Critically-acclaimed six-piece bluegrass band The Grascals have been the reigning International Bluegrass Music Association Entertainers of the Year for the past two years. In 2005 The Grascals made quite a splash when they released their debut self-titled album earning them critical praise and a slew of industry awards. The International Bluegrass Music Association named them Emerging Artist of the Year and also voted the number "Me and John and Paul" Song of the Year.

July 15th (2008) saw the release of their third studio album Keep On Walkin’ on Rounder Records. Self-produced, there are 12 tracks merging country music with bluegrass, making this the band’s first release in two years.

After five years together the band members are made up of Terry Eldredge - lead vocals, rhythm guitar; Jamie Johnson - lead and harmony vocals; Danny Roberts – mandolin, bass vocals; Terry Smith - upright bass, lead and harmony vocals and Aaron McDaris - banjo, guitar, harmony vocals. Guest musicians include Jimmy Mattingly – fiddle, Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins – piano, Andy Hall – Dobro, Kent Wells – rhythm guitar, Steve Turner – drums.

The album kicks off in 5th gear with Aubrey Holt’s “Feeling Blue”, followed with a second Holt composition “Sad Wind Sighs” with Vince Gill as guest vocalist. It’s tremendous to see this young band including some wonderful country classics preformed bluegrass style. Highlights on the album include Terry Eldredge taking lead on a sensational version of Billy Yates/Mike Curtis “Choices” that George Jones recorded in 1999 and won him the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Country Song. The Grascals have also dug deep to pull out thrilling versions of Waylon Jennings’ “The Only Daddy That Will Walk The Line” (Jimmy Bryant) and Merle Haggard/Bonnie Owens’ “Today I Started Loving You Again” together with some sensational harmonies on this track. Another country number that deserves a mention is Chris Dodson/Sonny Throckmorton’s “Can’t You Hear That Whistle Blow” featuring lead vocals from Terry Smith who also contributes some red-hot solos on the slap-bass.

Jamie Johnson displays his own songwriting skills on two songs…the moving title track about life’s journeys co-written with veteran songwriter Charley Stefl and “Indiana,” which he co-wrote with one of the band’s favourite writers, Harley Allen. The Grascals also offer us the highly moving and spellbinding “Remembering” from the pen of Harley Allen, as the lyrics pursue the theme of a country boy sent into the drama of World War II. It tells how it changed this young man with its nightmares of war and a heart that turned to stone.

Keep On Walking is one of the best new album releases for a long time and the best bluegrass album released in many years. With a first generation bluegrass feel and the final gospel styled “Farther Along” it fills the bill completely.

Graham Lees Aug 2008