NYC’s Thriving Underground Live Bluegrass Scene

The weekly Monday Night Bluegrass Sessions at Mona's on June 22

As we approach America’s 250^th birthday, we recognize that traditional Americana music has been a significant bookmark in the country’s cultural history. One strain of the nation’s organic music is bluegrass, a genre of acoustic music that emerged in Appalachia in the 1940s. Rooted in folk, blues, and gospel, bluegrass is driven by acoustic instruments, particularly the banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar and upright bass, along with fast tempos and virtuosic improvisation.

Hailing from the "Bluegrass State" of Kentucky, mandolinist Bill Monroe and his band, the Blue Grass Boys, were among the earliest pioneers of this music. Monroe combined traditional Scottish and Irish folk ballads with African American blues to create a distinct, fast-paced sound. Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs along with the Stanley Brothers helped popularize the music in the 1940s and 1950s.

Breakfast Special headlined at the Jalopy Theatre on June 14

Michael Daves (right), Alex Hargreaves (center) and Tony Trischka at the Jalopy Tavern on June 14

Never really a part of America’s popular mainstream, bluegrass received a boost in the 1960s when the Grateful Dead, the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers injected elements of bluegrass into their rock music. Currently, virtuoso musicians including Billy Strings, Greensky Bluegrass, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Sierra Hull, and Molly Tuttle are among the influx of younger musicians blending tradition with new sounds. A new subgenre of "jamgrass" bands, led by the Infamous StringDusters, Yonder Mountain String Band, Leftover Salmon, Railroad Earth and the String Cheese Incident, blend traditional bluegrass instruments with rock, jazz, and indie music, expanding the appeal of bluegrass beyond customary niches.

Urban cities like New York have not been cited as a nesting ground for this rural music. Ironically, however, an 80-year-old Appalachian musical tradition currently has a vast underground network of bluegrass musicians and a faithful following in the New York City area. Open mic jams are thriving at Lucinda’s, Mathilde and Mona’s, among other venues.

The Bushwick Mountain Boys at Superfine on June 14

The Brooklyn Bluegrass Collective at Putnam's Pub and Cookery on June 14

David Sussman, an avid supporter of the local bluegrass scene, provided The Manhattan Beat with a list of upcoming bluegrass events and a collection of recent photographs. Many of this week's programs are free admission. Consult the web site or social media of the venue for more information about a show, including location and directions, parking, ticket availability, show times, age restrictions, and COVID compliance.

Diane Stockwell, Liz Sevcenko, Brett Ladin and Sam Dallas at the Prospect Bar and Grill on June 17

Down North at Fred’s Dog House on June 18

Tuesday 6/23

Tuesday BlueGrass Jam at Whiskey Reds

Live Bluegrass with Allison Kelly at Lucinda's

Music on the Porch at City Island Yacht Club

Tuesday Night Bluegrass Jam at Whiskey Reds

Melody & Friends at Superfine on June 21

The weekly Bluegrass Wednesdays at Mathilde on June 17

Wednesday 6/24

Bluegrass Wednesdays w Melody Allegra and friends at Mathilde

Boathouse Bluegrass Jam  at Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse

Thursday 6/25

Thursday Bluegrass Jam at Forever Brewing

Friday 6/26

Alison Krauss & Union Station, Theo Lawrence at Prudential Hall

Saturday 6/27

Chris Luquette & Nashville East at Skinny Dennis

Bluegrass on the Green Grass at East Fourth Street Community Garden

The Sam Brown Trio at Sunny's Bar on June 20

The Sunday Bluegrass Jam at Sunny's Bar on June 14

Sunday 6/28

Sam Brown Trio at Superfine

Sunday Bluegrass at Paddy Reilly's

Tone's Bluegrass Jam at Sunny’s Bar

Kensuke Shoji and Friends at Sunny's Bar

Sunday Bluegrass Session at Prospect Bar and Grill

Sunday Bluegrass Jam at Irish Whiskey Bar

Monday 6/29

Monday Night Bluegrass Session at Mona’s

The Haven Jam Session at Irish Haven

Tuesday 6/30

Live Bluegrass at Lucinda's

Bluegrass by the Bridge at Cowgirl Seahorse

Tuesday BlueGrass Jam at Whiskey Reds

***

The Manhattan Beat covers New York City's live music circuit. All articles are written by Everynight Charley Crespo. All photographs are taken by Everynight Charley Crespo, except when noted otherwise.

For a list of Manhattan venues that are presenting live music regularly, swing the desktop cursor to the right of the home page and click on the pop-up tab "Where to Find Live Music."

For a more complete listing of upcoming performances in the New York City area, visit The Manhattan Beat's June calendar.