The Bluegrass Concert

Mando maestro Andrew Collins finds himself – through no actual fault of his own – at the epicentre of Canada’s burgeoning acoustic/roots music scene. He didn’t invent it – but he’s certainly been a contributor, having co-founded seriously noteworthy Canadian bands like the Creaking Tree String Quartet, the Foggy Hogtown Boys and, more recently, his namesake Trio. That’s not to mention the fact that this prolific, robust performer – comfortable on mandolin, fiddle, guitar, mandola and mandocello – composes, produces, arranges, writes and teaches across multiple genres, including a popular collision of folk, jazz, bluegrass, celtic, and classical.

The Foggy Hogtown Boys are one of Canada’s most beloved and storied bluegrass bands. Starting in 2001, they blazed a trail for what is now a thriving Canadian bluegrass scene. For 15 years, the band held residencies at some of Toronto’s top music venues, such as The Brunswick House, The Dakota Tavern, The Dominion Tavern, and most notably, High Lonesome Wednesdays at The Silver Dollar. Far from being a local band, FHB took the gospel of Canadian Bluegrass around the world having toured Germany, Ireland, Israel, and extensively in the U.S.A.

Featuring Andrew Collins (mandolin), Chris Coole (guitar), Chris Quinn (banjo), John Showman (Fiddle), and newest member James Mceleny (bass), the band is a who’s who of Canadian trad-roots music. Although the band hasn’t been active since 2016, they are so excited to reunite at The Evergreen Bluegrass Concert this coming March for what is sure to be a memorable evening!

Through twenty years and a couple of thousand shows together in bands such as The Foggy Hogtown Boys and The Lonesome Ace Stringband, John Showman and Chris Coole have developed a deep and instinctual musical bond. Their music lurks in a truly unique space somewhere on the outskirts of old-time, bluegrass, and folk. The songs of John Hartford, Hank Williams, Dock Boggs, and The Band share space with the fiddle tunes of Eck Robertson and Ed Haley. The duo’s original songs and tunes take in all these vistas and paint something both personal and timely.

They have performed across North America and Europe at festivals such as Merlefest, Rockygrass, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Mariposa, Wintergrass, Gooikroots, and The John Hartford Memorial Festival. Apart from the seven ablums they have released with The Lonesome Ace Stringband, they have released two duet albums – “Afield” a collection of old-time fiddle tunes, and “Much Further Out than Inevitable – A Tribute to Some Music of John Hartford”.

“John Showman has made his mark as “one of the very best and most influential fiddle players in Canada” (Steve Pritchard, CIUT 89.5 FM).

“Renowned for his clawhammer banjo picking, Coole now establishes himself as a gripping songwriter” (Roddy Campbell, Penguin Eggs Magazine).

Check out this YouTube video of them.

Stoney Lonesome is a bluegrass band based in and around Orangeville Ontario. Formed in 2021, they are made up of veteran bluegrass musicians as well as players new to the bluegrass stage. Their material is a mix of traditional, new acoustic, and original songs and instrumentals, all laying solidly in the the bluegrass genre. Vocal harmony is a key ingredient in the group and sets the groove and feel for a unique sound that soulful, honest, and fun.