Area Bluegrass Group Rural Route Opens Up For Worley
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Ever since the movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" was released several years ago, there's been a resurgence in bluegrass music popularity.
Rural Route is one local bluegrass band whose popularity is rising right along with the resurgence.
"It's always been around the area, but it's come back really big since 'O Brother, Where Art Thou,'" said John Baker, North Webster, banjo player for Rural Route.
Most of the group formed about two years with Travis Gow, Cromwell, joining about five to six months ago. Gow plays the mandolin and fiddle. Other band members include Baker, Lee Bradley, Claypool, on guitar, and Steve Overmyer, Rochester, on bass.
Before the band formed, Bradley and Overmyer played in another band and the members picked off and on together in different combinations. The formation of Rural Route was just a natural progression, Baker said.
The band does covers, such as Lonesome River Band's "Crime I Didn't Do," but they also write some of their originals.
Baker said they play mostly festivals. Their shows, according to Bradley, have "lots of energy."
"We've got a real diverse audience, ranging anywhere in age from grandpas to teens dancing in the streets to little kids," said Baker.
The guys in the band have played for a number of years individually. Gow has played the mandolin for only six months now, but has played the fiddle for three years. Bradley played bluegrass and sang for about 11 years, and comes from a bluegrass-playing family. In his 30 years of playing music, Baker said, he's played bluegrass for 28 of those years.
And Overmyer has them all topped, having played guitar for 43 years.
Rural Route, Baker said, has opened for other big name bluegrass musicians such as Ralph Stanley, Lonesome River Band, Dave Evans, Carolina Road and The Chapmans.
"If they're following that kind of music," said Bradley, "they'll know who they are."
But one opportunity providing the band with lots of energy is their gig Friday at Central Park. They will be an opening act for Darryl Worley, starting sometime after 6 p.m.
Baker said, "Bluegrass is really alive and well in northern Indiana."
For more information about Rural Route or to book them, call 574-834-4373 or e-mail [email protected] [[In-content Ad]]
Ever since the movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" was released several years ago, there's been a resurgence in bluegrass music popularity.
Rural Route is one local bluegrass band whose popularity is rising right along with the resurgence.
"It's always been around the area, but it's come back really big since 'O Brother, Where Art Thou,'" said John Baker, North Webster, banjo player for Rural Route.
Most of the group formed about two years with Travis Gow, Cromwell, joining about five to six months ago. Gow plays the mandolin and fiddle. Other band members include Baker, Lee Bradley, Claypool, on guitar, and Steve Overmyer, Rochester, on bass.
Before the band formed, Bradley and Overmyer played in another band and the members picked off and on together in different combinations. The formation of Rural Route was just a natural progression, Baker said.
The band does covers, such as Lonesome River Band's "Crime I Didn't Do," but they also write some of their originals.
Baker said they play mostly festivals. Their shows, according to Bradley, have "lots of energy."
"We've got a real diverse audience, ranging anywhere in age from grandpas to teens dancing in the streets to little kids," said Baker.
The guys in the band have played for a number of years individually. Gow has played the mandolin for only six months now, but has played the fiddle for three years. Bradley played bluegrass and sang for about 11 years, and comes from a bluegrass-playing family. In his 30 years of playing music, Baker said, he's played bluegrass for 28 of those years.
And Overmyer has them all topped, having played guitar for 43 years.
Rural Route, Baker said, has opened for other big name bluegrass musicians such as Ralph Stanley, Lonesome River Band, Dave Evans, Carolina Road and The Chapmans.
"If they're following that kind of music," said Bradley, "they'll know who they are."
But one opportunity providing the band with lots of energy is their gig Friday at Central Park. They will be an opening act for Darryl Worley, starting sometime after 6 p.m.
Baker said, "Bluegrass is really alive and well in northern Indiana."
For more information about Rural Route or to book them, call 574-834-4373 or e-mail [email protected] [[In-content Ad]]