'Bluegrass In The Park' Concert To Bring Taste Of Country, BBQ To Madison Square Park

By Annie Reuter

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) —Who says New York ain't country?

The inaugural Bluegrass In the Park concert will hit New York's Madison Square Park this Saturday. Hosted by Mad. Sq. Music: Studio Series, from 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. music fans can treat their ears and stomachs to five bluegrass acts and food offered by Fatty Crew.

"Madison Square Park has a long history of presenting folk, blues, Americana and country," said Mike Rucker, director of communications for the park. "We have found that despite all the many amazing musical offerings city residents have to choose from, these types of traditional American music genres are surprisingly unrepresented."

Two-time Grammy Award winners Nashville Bluegrass Band are just one of the groups that will perform. Previously, the ensemble has played the White House and around the world in locations such as China, Iraq, Bangladesh and Bahrain. Disguised as the Soggy Bottom Boys, they also collaborated on the multi-platinum soundtrack for the film O Brother, Where Art Thou?

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With finger picked guitar rhythms, mandolin and fiddle accompaniment combined with their soaring harmonies, expect Nashville Bluegrass Band to bring a little bit of Nashville to New York City.

Additional acts throughout the day include Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike, brothers Skip and B.J. of Cherryholms Brothers, singer-songwriter Donna Hughes Band, and the women of Della Mae.

Each artist being showcased at Bluegrass In the Park have received numerous accolades over the years. While Hughes has been hailed "one of the best new singer-songwriters in the world of bluegrass," by bluegrass/country writer and producer Carl Jackson, Della Mae have been praised for their effortless blend of traditional mountain music and modern singer-songwriter sensibilities.

Della Mae kicks off the show at 12:30 p.m. on the Oval Lawn. Donna Hughes Band, Cherryholms Brothers, Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike and Nashville Bluegrass Band flush out the day's schedule.

Madison Square Park
madisonsquarepark.org
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Annie Reuter is a freelance writer and music blogger. She is the founder and head writer of YouSingIWrite.com.