2025 Mountaingrass Headliners Tone Rangers and The Knackered Ramblers on Southern Style.
The Tone Rangers
Southern Style November 12th:
The Tone Rangers, Toronto’s preeminent Bluegrass band playing a live set on Southern Style. they will be followed in the second half of the show by another of Mountain Grass festival’s headliners, The Knackered Ramblers – Laura Boosinger & Mike Compton – who will also be playing live to air.
About The Tone Rangers:
The Tone Rangers are a prominent bluegrass band based in Toronto, Canada, known for their authentic sound that captures the heart and soul of bluegrass music. Combining the talents of seasoned musicians, the band presents a lively mix of traditional and contemporary bluegrass, resonating with audiences both at home and internationally.
The Tone Rangers, are a ragtag band of troubadours whose songs echo across the vast plains and dusty trails. From campfire ballads to saloon showdowns, this eclectic posse serenades the frontier with tales of adventure, heartache, and redemption.
The troupe includes: Ace, the mandolin maestro with fingers as fast and sharp as his wit; The Mighty Quinn is a banjo picker on a quest for fortune, weaving melodies that echo through the vast, open plains and rugged mountain trails; Slim Pickin’s can be found in the smoky haze of dark saloons and moonlit campfires you’ll find with his guitar; Big Mac, on bass, ensures that the rhythms of the band are steady and true, keeping harmony and order in the midst of the musical chaos.
The Tone Rangers have gained recognition not only for their musical talent but also for their lively performances at numerous festivals and events. They have participated in various acclaimed festivals in Canada and abroad, showcasing their ability to connect with audiences through heartfelt music and storytelling.
Their commitment to excellence has not gone unnoticed, as they have received numerous accolades and nominations within the Canadian bluegrass community. Each member has also made individual contributions to the genre, enhancing their collective reputation.
About The Knackered Ramblers:
The Knackered Ramblers
The Knackered Ramblers are Mike Compton and Laura Boosinger.
Befriended and mentored by Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass Music, Mike Compton is a Grammy and IBMA Award-winning mandolinist, composer, singer, arranger and teacher. His mastery of Monroe’s genre-bending style has been featured on recordings with a wide range of performers — from rock stars Sting, Gregg Allman and Elvis Costello – to more traditional bluegrass and old-time music artists such as John Hartford, Ralph Stanley, David Grisman, Norman Blake, Doc Watson and Peter Rowan.
Compton is a musician’s musician. He collaborated with legendary producer T-Bone Burnett on the Album of the Year soundtrack for “O Brother Where Art Thou?” and has performed as a pivotal member of many groups including the Nashville Blue Grass Band, the John Hartford Stringband, the Helen Highwater Stringband. 1942 and Compton & Newberry. Compton’s impressive discography of over 140 albums includes recordings by Dolly Parton, Patti Lovelace and Willie Nelson.
Laura Boosinger began her banjo career at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, NC, under the tutelage of renowned musician David Holt. She is a student and teacher of Appalachian Music and Studies having played with the Luke Smathers Band, David Holt and the Lightning Bolts and the Midnight Plowboys. She has collaborated with musicians across the spectrum – from George Shuttler, guitarist and bass player for the Stanley Brothers, to Josh Goforth, one of her early students who has made a well-deserved name for himself in the world of Bluegrass.
Laura has been instrumental in maintaining the tradition of shaped note singing from the Christian Harmony in workshops at Merlefest, Blue Ridge Old Time Music Week and the Earl Scruggs Center. Formerly the Executive Director of the Madison County Arts Council, Laura has been a mainstay at numerous festivals in Western North Carolina, including the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival and Shindig on the Green, both in Asheville, NC.
She is a consultant to the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina, working to sustain the rich music traditions of the region and the voice and creator of the Down The Road on the Blue Ridge Music Trails podcast. Laura is a member of the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame.
Both The Tone Rangers and The Knackered Ramblers will be appearing at the 2025 Mountaingrass Festival.
____________________________________
As always, Jan Dale’s radio show, Southern Style, can also be streamed to your computer via the PBS website.
Southern Style with Jan Dale – PBS FM 106.7
Wednesdays 11:00am to 1:00pm or online at PBS-FM Website.
All PBS shows are archived on the website for about 6 months so can be listened to at any time.
