✭We are happy to announce our next International Artist for Mountaingrass 2018 – Jeff Scroggins & Colorado.✭
Jeff Scroggins and Colorado is a high energy, high mountain “bluegrass explosion,” that features the amazing banjo playing of Jeff Scroggins. Jeff’s fiery style and lightning fast licks have earned him many fans worldwide, and have left many a first time listener in stunned disbelief! It also features the award winning mandolin playing of Jeff’s son Tristan Scroggins. Tristan is also an accomplished songwriter, and his and Jeff’s original instrumentals play a large role in the band’s unique and energetic sound. The band also features incredible bluegrass vocals, led by the powerful voice of front man Greg Blake. Greg has twice been nominated for SPBGMA’s “Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year” award and his phenomenal bluegrass guitar playing has earned him 9 nominations and an amazing 5 consecutive wins as SPBGMA’s Guitarist of the Year! Rounding out the band with harmony vocals on fiddle is Portland, OR native, Ellie Hakanson and award winning musician on multiple instruments, Isaac Callender, playing the bass.
“Ace banjo player Jeff Scroggins is well known in bluegrass music circles, having dominated many banjo contests over the years and played with major artists like Peter Rowan, Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan, The Dixie Chicks and more, but the discoveries in the band were his young son, Tristan Scroggins, an amazing mandolin player, and W. Virginia singer Greg Blake, whose soaring tenor cut through the dirty brick walls of The Pour House in Raleigh. Greg Blake has a new solo album coming out which I got a sneak peek of and it’s just beautiful. Powerful Appalachian vocals and masterful bluegrass combine in his music and I can’t wait for it to be out officially. Meanwhile, Jeff Scroggins’ son Tristan Scroggins was another revelation at IBMA. The kid can pick; man, can he pick! Not just lightning fast, which he does love to do, but also super precise. He’s also a great tune composer; check out his tune “Lonesome George” on Jeff Scroggins & Colorado’s new album, Western Branches. There’s a real family feel to this band, and it’s great to see that the elder Scroggins is mentoring his son to become another bluegrass master picker!”
– NO DEPRESSION “Six New Discoveries at IBMA 2014”
