5+5 Archives - The Bluegrass Situation

Roots Culture Redefined

5+5

BGS 5+5: Adam ChaffinsArtist: Adam Chaffins Hometown: Louisa, Kentucky Latest Album: Trailer Trash EP (released May 16, 2025) Personal Nicknames: “Chaffins” Genre is dead (long live genre!), but how would you describe the genres and styles your music inhabits? I’ve considered myself a multi-genre artist from the beginning. While I feel confident identifying…

BGS 5+5: Thompson the FoxArtist: Thompson the Fox Hometown: Tokyo, Japan Latest Album: The Fox In Tiger’s Clothing, vol.1: FOX Which artist has influenced you the most – and how? Takero Sekijima. I first encountered his music about 15 years ago, back when I was playing marimba and aiming to become a classical performer. At…

BGS 5+5: Blue CactusArtist: Blue Cactus Hometown: Chapel Hill, North Carolina Latest Album: Believer Personal Nicknames: Steph and Mar If you had to write a mission statement for your career, what would it be? "Slow and steady, always be on the rise." I used to think I wanted to “make it” and I…

GC 5+5: Southern AvenueArtist: Southern Avenue Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee Latest Album: Family Personal Nicknames (or rejected band names): We don't remember any rejected band names, but being from Memphis we definitely call everybody "mane." Answers have been provided by Tierinii Jackson, Southern Avenue lead vocalist and songwriter. What was the first moment that…

BGS 5+5: DownRiver Collective

GC 5+5: Rebecca Lynn Howard

BGS 5+5: Sterling Drake

BGS 5+5: Countercurrent

5+5Mar 18, 2025

BGS 5+5: Amistat

Artist: Amistat Hometown: Rosenheim, Bavaria, Germany Latest Album: What We Are EP (releasing March 21) Which artist has influenced you the most – and how? The godfather of indie-folk, Ben Howard! When we first started out as Amistat playing and writing music back in 2012, his album Every Kingdom had just come out. It was…

5+5Mar 11, 2025

BGS 5+5: Rose Betts

Artist: Rose Betts Hometown: London, United Kingdom Latest Album: There Is No Ship (released March 7) What has been the best advice you’ve received in your career so far? When I lived in London, my parents would often come to my shows. Right before I’d go on, my mother would say, "Tell me a story." It…

5+5Mar 4, 2025

BGS 5+5: Amy Irving

Artist: Amy Irving Hometown: San Francisco, California Latest Album: Always Will Be (out April 25, 2025) What has been the best advice you’ve received in your career so far? I’ve been an actor all my life. I began on this new path, making music with the band GOOLIS, a few years back. And I’ve been learning so…

5+5Feb 25, 2025

GC 5+5: HORSEBATH

Artist: HORSEBATH Hometown: Montréal, Québec and Halifax, Nova Scotia Latest Album: Another Farewell (released February 7) What's your favorite memory from being on stage? One of our biggest highlights was definitely opening for Sierra Ferrell at Toronto’s legendary Massey Hall. A few of us are from rural Ontario and grew up going to show’s there, and…

5+5Feb 18, 2025

BGS 5+5: Max Wareham

Artist: Max Wareham Hometown: Middletown, Connecticut Latest Album: DAGGOMIT! (releasing February 21) Personal Nicknames or Rejected Band Names: The Bluegrass Pagans, The Bluegrass Feds, The Bluegrass Paranormal Investigators, The Bluegrass Rats Which artist has influenced you the most – and how? I play in Peter Rowan’s Bluegrass Band – he’s been a pretty big influence on…