Dale Short

Hagen in the Grainbox: Big Team, All for the Fun
Surely the band's self description as "retired mule farmers" is tongue in cheek--although a mysterious miniature stuffed mule does show up at some of their gigs. Their classification of their music as "Brew Grass" is probably more on the money. As is their description of Hagen's influences: Bluegrass, Folk, Americana, Punk, Old School Country, and Irish.

Grant Farm: Tribute to the Cosmic Working Man
This Boulder, Colorado-based quartet describes themselves as a "traveling Gypsy family" and reviewers call them "North American roots music." But there's more to Grant Farm than meets the ear: most of the acts with whom they've shared stage space are absolutely Bluegrass (Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Tony Rice, et al), and the band describes their sound as "Cosmic Americana."

WOODSHED RED: Young, Funky, Untamed, Fond of Improv, and Danceable To Boot
"Upbeat, positive, grassy, and intertwined with funky, untamed improvisation." Oh...and "danceable." Just one reviewer's description, but it captures the essence of a unique band with a memorable name: Woodshed Red.

PARSONSFIELD: ‘Scampering Around’, ‘Making a Joyful Noise’
Where's a good place to record your new album? How about an abandoned axe factory?

10 CENT STRANGER: HOME-COOKED IN LARAMIE, A MIND-BLOWING MIX OF GENRES
The long winters of Laramie can give rise to some unlikely cerebral creations. Take acoustic psychedelic Bluegrass, for instance, with a thread throughout of alt-country and rhythm-and-blues.

BLUE CANYON BOYS: SWEET-SOUNDING VOCALS, AND ‘MUSIC WITH A PULSE TO IT’
"High octane" is a phrase that reviewers sometimes use to describe The Blue Canyon Boys. The audience at this year's Beartrap will have a chance to see them rev up their Bluegrass-powered musical engine.

CORY McDANIEL DUO: THE ROAD IS LONG, THE LIFE IS GOOD
When Cory McDaniel says "Life keeps me busy," that's an understatement. When he's not being a singer, songwriter, and soloist, he and his longtime bassist and friend Dale Bohren are playing with one of three bands, all of which "keep me traveling and surrounded by good and talented people."

The Patti Fiasco: Jet-Fueled Powerhouse, Riding The Edge
Which one is Patti? What's the fiasco about? Actually, there's a good family story there.

The Railsplitters: High-Speed, Fast Track, Crossing Over Genre and Time
For the Railsplitters, life is good these days. They took first place in Rockygrass's Best New Band competition, celebrated the release of their brand-new album, and are now in every touring group's second home: their trusty van, traveling the U.S. and bringing their music to new audiences.

The Good Time Travelers: Cutting Edge Songs In The Key of Truth
It's not too often you hear two musicians who sound like three, but one reviewer called The Good Time Travelers "the vibe of a two-piece power trio" and "a sound rooted in folk and Bluegrass, but a sentiment that's pure rock-and-roll."