True North (8)

United States / Oregon Kristen Grainger Vocals Dan Wetzel Guitar, Resonator Guitar, Mandolin, Octave Mandolin, Banjo, Ukulele, Vocals Martin Stevens Mandolin, Fiddle, Octave Mandolin, Vocals Josh Adkins Upright Bass, Vocals KRISTEN GRAINGER & TRUE NORTH are a powerhouse of original songs, lush vocals and crazy-good instrumentalists putting their own fresh twist on American roots music. Fronted by singer-songwriter Kristen Grainger, the band is comprised of multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Dan Wetzel and Pacific Northwest bluegrass superstars Martin Stevens (mandolin, octave mandolin, fiddle, vocals) and Josh Adkins (upright bass, vocals), both formerly of the Bluegrass Regulators. Kristen Grainger is making a name for herself as a crafter of great songs, collecting accolades and awards at national songwriting contests at Telluride Bluegrass Festival (CO), Wildflower Arts & Music Festival (TX), IMEA (GA), Merlefest (NC), Kerrville (TX) and, together with Dan Wetzel, Wintergrass (WA). She recently won the 2019 Local Roots Northwest songwriting competition (Portland, OR) The band’s newest project, Open Road, Broken Heart, debuted at #1 in 2018 on the folk DJ charts for national radio airplay and stayed in the Roots Music Report’s top 25 all year. Their 2014 release, Elsebound, spent 25 weeks in the top 10 and was the 7th most-aired folk album of 2015. On stage, the band deftly delivers the mind-blowing harmonies and mad instrumentals of a band deeply rooted in traditional folk and bluegrass genres. As Folk World (UK) put it, “What comes over loud and clear is that one is in the presence of some seriously talented musicians.”