MySpace a place for friends

Fashioned from the heart of tradition and infused with adrenaline, the Urban Monroes’ contemporary bluegrass style is an outgrowth of the combined skill of some of the Pacific Northwest’s finest talent. Fast-paced and highly energetic, this Oregon band performs both original and traditional bluegrass with a style and delivery that is uniquely its own.

Drawing on influences that span the bluegrass spectrum from Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley, to Sam Bush and Bela Fleck (with liberal doses of everything in between), the Urban Monroes’ sound is both new and familiar and executed with non-stop energy.

“We didn’t specifically think about being different from other traditional bands in the northwest. We just set out to be ourselves and luckily for us people really seem to like it. The folks that are into tradition embrace us as well as people who are not and I think it’s because that along with our original material we incorporate contemporary arrangements of traditional songs. Folks feel like they’re getting something new while never straying from the roots of the music. It wasn’t planned that way, it just happened because the music that we play is the music that we love.”

Playing on some of the largest stages of the western United States from Wintergrass to String Summit, the Urban Monroes have demonstrated a fully charged stage presence that combines raw energy and intricate delivery. Moving subtly between arrangement and improvisation, the band has achieved one of its original goals to remain a tightly woven unit while retaining the freedom and ability to go with the moment.

“One of the very exciting things that happens on stage is the spontaneity that occurs as a result of an explosive amount of audience fed energy,” explained guitarist Fran Kent. “There’ll be these indefinable moments, in songs like Little Maggie for instance, when there’s an ebb and flow of emotion in the playing and singing that happens without prior contact between the players. Yet it’s totally unified, as if we are of one mind moving along a previously undefined musical path. You can see the audience responding when this happens. The energy is in the air at that point. They know that something very special is happening and they are pinned in their places waiting to see how it will all resolve. When it does and they react, it’s so much fun. That’s when I realized how grateful an audience is when you’re willing to jump off the cliff for them and leave your comfort zone to make their experience even better. It’s like the audience is a part of the band when that happens.”

“I couldn’t tear myself away from your set. You are magic together,” explained Rivercity bluegrass festival owner Chris Palmer after a performance by the Urban Monroes. “I don’t take these things lightly and you can quote me on this.”

Three performances by the Urban Monroes at Wintergrass prompted, “We loved you, the audience loved you,” from festival owner Patrice O’Neil. In a Jambase review of String Summit, journalist Sarah Hagerman noted, “Urban Monroes had that high lonesome sound down to a science with a silken-throated lead singer.”

“The band demonstrated an acoustic mixture of power and finesse while playing. All four shared instrumental lead duties and appeared to be having a great time,” said a Statesman Journal writer after their performance at Salem Art Fair.

When an audience attends an Urban Monroes show, they’re in for an evening of disarmingly engaging vocals and digital dexterity. With modern dynamism and well-grounded sensibilities, the Urban Monroes are a new tradition in contemporary bluegrass music.

Music Description in a Nutshell: “A fast paced highly energetic bluegrass band performing traditional and original material.”

Take Quiz

Urban Monroes's Top Friend Space
Urban Monroes has 7005 friends.

Tony Rice	Fran Kent	Drew	Béla Fleck
Lisa	Pete Wernick	Nancy Says blugrassrulz	Sam Bush
New Celtic Sounds!	Pamela	Shona	ROBERT THORNTON KENT
Anne-Sophie Roullin & Range Heroes	Zephyr	Gracie	Puddletown Ramblers
♥Brianna♥™	Keenmac	Vickie	Electric Mochi
Donna the Buffalo	Jerry Douglas	Matt	Catgut
Yakima Folklife	Rob Ickes	Mike	BLUERIDGE EXPRESS
Emerald Valley Opry	Wood Wire And Words	Cherryholmes	Viola
Vickey	Josh Graves	Beppe Gambetta	ThorNton Creek

View All of Urban Monroes's Friends