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Barbaro budge beyond the bounds of bluegrass

Barbaro performing in the Radio Heartland studio
Barbaro performing in the Radio Heartland studioLuke Taylor | MPR
  Play Now [23:14]

by Mike Pengra

September 24, 2019

Barbaro - Cold Stack (Live at Radio Heartland)
by MPR
Barbaro - Loathe (Live at Radio Heartland)
by MPR
Barbaro - Barbaro (Live at Radio Heartland)
by MPR

A lot of string bands can do very well by playing traditional "string band" or even strictly bluegrass songs, but there are those that like to stretch things out a bit. That's the way Barbaro hear themselves — and for good reason. Each of the members of the four-piece local band have different backgrounds, ranging from jam bands to classical. And when you listen to Barbaro perform, you can hear those influences blossom at different times.

Barbaro have a really fun new record in their hands that they're looking to release in January. They're also one of the many bands working this weekend at the Boats and Bluegrass Festival in Winona, Minn., this coming weekend. We caught up with Barbaro in the studio before the big gig.

Songs Performed


"Cold Stack"
"Loathe"
"Barbaro"

Personnel


Kyle Shelstad - guitar, vocals
Rachel Calvert - fiddle, vocals
Isaac Sammis - banjo
Jason Wells - bass

Hosted and produced by Mike Pengra
Engineered by John Miller
Visuals by Luke Taylor

Barbaro - official site

Boats and Bluegrass Festival, Winona, Minn.