronologically from Bill Monroe in 1927 to the Earls of Leicester today. He lives and writes in western Montana. Hot Hot Heat These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Special Needs The 100 Greatest Artists Of The 00s. I love Tony Rice, Norman Blake, and old-school bluegrass as much as the next guy. Overall, the band plays an eclectic blend of feel-good banjo music and bluegrass, with modern rock n roll influences for an added burst of energy. A little younger than the hippies and a little older than the yet-to-be hipsters, there werent so many of us kids on the scene then. While Alisons signature, outside-the-box playing style and modern aesthetic are at the center of this record top to bottom, the entire project is solidly bluegrass. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Below, well look at the best and most talented newgrass and new bluegrass bands and players. As pop music and rock dominated the music industry, bluegrass music slowly faded in the early 1980s. Alison Brown, Hazel Dickens Hard Hitting Songs for Hard Hit People, Many may argue that bluegrass is apolitical, but not when Hazel Dickens is singing. Christian Artists and Bands (Organized by Genre) - Learn Religions The 20 Best Guitar Songs for Intermediate Players (with Chords). Still, she was a wonderful front person, warm and personable, and her voice was heavenly. XX Teens (formerly Xerox Teens) managed to release one record Welcome To Goon Island, an oh-so-2008 slab of good-time party music, somewhere between Good Shoes and Klaxons and then it was over. A pop-grass version of Summer Breeze sits comfortably alongside the traditionally rooted In Despair, and the haunting trio of Sierra Hull, Steve Gulley, and Dale Ann on the thinly veiled war protest song Come Home Good Boy is timeless. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Setting the bar possibly too high even for themselves, the Florida group have been working on a follow-up album ever since. The original queen of bluegrass singer/songwriter banjo players. This album was the first Laurie Lewis record I owned, and it was the beginning of my journey to become a bluegrass musician. He is also awarded five times by the International Bluegrass Music Association Banjo Player. Giant Drag The 1990s-2000s - Bluegrass Music - LibGuides at University of North Gina Clowes, When a member of Counting Crows writes the liner notes for a bluegrass album, it will grab your attention; when it is an album by the Cox Family, it will grab your heart. Established in 1938 in Kentucky, the band stayed for over 60 years. Before Dalston was a thing and the sight of meggings (thats mens leggings) ball-crushingly commonplace, there was White Rose Movement. Lets check it out some of our favorite ones. This collection contains 5,000 items, mostly photographs taken at bluegrass festivals from the 1980s through the 2000s. There have been multiple generations of bluegrass bands and multiple subgenres, yet when people think of bluegrass, they think of the best groups of the genre. Groovy as a giants corduroy pant leg, this music needs a fiddle chop like a hole in the knee. This third revised edition includes an extensive new chapter in which new coauthor Jocelyn R. Neal tracks developments in country music in the post-9/11 world, exploring the relationship between the current scene and the traditions from which the music emerged. Boy Kill Boy https://guides.lib.unc.edu/bluegrassmusic, Sugar Hill Records Collection, 1980s-2000s, Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum Collection, 1970-2019. Formed in 1994, this Tennessee based bluegrass band had several Grammy nominations and won many awards for their excellent performance. TWENTY-TWO GRAND JOB/ IN THE CITY, ITS ALRIGHT Ah, The Rakes. Lonesome River Band carrying the tradition. Produced by Bill Reynolds (The Avett Brothers, Band of Horses),Tornillois the bands third studio album. Achieving the seemingly impossible in the 00s and making a second album (2006s Without Feathers) that was better than their debut, Canadas The Stills went as our review at the time stated from bookish indie sop-rockers to bombastic rockers with flaming horn sections and production like Arcade Fire. Guitarist Josh Hubbard can now be found in Strokesy US outfit, Skaters. Earlier this year, NPR Music published a behemoth piece Turning the Tables: The 150 Greatest Albums Made by Women saying, This list is an intervention, a remedy, a correction of the historical record and hopefully the start of a new conversation It rethinks