TrueGrass (NY)

Artist Information

Biography

The members of the upstate NY based TrueGrass (sometimes referred to as Adirondack TrueGrass) have been playing music together for over 30 years, in one form or another. The reformed folk duo of Wayne and Bonnie Ashdown provide stage experience, solid vocals and a strong fiddle that could be heard opening for the likes of Don MaClean in the early 70's. Young violin maker and bluegrass fan Martin Macica would hitchhike to the Ashdown's house in Saratoga Springs for fiddle lessons over 20 years ago, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Held together by a common faith and love for bluegrass music, TrueGrass has matured into a solid multi-generation bluegrass gospel group with an extensive repertoire of traditional hymns, covers, instrumentals and other originals written by Macica and David Ashdown (Wayne and Bonnie's son). The recent additions of Calvin Waldron on the upright bass and Frank Dymond on the banjo have rounded out the sound and added two additional vocalists to the mix.


Influences include Blue Highway, Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice, New Grass Revival, The Isaacs, and many more..

For a better look at Marty's mandolins, please visit www.macica.com.

Instrumentation

Martin Macica (of Macica Mandolins) - Mandolin and Vocals
David Ashdown - Guitar, Dobro, and Vocals
Bonnie Ashdown - Fiddle and Vocals
Wayne Ashdown - Guitar and Vocals
Calvin Waldron - Upright Bass and Vocals
Frank Dymond - Banjo and Vocals

Discography

TrueGrass (Self Titled) - 1999
New Creation - 2009

(Use the Link Below to purchase the "New Creation" album online at iTunes)

Links

• Macica Mandolins - Standard of Excellence

Audio

• Clear the Ice Away
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• Slippery Places - (First Draft)
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• Look On Up
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• It Shall Be Well With You (Live)
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• Nothing Between (Traditional Hymn)
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Lyrics

• Clear the Ice Away

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• TrueGrass Album Review (2000) [+ Show ]
  

  by Jeff Anzevino Marty Macica, of Schuylerville sent us TrueGrass, an inspired collection of gosp...by Jeff Anzevino
  
  Marty Macica, of Schuylerville sent us TrueGrass, an inspired collection of gospel songs recorded by the New Covenant Community. And we thought Marty just built great Mandolins!
  
  The outstanding CD contains eight mostly original songs with all the elements essential in bluegrass music. The lead vocals are powerful and the harmonies heavenly. For those of you that like great lead breaks, you'll love the guitarpicking, especially the guitar work, it is superlative! If you are a Tony Rice fan, you'll want this CD.
  
  Without trying to, the group provides the type of sound that made the New Grass Revival such a popular band. You'll find this sound in the resonant vocals a la John Cowan on "Look on Up" (by Martin Macica) and the uplifting "Life in Jesus" (by David Ashdown). Marty also penned "It Shall Be Well With You," a flowing waltz with some sweet fiddling. "In You, Oh Lord," and "I Love You Lord," a quintessential bluegrass gospel piece with fiddle kickoff and more outstanding guitar by David Ashdown.
  
  Marty plays mandolin, guitar (lead on "Power in the Blood) and banjo. David Ashdown plays lead guitar. Both David and Marty sing lead vocals and strong supporting vocals are provided by Bonnie Ashdown, Amy Ashdown, Kim Bowden and Kris Conners. If there’s anything that could be improved, it could be longer. After eight songs, the New Covenant Community leaves the listener wanting for more. Encore!
  
  

• Truegrass Will Perform During Easton Neighbor Day – [+ Show ]
  

  For the fourth year, the TrueGrass singing group will be a feature at the Easton Neighbor Day on Sat...For the fourth year, the TrueGrass singing group will be a feature at the Easton Neighbor Day on Saturday, July 7… TrueGrass was founded nearly ten years ago by several members of the Easton-based New Covenant Community Church on Windy Hill Rd. The group developed an appreciation for traditional hymns and gospel music after many years of visiting and singing at local nursing homes. "Those songs are timeless, and they can bring a great deal of joy and comfort to people, young and old." says David Ashdown, one of the guitar players for TrueGrass. As a teenager, David learned to play bluegrass music from Martin Macica, another member of the group. Martin not only sings and plays the mandolin in the band, but he actually made the instrument that he plays. At his shop in Schuylerville, Martin makes mandolins, violins and other fine instruments for musicians all over the country.
  
  Beyond performing traditional bluegrass hymns, the group also writes many of the songs they perform. "The songs are about looking beyond the circumstances of life, and trusting in Jesus," says Ashdown. Since each member of the group also sings, they really enjoy working out harmonies for the songs they play.
  
  Additional band members include Wayne and Bonnie Ashdown, who have been playing and singing Christian music together for over 30 years. Wayne plays the guitar and Bonnie plays the fiddle with the group. Rounding out the band is Calvin Waldron, a talented multi-instrument musician who plays the upright bass with the group.
  
  When the band is not playing bluegrass, they serve as the worship team at New Covenant Community Church.
  
  

• TrueGrass - New Creation Album Review [+ Show ]
  

  This local band of seven musicians has put together a powerful album of music. Wayne Ashdown on guit...This local band of seven musicians has put together a powerful album of music. Wayne Ashdown on guitar, Bonnie Ashdown on violin, David Ashdown on guitar and Dobro, Martin Macica on mandolin, Frank Dymond on banjo, Calvin Waldron on bass, and Amy Ashdown on vocals, have created fine arrangements for both the original and traditional songs presented. Opening with the venerable Salt Creek, they have transformed it from a mundane fiddle tune with everyone taking a break to a piece that builds to a dramatic climax. It’s a great start.
  
  The vocal pieces are all religious in nature, and in the style of contemporary Christian music rather than old time bluegrass gospel. They play and sing the style well, and their original songs are as good as any I have heard in the genre. The traditional tunes have distinctive arrangements that put he band’s mark on them.
  
  It’s an impressive album, and I look forward to hearing the group live, I don’t know where or how often they perform, but see them if you can – and/or buy the album.
  
  -Bill Healy – Adirondack Bluegrass League
  

Setlist

Traditional/Covers

-Hallelujah I'm Ready
-Dancin with the Angels
-Hallelujah I'm Ready
-Farther Along
-Soul of Man
-Nothing Between

Originals

- Slippery Places
- Clear the Ice Away
- Seven Times
- Hope is the Anchor of my Soul
- New Creation
- Look On Up
- You Can Have this Victory
- It Shall Be Well With You
- In You Oh Lord, etc

Instrumentals

-Salt Creek
-Minor Swing
-Over the Waterfall
-Dobro Sunshine (Original)

Basic Requirements

Calendar