The Hardrive Bluegrass Band

The Hardrive Bluegrass Band is Australia's most traditional bluegrass band, playing Australian original songs and tunes in a traditional bluegrass style. The band has again opened new territory by winning the Victorian and National Country Music Awards Bluegrass and Traditional Country Music Award for their fourth album – "Lightning". An extraordinary album reflecting the band’s ever increasing talent, both instrumentals and vocals shine on Lightning – the debut album for Oliver Dear who joined the band in 2005. The album features a capella gospel, hot instrumentals, and some remarkable original songs from the band and friendsFeaturing high-lonesome vocals and great instrumentals from a traditional line-up of banjo, fiddle/mandolin, guitar and double bass, their live performance and recent CD recording are true to the traditional form and reflects the nature of traditional bluegrass played live – as it was when Bill Monroe first began in the United States on radio programs broadcast from the Grand Old Opry and other live venues.Hardrive also enjoyed the success of their second CD "Henry Lawson's Blues" which won the Victorian Country Music Awards 'Album of the Year' Award in 2003. The album was selected as the winner from 530 nominations. It is the first time an Australian Country Music Award has been given to a traditional acoustic bluegrass band.The band currently plays at festivals and acoustic venues around Melbourne, including a residential at "Pickin' at the Piggery" in Footscray Community Arts Centre and at the Greyhound Hotel in St Kilda. The band opened for the Allison Brown Quartet at the 2004 Brunswick Music Festival and peformed at the 2005 National Folk Festival in Canberra, the 2005 Brunswick Music Festival, 2004 Queenscliff Music Festival, 2004 Port Fairy Folk Festival, and the 2004 Whittlesea Country Music Festival. The band also played as the backing band for American bluegrass lengend, Butch Robins in 2005.The band is currently enjoying a high demand from venues and festivals, and shows the experience and professionalism gained by playing regularly over a long period of time. The timing and hard-driving rhythm which is the basis of their sound is an artform which takes years of dedication and work to develop, to capably demonstrate an authentic bluegrass sound.