popular music to put women at the center.. Oh wait). It also succeeded in inspiring future generations of female badasses in country and bluegrass music (Lula Wiles, Im With Her). hellodalai. Now making music under the guise of Thumpers, Marcus Ratcliff and Jack Hansom were joined back in 2005 by Davo McConville to form grunge-tinged art rock trio Pull Tiger Tail. Required fields are marked *. Not to be confused with folk artists, vote up the best bluegrass bands and musicians since the Bluegrass Band started it all. One of the Myspace generations indie stars, Sheffields Little Man Tate combined hooky, buzzing riffs with embittered lyrics about posers and not getting the girl. Hazel really wanted to sing songs where the women are strong. Heart of a Singer was recorded in two sessions, one on either side of the birth of Carol Elizabeths daughter, Viv Leva (who is now pushing 20 with a forthcoming album that Ill call an early contender for the next edition of this very list). The whole thing is polished to a high, high gloss, but its compelling as all get-out. Back when Miles Kane was just a young whipper snapper with dreams of guesting on live outings of 505 for the rest of his career, he was the guitarist in The Little Flames. This bluegrass band was famous in the early 1960s, during the revival of American Folk Music. Country, Pop/Rock, Contemporary Bluegrass, Alt-Country, Alternative/Indie Rock, Bluegrass, Country-Folk, Swedish Pop/Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock Above & Beyond 2000s - 2020s Darol Anger, Rushad Eggleston, Casey Driessen. Lynn had a wonderful knack for finding material outside of the traditional bluegrass repertoire and turning those songs into bluegrass classics. This collection contains 5,000 items, mostly photographs taken at bluegrass festivals from the 1980s through the 2000s. Check out single Riot On The Radio if you too like the sound of angry young men with issues who like Gang of Four. Laurie Lewis, No, its not the most traditional bluegrass album ever recorded, but coming out of Nickel Creeks more progressive latter days, Sara Watkins debut solo record illustrated that she still had at least one foot planted firmly in tradition. They are well-known for their best albums, including New Favorite, So Long So Wrong, Ive Got That Old Feeling, which had won several awards and Grammy. Masters of two-minute ADHD shriek-outs, BYOP will sound young forever. Clor Still, it didnt seem to harm Tapes N Tapes who were one of 2006s breakthrough buzz bands. From Theyll Never Keep Us Down to Scraps from Your Table, there is nothing hidden about Hazels message here: Fighting for the rights of workers and revealing inequity can and should be done through song. The band gained fame and became famous after their performances at several music festivals in the States. A bluegrass band is a group of musicians who play acoustic stringed instruments, typically some combination of guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, dobro and upright bass, to perform bluegrass music.[1]. Justin Hiltner, Cherryholmes Cherryholmes II: Black and White, We had three strikes against us: We were a family band, we had kids, and we had women. Sandy Cherryholmes, Despite the strikes against them, Ill never forget how Cherryholmes took my musical world by storm in the early 2000s. Come and discover the historic center of Chambry! Its got a fine back-up band, featuring Don Reno on banjo, Tommy Jackson on fiddle, and Ronnie Stoneman and Bill Monroe splitting the mandolin chores. Punch Brothers - Who's Feeling Young Now? For individual musicians, see the List of bluegrass musicians. Updated May 23, 2018 72k votes 7.9k voters 339k views. Some pages or articles may contain affiliate links. Kaa Kater, Gloria Belle Gloria Belle Sings and Plays Bluegrass in the Country, Perhaps best-known for her long stint with Jimmy Martins Sunny Mountain Boys in the late 60s and 70s, Gloria Belle is a fine singer, guitarist, mandolinist, banjoist, and bass player. The Infamous Stringdusters The Infamous Stringdusters are a progressive acoustic and modern bluegrass band. Though bluegrass didn't really have its renaissance until the 2000s, it was already revving up in the '90s. Riding high off the genre's revival in the late 1990s and early 2000s from Dolly Parton's The Grass Is Blue and the Coen Brothers' O Brother Where Art Thou, artists in this decade looked back at bluegrass's past more than ever. It's relatively simple to go from being a newbie to becoming an intermediate guitarist.