Plaidgrass

PLAIDGRASS is an acoustic band that plays a unique mixture of traditional Irish instrumentals with a bluegrass improvisational blend. Although PLAIDGRASS is primarily an instrumental band, they are equally adept as a vocal group. At the core of PLAIDGRASS is multi-instrumentalist Tim May and fiddler Gretchen Priest. The union of Gretchen’s Irish and Old-time music background and Tim’s strong bluegrass and country roots formed a combined fresh and exciting musical expression that has others describing them as “new traditionalists.” When asked about their music, Gretchen said, “I’m a tune-hound. I like to work with an old tune and create an arrangement for the band and then let the rest of these excellent improvisational pickers take it to a new level.” Fiddle master Stuart Duncan said, “It is refreshing to hear a group of musicians draw from a myriad of influences PLAIDGRASS has created powerful renditions of Celtic and bluegrass instrumentals.”

Joining Gretchen and Tim are a group of greatly talented and diverse instrumentalists, included 8-string banjo phenom Tom Saffell, Al Goll on resonator guitar, and Brian Christianson on mandolin and fiddle.. The band can function as trio or quartet at smaller venues or pubs and often has up to six musicians for larger venues or festivals.