It’s always cool to see bands pay tribute to their heroes, and last week the Infamous Stringdusters did just that.
One of the most prolific bluegrass bands in the industry, the Stringdusters are already back with new music, and this time they saluted bluegrass legends Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs with the release of their A Tribute to Flatt & Scruggs EP this past Friday.
A six track project in which the Stringdusters provide listeners the opportunity to hear their take on classic Flatt & Scruggs songs, these guys are no strangers to the concept of paying homage to the greats who paved the way for them. In fact, their 2021 record A Tribute to Bill Monroe received a well-deserved Grammy nomination.
“The concept of paying tribute to the Grandfathers or originators of Bluegrass is one we bounced around for a while and after Bill Monroe, the most logical, I think any bluegrass musician would agree, are Flatt & Scruggs.
They’re legendary… without Earl’s banjo, bluegrass just doesn’t exist as we know it today.”
Without further ado, check out the A Tribute to Flatt & Scruggs Tracklist here.
And if you want to know more about each song, head over to the Infamous Stringdusters’ YouTube channel where they have posted several accompanying “Behind the Song” videos.
“I’d Rather Be Alone”
“Will You Be Lonesome Too”
“Blue Ridge Cabin Home”
“Earl’s Breakdown”
“Cabin on the Hill”
“Down the Road”
Lester Flatt was born in Overton County, TN in 1914, and Earl Scruggs was born in Cleveland County, NC in 1924. The two bluegrass pickers met in the 1940s as members of Bill Monroe’s band, and following their stint with the Father of Bluegrass, the two teamed up to form the Foggy Mountain Boys in 1948.
Over the next two decades, surrounded by an all star cast of bluegrass artists, Flatt (guitar, mandolin) and Scruggs (banjo), and their backing band the Foggy Mountain Boys, went on to establish themselves as some of the greatest bluegrass minds to ever play the genre, and with their incredible playing styles, had a formative impact on the world of bluegrass.
The two savants parted ways in 1969, as Scruggs became interested in partnering with modern popular artists, and Flatt wanted to stick to traditional bluegrass, but both continued to play music following their separation. Whether it was together or in their own endeavors, though, Flatt and Scruggs demonstrated unprecedented aptitude in their craft and inspired bluegrass pickers for generations to come, including the Infamous Stringdusters.
For reference, here are recordings and videos of Flatt & Scruggs playing some of the songs the infamous Stringdusters chose to cover in their recent tribute project.
“Blue Ridge Cabin Home”
“Earl’s Breakdown”
And if you’ve never listened to the Stringdusters much, the prolific quintet has an extremely deep catalog of bluegrass tunes that is bound to feature something for everyone.
I suggest you start with their 2022 Grammy-nominated record Toward the Fray.
The Infamous Stringdusters On Tour:
4/20 – Crystal Bay, NV – Crystal Bay Casino Crown Room
4/21 – Crystal Bay, NV – Crystal Bay Casino Crown Room
4/22 – Felton, CA – Felton Music Hall
4/23 – Mill Valley, CA – Sweetwater Music Hall
5/5-6 – Baltimore, MD – Charm City Bluegrass Festival
5/19-20 – Clive, IA – Greenbelt Music Festival
5/25-28 – Cumberland, MD – DelFest
5/26-29 – Greenfield, MA – Strange Creek Campout
6/1-3 – Oak Hill, WV – Mountain Music Festival
6/15-18 – Telluride, CO – Telluride Bluegrass Festival
6/21-24 – Owensboro, KY – ROMP Fest
6/22-24 – Eau Claire, WI – Blue Ox Festival
6/22-24 – Caneadea, NY – Estival Festival
6/29-7/2 – Quincy, CA – High Sierra Music Festival
7/12-7/16 – Durham, NY – Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival
7/15 – Charleston, SC – The Refinery
7/21-23 – Redmond, OR – Fairwell Festival
8/4 – Bellvue, CO – The Mishawaka
8/5 – Dillon, CO – Dillon Amphitheater
8/6 – South Fork, CO – Rhythms on the Rio
8/11 – Alta, WY – Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival
8/12-13 – Livingston, MT – Pine Creek Lodge
9/1 – Mill Springs, NC – Earl Scruggs Music Festival
9/2 – Brunswick, ME – Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival
9/15-17 – East Aurora, NY – Borderland Music Festival
10/8 – Monterey, CA – Rebels & Renegades Music Festival
10/6-8 – Pelham, TN – Cave Fest
12/6-10 – Puerto Morelos, Q.R. – Strings & Sol
