I saw 14 Grammy winner Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder at the Kent Stage on May 19, 2016. Incredible show. All acoustic bluegrass (natch). Ricky put his band to shame with fever pitch on mandolin, guitar and fiddle, outpicking and outlasting all of them even at twice their ages.
Kentucky Thunder includes six awesome musicians. I wish I knew all of their names, but I remember Jake Workman, the lead guitarist from Salt Lake City. He was phenomenal. The fiddle player from White House, TN was amazing. He was essentially the lead musician because he played the bridge between virtually every verse of every song. Sometimes, Ricky did with mandolin, but Ricky was obviously busy with lead vocals and storytelling. Speaking of vocals, the harmonies were spot-on perfect, as you would expect with Ricky's band.
Mostly Bill Monroe songs, some Flatt & Scruggs, a tip of the cap to Guy Clark (who passed away this week) with one of Guy's songs, but a good variety among the category of bluegrass.
Overall, a very good time.
Dan Reeder
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