NEWBURYPORT — The SteelDrivers, a Grammy-winning bluegrass band with a rock ‘n’ roll attitude, have sold out the 500-seat Belleville Roots on Saturday night.
What began as a casual jam session over a decade ago has become one of today’s leaders in the Americana/bluegrass music world. The venerable Rounder Records immediately signed the band and released The Steeldrivers eponymous debut in 2008 that scored their first Grammy nomination for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for the song “Blue Side of The Mountain.”
Specializing in a unique mix of what might be called bluegrass soul, the SteelDrivers quickly became one of the biggest names in progressive bluegrass. While there’s a strong traditional streak in the SteelDrivers sound, they bring a passion to their delivery that adds a distinctive flavor, and they’re not afraid of adding a forceful grit to the music.
Again in 2010, the group’s sophomore effort “Reckless,” received two more Grammy nods for Best Bluegrass Album and Best Country Performance by a Duo of Group with Vocal, courtesy of the universally popular hit “Where Rainbows Never Die”
The group’s star continued to rise with the release “Hammer Down” that debuted at #1 on the Billboard Bluegrass Charts.
Their accomplishments continued with the highly anticipated 2015 “The Muscle Shoals Recordings” that also won a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album, as well as three IBMA nominations for Album, Song, Songwriter (Tammy Rogers) and Liner Notes (Peter Cooper) of the Year honors.
In 2018, the group made Grand Ole Opry history as the quintet joined by superstars John Prine and Bill Murray on the revered stage to perform. Other accolades include a cameo in the Murray flick “Get Low,” music placement in various TV and movies including the popular drama “Yellowstone,” and specially recordings with the military group Six String Soldiers.
In 2020, Tammy Rogers, Michael Fleming, Richard Bailey, Brent Truitt and Kelvin Damrell – his first project as lead vocals – released the chart-topping “Bad for You” to both industry and media acclaim. Then, 2021 brought the latest member aboard, lead singer Matt Dame. The quintet tours an average of 75 dates annually while continuing to bring world-class music to people.
The SteelDrivers are Richard Bailey on banjo, Tammy Rogers on fiddle, Mike Fleming on bass, Brent Truitt on mandolin and Matt Dame on guitar.