Fireside Collective & The Dirty Grass Players

A quintet who cheerfully disregard every kind of one-dimensional label that might be attached to their music, Fireside Collective has been on a roll since emerging seven years ago from the fertile roots music scene of Asheville, North Carolina. In quick order, the progressive bluegrass group released its debut album, won the 2016 Band Contest at MerleFest, earned an International Bluegrass Music Association Momentum Band of the Year nomination and embarked on an ambitious touring schedule that’s earned an enthusiastic reception from traditional bluegrass to wide-ranging, eclectic music festival audiences alike.

​Blending the characteristic interplay of bluegrass instrumentation and harmonies with strong original material and exuberant energy, Fireside Collective has drawn on folk, blues, funk and a wide variety of bluegrass sounds to create a distinctive body of work that’s all their own. 

Each member—Joe Cicero (guitar); Alex Genova (banjo); Jesse Iaquinto (mandolin); Tommy Maher (resonator guitar) and Carson White (upright bass)— brings a strong, original voice to his instrument, and the unique contributions of different lead and harmony vocalists complement the variety in the group’s many original songs. “Depending on where you come from and your experience with folk music, you may think we’re very traditional, or on the other hand, consider us a progressive act,” says Iaquinto. “We appreciate both ends of the spectrum and may lie on a different end on any given night.” But whether they’re bringing the classic sound of bluegrass or exploring new musical territory, Fireside Collective delivers a fresh, energetic approach and a blast of enthusiastic creativity that’s electrifying audiences across the country.

Baltimore-born and bluegrass-bred, The Dirty Grass Players have established themselves as a national touring band with one toe-tappin’ foot in traditional bluegrass while pushing boundaries towards progressive jam-grass. They have the flawless technique of the craft of fast pickin’, and combine that with fearless creativity that leaves the audience astounded.

Comprised of Connor Murray on Bass, Alex Berman on Banjo, Ben Kolakowski with the guitar, and Ryan Rogers on mandolin, this four piece is successfully bringing their growing fanbase a down & dirty performance. Their ability to seamlessly transition from down-home bluegrass to spirited improvisation makes each performance unique. Throw in some Allman Brothers, Pink Floyd, and Hot Rize, and you’ll quickly understand what they mean by ‘dirty grass’.

Their inaugural self-titled album was released around the same time they won the 2017 Charm City Bluegrass & Folk Festival Band Competition. For the next few years, they successfully toured the Mid-Atlantic with festival and headline appearances all over the East Coast and support slots for the likes of the Travelin’ McCoury’s, Cabinet, and their hometown hero Cris Jacobs. In 2019, amid a busy touring schedule, they released their 2nd studio album, “Beneath the Woodpile”. Put together with alluring melodies, the band presents a sound precisely at the crossroads of traditional and progressive bluegrass.

The pandemic crashed their world – as it did most musicians. But the Dirty Grass Players made the most of it, and got to writing and recording. Now, with a tour schedule of over 120 dates in 2022, they’re getting ready to release their 3rd studio album, produced by Cody Kilby (the Travelin’ McCoury’s). They’re making their way across the country with many festival dates along the way, so catch them where you can and let’s get dirty!