The Infamous Stringdusters dug deep into their bluegrass roots for their thirteenth full-length record– A Tribute to Flatt & Scruggs, made available on Americana Vibes. This album pays homage to singer and guitarist Lester Flatt and banjo player Earl Scruggs and their influence on American music.
“The concept of paying tribute to the Grandfathers or originators of Bluegrass is one we bounced around for awhile and after Bill Monroe, the most logical, I think any bluegrass musician would agree, is Flatt & Scruggs. They’re legendary and without Earl’s banjo, bluegrass just doesn’t exist the way we know it today”, says The Infamous Stringdusters bass player Travis Book.
The GRAMMY® Award-winning quintet—Andy Falco [guitar], Chris Pandolfi [banjo], Andy Hall [dobro], Jeremy Garrett [fiddle], and Travis Book [double bass]—have musical influences that truly run the gamut, but their common denominator is certainly bluegrass — the sound that has in essence defined the course of their career.
This particular body of work, the second in a series of bluegrass tribute albums, was an obvious choice as a follow up to their latest Grammy-Nominated tribute album – A Tribute to Bill Monroe, who truly laid the foundation for bluegrass as we know it today.
The Infamous Stringdusters stand out as the rare group who can team up with contemporary artists on late night television one night and headline the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre or perform alongside The Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh the next, and have recently emerged as proprietors behind their newly found independent record label, Americana Vibes.
Manifesting an actual flock of impassioned fandom, much like those who paved the road before them, the band have attracted a faithful international audience that continues to grow. Moreover, their powerful music and performances paved the way for a GRAMMY® Award win in the category of “Best Bluegrass Album” for 2017’s Laws of Gravity, and a number of International Bluegrass Music Awards in a variety of categories.
Going back to bluegrass roots is where they are most likely to find opportunities for growth and evolution, so this album is the catalyst for a deeper understanding of the genre that they most closely identify with.
A Tribute to Flatt & Scruggs is The Infamous Stringdusters telling listeners that they are continually evolving, by honoring the roots of the music that has shaped them as a band and individually. The songs are meaningful, and the musical parts have become more essential.