Contemporary Bluegrass
Also known as new bluegrass
A modern, lightly cross-pollinated branch of bluegrass that keeps the acoustic pulse but allows more room for contemporary songwriting, cleaner production, and subtle genre mixing.
Origins and context
The style emerged from American bluegrass scenes that were already testing the edge between tradition and innovation, especially in the 1970s and 1980s.
History
AllMusic places contemporary bluegrass in the 1980s, describing it as an updated form that grew out of earlier progressive bluegrass while staying closer to traditional bluegrass structures. The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s history of the genre points to late-1970s and 1980s recordings and bands such as J.D. Crowe and the New South, Tony Rice, Boone Creek, the Nashville Bluegrass Band, and later acts like Nickel Creek and Punch Brothers as part of the music’s forward-moving stream.
Notable artists
- AKAlison Krauss
- NCNickel Creek
- PBPunch Brothers
- TNThe Nashville Bluegrass Band
- JCJ.D. Crowe and the New South
- TRTony Rice
- DMDel McCoury
Essential listening
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Explore connected genres
Sources and further reading
- allmusic.com
AllMusic says contemporary bluegrass developed during the 1980s and is an updated, less experimental extension of bluegrass.
- bluegrasshall.org
The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum describes late-1970s and 1980s artists and recordings as part of the contemporary bluegrass current.
- Apple Music
Apple Music describes Nickel Creek as rooted in bluegrass but adventurous and eclectic within progressive acoustic music.
- Apple Music
Apple Music describes Punch Brothers as blending bluegrass energy, classical complexity, and jazzy improvisation.
- Bluegrass genre overview
- Progressive Bluegrass genre overview
- Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum