A native of the rolling hills and coal mining communities of rural western Kentucky, Grayson Jenkins is a singer-songwriter who now calls Lexington, KY his home. John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Eagles, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, and many others have influenced his unique brand of Kentucky country music.
His lyrics are inspired by the words of Mark Twain, who always said, “Write what you know.” In keeping with this motto, Grayson’s songs pay homage to the things most important to him—family, friends, and a life without regrets.
His latest studio album, Cityscapes & Countrysides, was released in April 2017 and has garnered attention from radio and press in the region.
The project is a collection of songs written by Grayson during a time of transition and coming of age. It shows growth from his first release as a songwriter, musician, and band leader.
Grayson maintains a busy performance schedule, both as a solo performer and with his full band. In 2017, he performed over 150 shows in eight states as an independent artist. Moving forward, Grayson will continue to travel the country playing his songs and winning over new fans each night.
Conceived at a greasy spoon, Joe's Truck Stop is here to replace the pills in that there jar.
Please, put those away.
You can usually find them ripping apart Old Time Appalachian fiddle tunes, paying tribute to their country heroes, and dishing out original songs to the dancing feet in the crowd.
Their unique sound is characterized by traditional vocal harmonies, Bluegrass drive, wild fiddling, hot guitar picking, doghouse slapping, and the Honky Tonk and Swing sounds of old...
Check out new songs from our upcoming record and download our acoustic, Old Time album "Demo Derby" for free at http://joestruckstop.bandcamp.com/.
More about the band: Members of the band are award winning instrumentalists from Bluegrass and Old Time Contests around the country, and the band itself has placed twice in the largest Old Time band contest at the Galax Old Fiddlers' Convention. In our progression from being solely an Appalachian Old Time stringband to an acoustic and electric Country and Blues band, we have played numerous festivals and venues from the Whispering Beard Folk Festival, to the Kennedy Center, to the many stages we've frequented in Boston/New England becoming regulars in the scene. We've shared bills with: JP Harris & the Tough Choices, the Sweetback Sisters, Rachel Brooke, the Ten Foot Polecats, King (Sasquatch) Sickabilly & the Howlin' Moon Boys, Jake & the Burtones and many other acts. We've also appeared on television and radio, including several Boston stations and Rockabilly Worldwide's 24-hr. Rockin' Therapy Radio.
Joe Macheret, the bandleader, has also lent his instrumental skills to folks like Wayne Hancock, the Tillers, Lucky Tubb and the Modern Day Troubadours, the Goddamn Gallows, and many other well known musicians and bands.
Eric Bolander's flavor of Americana/folk music offers soulful vocal tone with thoughtful melodies that have staying power. Lyrically driven by life experiences, Eric's songs will give you a glimpse into his life and a realization that happiness can be perpetuated through pain.
Eric grew up in the small eastern KY town of Garrison in the Ohio River Valley along the foothills of Appalachia (pop. 1400). He learned through his Dad to work for what you want/need and never take someone for granted. Love and work ethic were driving forces of his humble upbringing. Eric now lives and works out of Lexington, KY. He's called Lexington home for most of his adult life. An Art Teacher by day and Musician by night, Eric's mind is always immersed in the arts. Passion for the arts is what keeps him moving forward.
Maria Carrelli is a Cincinnati-born musician based currently out of the small but vibrant musical community that is Ludlow, Kentucky. Crafting folk based grass roots music, she probes her listeners by baring her soul through song. Her music is heavily influenced by old bluegrass standards, country music through the ages with an essence of modern folk. She has played music throughout the country and alongside various other musicians, weaving her own musical path as she continues to strengthen her songwriting and skill. She's opened for acts such as Billy Strings, Darrell Scott, Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band and Del Mccoury.