Roger, from Billings, writes

PROGRESSIVE BLUEGRASS: “JAM GRASS IN MONTANA” A strong following has developed around this region for a number of bands which might be categorized as playing a form of progressive bluegrass which has come to be called. “jam grass

They play a strong dance beat and have been filling the dance floors in venues like Bones, Manny’s, or the Garage Pub in Billings, the Emerson in Bozeman and the Top Hat in Missoula. They tend to play typical bluegrass instruments often with a full drum trap set. Some of them are acoustic while others may be electric and have keyboards or additional percussion. Groups include the Infamous Stringband, Leftover Salmon, Fruition, Greensky Bluegrass, the 23 Stringband, and Hot Buttered Rum. While this movement began back in the 1970s with the Grateful Dead, Newgrass Revival, Yonder Mountain Stringband, the String Cheese Incident and Rare Earth, it has continued to evolve into the jam grass bands of today. Others include Elephant Revival, Watertower Bucket Boys, the Quick and Easy Boys, and Dead Winter Carpenters. If any bluegrass traditionalists think these sound more like rock than bluegrass names it is no accident. There is plenty of rocking going on in these jam grass groups. The good aspect of their music for all of us has to do with developing their own fans and exposing more young people to bluegrass influenced music. That definitely ain’t all bad! …. read more in his newsletter

Billings BG Letter 10-31-2012

They play a strong dance beat and have been filling the dance floors in venues like Bones, Manny’s, or the Garage Pub in Billings, the Emerson in Bozeman and the Top Hat in Missoula. They tend to play typical bluegrass instruments often with a full drum trap set. Some of them are acoustic while others may be electric and have keyboards or additional percussion. Groups include the Infamous Stringband, Leftover Salmon, Fruition, Greensky Bluegrass, the 23 Stringband, and Hot Buttered Rum. While this movement began back in the 1970s with the Grateful Dead, Newgrass Revival, Yonder Mountain Stringband, the String Cheese Incident and Rare Earth, it has continued to evolve into the jam grass bands of today. Others include Elephant Revival, Watertower Bucket Boys, the Quick and Easy Boys, and Dead Winter Carpenters. If any bluegrass traditionalists think these sound more like rock than bluegrass names it is no accident. There is plenty of rocking going on in these jam grass groups. The good aspect of their music for all of us has to do with developing their own fans and exposing more young people to bluegrass influenced music. That definitely ain’t all bad!