Telluride winner Bearfoot is one of the leading young bands reshaping American roots music. Drawing from a broad range of musical styles including bluegrass, old-time, folk, country, Cajun, blues and western swing. The female-fronted acoustic quintet delivers a powerful live show that features winningly intimate lead vocals, intricate arrangements of award-winning original songs, tight harmonies, impressive instrumental prowess and Appalachian flat-foot dancing.

Call it “new-timey,” call it “post-bluegrass,” call it “string band music for the 21st century”—whatever the name, there’s a revolution under way where string band traditions meet youthful creativity; look to its center, and that’s where you’ll find Bearfoot. The quintet, originally formed in Alaska, have already made a mark with four strong releases, including their 2009 Compass Records debut, Doors And Windows which instantly hit the top of Billboard Magazine’s Bluegrass Album chart. Now, as they enter their second decade with a new Nashville home and a new lineup, Bearfoot have taken their place among the best and brightest of a new generation of musicians reshaping American roots music.  A mere two years after their initial meeting teaching at their namesake’s bluegrass camp for kids, Bearfoot earned one of roots music’s most prestigious awards –Telluride Bluegrass Band Champions– an honor they share with artists Dixie Chicks and Nickel Creek. Soon, they were touring extensively during summer breaks and became regular crowd favorites at prestigious festivals including Wintergrass, Grey Fox, Strawberry Festival, and seven consecutive years at RockyGrass. The original band members (Norris and Oudean) had known each other and played together in various combinations in Alaska’s small but vibrant music scene and the community of musicians, fans, parents, and friends rallied around the fledgling band. “We wrangled some support from them in the form of mileage and airline tickets,” says Norris. “People wanted to see us succeed and travel. Very few bands in Alaska, particularly young bands, get the opportunity to do that so the community was excited about it and jumped onboard with us. Those same people still go to our shows now.”

 

www.bearfootband.com