Separately, Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn have been to or through Louisville an inordinate number of times. When they played together in Washburn’s Sparrow Quartet (with Louisvillian Ben Sollee, as well), they have played Louisville on more than one occasion. But this is the first time that the husband and wife, musical duo has ever played in the beloved River City.
Fleck, perhaps the most renown and respected banjo player on the planet – whose musical interests and collaborations have had him playing folk, classical, traditional bluegrass, new-grass, rock n’ roll and everything in between (we still aren’t exactly sure what The Goat Rodeo Sessions can be classified under).
Washburn on the other hand, is an accomplished banjo player herself. She met and later married Fleck, after he produced her breathtaking debut solo album “Songs of a Traveling Daughter.” She has since put out several albums as a solo artist or as a member of her ensemble The Sparrow Quartet or the band Uncle Earl.
In October of 2014, Fleck and Washburn put out their first album as a duo, it is a self-titled, unapologetic tome that pays tribute to the bluegrass roots that have molded both of their highly respected careers. The album wavers between some classic bluegrass murder ballads and gospel tunes, as well as weaving in some new original material that fits on the shelf nicely with songs that are as old as the genre itself. The record was well received by audiences and critics alike, and it debuted at #1 on the bluegrass charts when it was released last year.
Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn will be performing tonight April 24th at KCD Theater, the show begins at 8:00 PM, and tickets are $47-$57.
