Chris Luquette and the Grass Messengers

Sponsored by Strait Floors and KPTZ, Rainshadow Concerts presents a special bluegrass performance at the Palindrome from the Chris Luquette and the Grass Messengers, all the way from New York City, on Thursday, August 11 at 7:30 pm.

Ticket link:  grassmessengers.brownpapertickets.com

FB event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2442965375856354

Formed in 2020 to satisfy New York City’s urge for tight harmonies in Bluegrass music. The Grass Messengers combine for over 40 years collectively of professional bluegrass experience, and feature 3 of NYC’S finest musicians. Seattle native two-time Grammy nominee Chris Luquette (Dirty Kitchen), has teamed up with banjo player Ellery Marshall, and guitarist Christian Apuzzo.

Ellery hails from LA and has lived in NYC nearly 20 years. His banjo playing echoes the greats from Earl Scruggs to Tom Adams. Long Island native Christian Apuzzo is one of the finest tenor singers in bluegrass music. A fine flatpicker, he is an instructor at Jalopy school of music in Brooklyn, and plays with the great band The City Pickers.

Together, the Grass Messengers have joined forces to present fine harmonies with spectacular bluegrass pickin’. The group hosts the Thursday bluegrass session at Brooklyn’s Luckydog Tavern, and they regularly perform at venues in Manhattan’s East Village and the Upper West Side.

Joining the Grass Messengers in August 2022 is bassist Andrew Knapp, a familiar face to the NW music scene, Andrew plays with The Warren G Hardings, along with Nick Dumas and Chris Luquette.

Everett Moran of Rainshadow Recording writes:

Producers’ Note: Chris knocked it out of the park when he played at Rainshadow Recording with his last trio pre-Covid.

Award-winning musician Chris Luquette (of Frank Sollivan & Dirty Kitchen) returns to Rainshadow Recording with his new trio The Grass Messengers.

Chris is one of the hardest working musicians on the circuit. Originally from Seattle, Chris relocated to the Washington D.C. area, where he is a standout with Frank Solivan’s Dirty Kitchen.

Chris switches seamlessly from International Music to Jazz and from Rock to Bluegrass. He has even studied Brazilian Jazz with Seattle based Brazil music legend, Jovino Santos Neto. A look at Chris’ personal playlist speaks to the breadth of musical influences: AC/DC, Norman Blake, Neil Young, Crazy Horse, Tony Rice, Weezer, Allman Brothers Band, Sea Level, Kenny Baker, Mike Munford, Noam Pikelney, Punch Brothers, Sam Bush, John McLaughlin, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Tony Williams…

Chris’ musicianship reflects the multitude of musical influences he turns to for inspiration. His acoustic guitar playing really stands out, but this virtuosic, multi-instrumentalist is equally at home playing mandolin, drums, bass, electric guitar, banjo, and Greek bouzouki! In addition, Chris was a founding member of Seattle based, Northern Departure, and has found himself sitting in with Jerry Douglas, Emmylou Harris, Rob Ickes, The Steep Canyon Rangers, Kenny and Amanda Smith, The Boxcars, Yogi and The Yogini’s and many others.

Chris is the 2013 IBMA Momentum Award winner (Performer).