Artist description Folkgrass is a bluegrass/folk band that plays a blend of folk, bluegrass, traditional and original material. The band is from the South Shore area of Montreal in Quebec, Canada. It's members have a very varied background. Sabine originates from Germany, Roland from Manitoba (prairies), Raymond from the Matapedia Valley of Quebec and Perry from the Eastern Townships of Quebec. The varied musical and cultural background adds greatly to the musical creativity of the band.

Music Style Bluegrass, Folk, Traditional Folk and Original

Musical Influences Folk, Country, Old Time Country, Traditional Folk

Similar Artists Alison Krauss, Laurie Lewis, Wild & Blue

Artist History Folkgrass was originally formed in 1997 and at that time was made up of 4 members, one of which (Philip Berard) has since left the group. Folkgrass has been playing bluegrass and folk music in and around Montréal and the Eastern Townships for several years now.Together we have taken the group from Tuesday night practice sessions to playing at the YELLOW DOOR in Montréal, the Museum of Civilization in Hull, the Children's Wish Foundation fund raiser, concerts all over the Eastern Township area, opening for LOST and FOUND in February 1999 and MOUNTAIN HEART in February 2000 at the Townships Bluegrass & Old-Tyme Music Society's concerts, and several sold out concerts in St. Lambert (south shore of Montréal).The band recorded their first album, appropriately titled "The Fisrt Time", in June of 1999 and released it in October 1999. The entire album, including the cover, is produced by Folkgrass. The recording was done live at Stetson Studio in Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada. The album has 16 tracks including a variety of traditional bluegrass, folk, traditional fiddle and original material.The music is very lively and evokes powerful energ

Group Members Roland Berard - vocals, guitar, mandolin Sabine Bittner-Maher - vocals, mandolin, guitar, fiddle Raymond St-Laurent - fiddle Perry Beaton - bass

Instruments Fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass

Albums The First Time

Press Reviews Folkgrass finds niche the first time Greenfield Park band launches debut album by Lucinda ChodanTownships Bluegrass & Old-Tyme Music Society regulars Folkgrass have just released their first CD, titled, appropriately enough, The First Time.The CD showcases the band's versatility on a wide variety of styles and songs. The gamut of bluegrass is represented fromtraditional classics like the Carter Family's "I Wonder How the Old Folks Are at Home" and "Home Sweet Home" to modemfavourites like Steel Rails, popularized by Alison Krauss.There's a nod or two to the rich and diverse Canadian folk tradition. Fiddler St.Laurent contributes a down- home version ofDon Messer's Big John MacNeil and the rest of the band harmonizes on the lovely evergreen French-Canadian tune A LaClaire Fontaine.But the main focus is on the folk-tinged original compositions of lead singer Sabine Bittner-Maher, who contributed the titletune and three others. Angel From Heaven and Morning Sun are both toe-tapping numbers, right at home on any bluegras stage.Emotion is quite possibly the highlight of the album, with a beautiful, heartfelt vocal from Bittner- Maher, accompanied bydelicate guitar picking from Roland Berard.Fiddler St. Laurent adds the instrumental White Water Ride to round out the Folkgrass songbook of originals, while his versionof Saint Anne's Reel is woven in tasteful counterpoint to the story line of The Ballad of Saint Anne's Reel, written by New Yorkfolksinger David Mallet.The mandolin and bass of Roland's son Philip Berard are heard on several cuts, while special guestMichel Perron also provided bass.All in all, this is a fine addition to the growing catalogue of Township Bluegrass members' wor

Location Brossard, QUEBEC - Canada

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