photos by Georgia Bowder-Newton
The Bagboys are a historic part of the Boston area acoustic music scene, where they have performed weekly for over 25 years. Harvey Bag (bass) and Frank Drake (mandolin) are prolific composers and keep the band well stocked with brand new old-time songs and Americana future classics. Gretchen Bowder lends her talents on banjo and vocals in an array of classic and lesser-known numbers, from Appalachian melodies to favorites from the golden age of American songwriting.
"Local legends the Bagboys were creating Americana long before the genre had a website and an army of preened publicists." - Nashville songwriter Paul Burch
"The Bagboys have infectious energy, friendly voices, consistently pleasing picking, and a nice way with presenting popular but not overdone favorites.
But what is especially appealing about this ensemble is that they can write great original material, and by Elsie, they do! - Bluegrass Unllimited
"I love this band. They are somewhat reminiscent of the Austin Lounge Lizards, Riders in the Sky or the Red Clay Ramblers.
But don't let their over-the-top humor fool you; this is a band of serious, talented, and historically knowledgeable musicians.
While they are capable of some pretty convincing genre hopping - moving easily from solid driving bluegrass to bouncy Western swing
to contemporary folk - they're not content with merely aping these traditions but inhabit them as living, contemporary forms." - Freight Train Boogie
"Local legends the Bagboys were creating Americana long before the genre had a website and an army of preened publicists." - Nashville songwriter Paul Burch
"The Bagboys have infectious energy, friendly voices, consistently pleasing picking, and a nice way with presenting popular but not overdone favorites.
But what is especially appealing about this ensemble is that they can write great original material, and by Elsie, they do! - Bluegrass Unllimited
"I love this band. They are somewhat reminiscent of the Austin Lounge Lizards, Riders in the Sky or the Red Clay Ramblers.
But don't let their over-the-top humor fool you; this is a band of serious, talented, and historically knowledgeable musicians.
While they are capable of some pretty convincing genre hopping - moving easily from solid driving bluegrass to bouncy Western swing
to contemporary folk - they're not content with merely aping these traditions but inhabit them as living, contemporary forms." - Freight Train Boogie
Many superb players have worked with the Bagboys.
We don't have room to list everyone who has sat in with us over the years (although we'd like to!)
but some past members and frequent past collaborators have included:
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Guitar
Dobro
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Fiddle
Banjo
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