New Generation of Bluegrass Thriving in Santa Cruz

Anyone who has walked down Pacific Avenue lately may have noticed the flurry of banjo and mandolin notes joining the Great Morgani and folk crooners that make up Santa Cruz's street music scene.

Bluegrass is not dead. But it's definitely changing. 

Local acoustic band North Pacific String Band is tuning up their banjos, mandolins, guitar and fiddle to play a triple bill show tonight at Moe's Alley.

Windy Hill, a Bay Area and Santa Cruz-born traditional bluegrass band and the Portland-based innovators of the genre, Left Coast Country will also be gracing Moe's Alley's cozy stage. 

In the thread of Devil Makes Three and Brother's Comatose, the triple bill is a shining example of the emerging Bluegrass and Americana scene rippling through Santa Cruz.

"One of the sound guys at Moe's once said that the emergence of young people coming full circle and embracing older styles and acoustic music is almost a new form of punk," said Steve Stubblefield, mandolin player and vocal harmonist for North Pacific String Band.

"I wouldn't consider us a punk band, but the interest in acoustic music in a world of mainstream music could be considered a little bit subversive. There is really a whole gamut of styles that are emerging, but I think that almost all of the groups pay homage in some way to the greats of traditional and bluegrass music such as Bill Monroe and others," Stubblefield said. 

NPSB will be playing songs of their recent debut album Steak and Eggs. 

They will also be playing new material, like "Big South Skies," a tune written about one of the band's favorite fixations: the beautiful and inspiring Big Sur coast.

Home from their latest tour of the West Coast, NPSB has been putting in their share of busking time on Pacific Avenue.

"There are many stigmas that come along with playing on the street in our society. However, many of these stigmas are challenged when someone who thinks this way actually listens for a second and realizes that the music being plays is of a professional quality," said Stubblefield.

Indeed, NPSB's harmonies are hair raising, and the dexterity of the five musicians with their wood and strings is impeccable.

But concert goers don't have to just stand around and gape tonight: the acoustic show is sure to be charged with the electric passion of these young talents. 

"Before there was anything but acoustic music, before electricity and sound recording, it was the only music people could dance to. We are expecting to pack the house and get people hopping. Acoustic and bluegrass music strikes a chord inside people that gives them that certain desire to start hoppin'," Stubblefield said. 

To read more about NPSB, check out this recent article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

The vitals: Doors at 8 p.m./ show starts at 9 p.m. $7 if you already got your ticket, or $10 at the door.

See you at Moe's tonight!