When talking hard driving bluegrass with a penchant for both traditional and progressive styles it’s hard to find a band more committed than Notre Dame de Grass. Constantly in pursuit of achieving what John Cohen coined that "high lonesome" sound, vocalist Matt Large and the rest of NDG take their cues from both the traditional canon and the progressive tomes of bluegrass music. For over 10 years, the members of NDG have been actively playing Bluegrass music all across this country.The members of the band, Matt Large, Guy Donis, Jeremy Penner, Andrew Horton and Bob Cussen all bring an extraordinary amount of talent and experience to the table. Matt has played in bluegrass bands across eastern Canada for over 10 years and is the primary lyricist and composer for NDG. Guy is steeped in the European bluegrass scene, where he is a banjo player of note due in no small part to his previous band Gold Rush who saw critical acclaim on the European bluegrass circuit. A previous member of the wildly successful Scruj McDuck, Jeremy has just finished a tenure with juno-nominated roots ensemble The Bills, in which time he was able to hone his eclectic and virtuosic understanding of many forms of acoustic music. Andrew is a first call symphonic bass player and is crossing over into the world of bluegrass with much aplomb. Bobby was the bandleader and heart and soul behind The White River Bluegrass Band, arguably the first Canadian band to “make it†on the American and European bluegrass circuit. Together we comprise a dedicated and serious tour de force.NDG specializes in traditional Bluegrass, but is particularly drawn to the sophisticated acoustic wizardry of artists like Bela Fleck, Tony Trischka, Darol Anger, and David Grisman. Mixing original compositions with the well established canon of country gospel, hard driving bluegrass, old-time country songs, and brother duet inspired ballads, an NDG performance offers its audience a wide range of Bluegrass genres and styles. Their music has received marked exposure in a local market through appearances at the Wentworth Folk Festival, The Khanawake Hank Williams Festival, The Albany Country Music Festival, The Hilltop Bluegrass Festival, The Ormstown Branches and Roots Festival, The Black Sheep Inn, Maberly Hall, and The Wild Roots Arts and Music Festival. In a wider market, NDG had the distinct honour of sharing the stage with Sam Bush, bluegrass boy Peter Rowan, and the David Grisman Quintet at Jamgrass 2002, and with bluegrass legends Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder and Bob Paisley and the Southern Grass at the Lake Champlain Bluegrass Festival 2004.
