This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s fall editorial intern Hannah Yarrington. Find her on Instagram at @513hny. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
With the success of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie, my little Appalachian girl’s heart is so happy to hear bluegrass and folk music become more mainstream. Growing up in the Appalachian mountains myself, I honestly used to reject the music associated with it and didn’t have a huge appreciation for it when I was a teen. But in recent years, I’ve become obsessed with bluegrass, with all the banjo, fiddles, and guitars bringing together a beautiful melody that makes you want to dance. So today, I’m going to put you guys on some good bluegrass indie folk bands and songs to add to your playlist immediately.
Fox Hunt by Sierra Ferrell
The beginning of this song literally makes me want to run through a field as fast as I can with my hair flowing through the wind. Sierra Ferrell truly knows how to transport you to a completely different fantasy world through her music, especially in this song, with lovely little diddles on her fiddle. She is a stellar storyteller with a gorgeous voice that truly enchants you.
Can’t Live Without Love by Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Sam Bush, and Molly Tuttle
All of these artists came together and created a timeless song that makes me feel I’m right back in the early ages of America. This song was originally written by Jamie Hartford and brought to life by Hynes, Bush, and Tuttle. It touches on the things in life that we can and cannot live without, which I think is such a beautiful sentiment and definitely deserves a listen.
Here For You by The Last Revel
With this song’s vocals, you can feel a little bit of a country influence in this tune, and The Last Revel tends to dip their toes into many different genres. They include the classic five-string banjo throughout this piece, along with heartfelt lyrics that know how to touch your soul.
Yosemite (feat. Dave Matthews) by Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
I LOVE Dave Matthews Band, and Yosemite is another song with Molly Tuttle in it, as well as Golden Highway. Though Dave Matthews sings more in the rock genre, you can’t deny the influence of bluegrass on many of their songs. This song, in particular, tells a heartbreaking story of two lovers trying to reignite their love in Yosemite, but ends with them going their separate ways.
The Tide by The Lonely Heartstring Band
The Tide is a sort of melancholy song with beautiful harmonizations and a killer fiddle solo. Though The Lonely Heartstring Band seems to be on an indefinite hiatus, they still have plenty of really good songs that give you a sort of contemporary bluegrass feel.
Too Many Places by The Brothers Comatose
This song also has a country feel to it, as The Brothers Comatose like to mix bluegrass, country, and rock into their songs. As you might expect, this song is about a man who has to choose between going out on the road to do what he believes he is destined for or staying behind and spending a more quiet life with his wife. I especially love the fiddle playing throughout the songs, and it has an excellent foot-stomping beat.
Weevils in the Grits by Sami Braman and Britanny Haas
So Weevils in the Grits doesn’t actually have any lyrics in it and is simply a lovely duet with Sami Braman and Britanny Haas with fiddle and banjo. When I think of what bluegrass music sounds like, this song is one that immediately pops into my head. It’s one that will make you wanna do some buck dancing for sure.
There is a Time by Tori Miller
Tori Miller’s voice is just so beautiful and sucks you into whatever story she might be telling. She likes to classify her music as indie folk, but I definitely hear some bluegrass with those little fiddle solos throughout this song, and she definitely deserves more hype.
Life Lessons by Wyatt Flores
What makes Wyatt Flores’s music so compelling is his gift for storytelling, which, as you can probably tell, is a massive part of bluegrass music. In this song, he tells stories about old memories and experiences he has had in his own life that many people can relate to, and it also has a great beat to it.
All the Debts I Owe by Caamp
Though Caamp is considered an indie folk band, I just had to include at least one song by them and implore you to listen to more of their music. The lead singer, Taylor Meier, has such a raspy sort of voice that is so unique and refreshing to hear. All the Debts I Owe is one of my favorites by them, but they have many other amazing songs worth your time.
And there are just a few bluegrass indie folk bands and songs that you can listen to. Have you heard any of these bands before? What do you think of them? Let us know!
Leave a Reply