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What would bluegrass be without a banjo?

That answer you wont find in this song:
Here is the first banjo-tribute song, ever!
Tauri Oksala, our banjoist masters some excellent, and maybe unique techniques too!

Vastausta kysymykseen mitä bluegrass- musiikki olisi ilman banjoa ei ainakaan tästä laulusta löydy!
Tässä on ensimmäinen banjo-tribuutti laulu ikinä!
Tauri Oksalalla on mahtavat, mahdollisesti jopa ainutlaatuiset tekniikat näpeissään!

Upcoming gigs and video:”The Auctioneer” LIVE from Sture21!

Here is a live performance of the 1956 song written by Leroy Van Dyke and Buddy Black; “The Auctioneer”!
30.9 we are playing in Huutoniemen kirkko in Vaasa, a bluegrass gospel gig! More information also HERE.
1.10 We are going to be live at Bar & Café Graceville in Iisalmi
5.10 live in Tampere, Paapan Kapakka!

Tässä on livekuvaa “The Auctioneer”- laulusta, jonka kirjoitti Laroy Van Dyke ja Buddy Black vuonna 1956!

30.9 bluegrass gospelia Huutoniemen kirkossa, Vaasassa. Lisätietoja myös seurakunnan sivuilla TÄSSÄ (linkki).
1.10 Keikkaa Bar & Café Graceville:ssä Iisalmessa
5.10 on Paapan Kapakka vuorossa, Tampereella!


Video & graphics by ertrudsgn.

Duet “Garden In The Sky” LIVE bluegrass gospel

Family traditions play an important part in bluegrass and country music. Brother duets and family bands are common in the genre.

Traditions and values are sustained, shared and developed when you work, play and sing together with your family. You teach, and you learn.

Besides heritage and silent knowledge being passed on, there is something special in the air when you make music with your relatives. The timing and phrasing comes naturally, not mentioning how the timbre of the voices fit.

I remember when in 2009 I got to record the bluegrass version I had written of the song “The Ghost Of Laura Wilkins” – a Finnish poprock/folk classic song by J.Karjalainen (“Laura Häkkisen Silmät” ,1998) – and I asked my daughter Veera to come and sing harmonies with us. We only had time to practise the harmonies one day before recording the song, but still the recording session went amazingly well, a couple of takes and it was there! A peculiar thing to add to the history of that song is that she was exactly the same age as I was when I did my first recording – 17 years old.

After that it was even more obvious for me that I in the future would encourage my children to join into my songs and my bands music when possible.

They might have grown in a very different musical culture than me, singing and playing many other genres – genres an old bluegrass man like me might not have even heard of before! – but their immense talent and their musical abilities surprises me each time we work together. While the world changes around us, in both good and bad, in music we can share.

On the gospel album “There’s No Greater Message”, from 2013, I was blessed to work with Veera, Hertta and Aarne on the song “Mama Always Had A Song To Sing”, but also I am glad to have my son Aarne singing with me on this old brother duet number.
One you can not find us singing anywhere else on YouTube!

The Blue Sky Boys – Earl and Bill Bolick – did this song in the 40´s. They didn’t just sing about the Sunny Sides Of Life – this song tells a the story from the perspective of a child.

A child that has to pass away, how the child consoles the parents and trusts in God’s love. Teaching that sometimes a parent has to let go in love and trust.

Like we with our children in music too, have to trust their wings carry their own flight.

Here is “Garden In The Sky” as a duet with my son Aarne on the lead and guitar, and me singing tenor and playing mandolin.


Video by ertrudsgn. The song “Garden In The Sky” was written by Eva Conn also known by the name Louisiana Lou.

LIVE in Alabama Jamboree 2004 – Shuckin’ The Corn!

Back in 2004 we had the honor to play at the Alabama Jamboree, as part of our first tour with The Groundbreakers in the US!

Now out on YouTube is the first video from the Alabama Jamboree gig to be published; the Flat & Scruggs instrumental “Shuckin’ The Corn”,  Tauri Oksala on the banjo!

Later this fall we’ll publish more, so stay tuned!


Video edited by ertrudsgn.

2004 meillä oli ainutlaatuinen mahdollisuus esiintyä Alabaman Jamboreessä, nyt vihdoinkin on YouTubessa ensimmäinen biisi julkaistu; instrumentaali “Shuckin The Corn” joka on Flatt & Scruggs klassikko!

Myöhemmin syksyllä tulossa lisää – pysykää kuulolla!

In Honor Of Dr.Ralph Stanley – O Death – a capella

For decades Ralph Stanley has been one of my heroes in bluegrass music.

He recorded “Oh Death” with The Clinch Mountain Boys back in the early seventies and later on did the song a capella style in the movie “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou”. With his lifelong achievement he has inspired many generations of musicians, keeping the roots and old style bluegrass alive.

We wanted to honor his memory with a version of “O Death”, in a capella and in a version that combines the Clinch Mountain Boys and the latter.

Stanley has influenced a whole world with his unique voice and songwriting, and through his interpretation of traditional songs the memories and history is kept alive.

We wish to keep Stanley’s legend and contribution to bluegrass thriving so we will later on this year record some of our favourite songs of Dr. Ralph Stanley with Jussi Syren And The Groundbreakers and other guests.

Because even though Stanley wrote and sang with the soul of the Appalachian winds, the feeling he admitted in his music is universal and has spread along globally to echo in peoples hearts worldwide.

Even here – in the north and cold dark Finland.

Thank you Dr.Ralph Stanley – bluegrass would not be the same without your banjo, voice, and songs!

– Jussi Syren

Album Shave And Haircut NOW on YouTube!

NOW you find out 2011 album “Shave And Haircut” on YouTube!
They might still have some CD’s to order over at Goofin’ Records too if you like it!

The instrumental “Southern Lady” (Track 5) is composed by our banjoist Tauri Oksala!
Here underneath you can listen to the whole playlist we created.

NYT löytyy 2011-vuoden albumi “Shave And Haircut” YouTubesta!
Goofin’ Recordsin sivulta voi mahdollisesti vielä löytyä joitakin kappaleita CD:nä vielä jos haluaa tilata!

Ja instrumentaali “Southern Lady” (viides biisi) on banjistimme Tauri Oksalan käsialaa!
Tässä alla on soittolista koko albumista.


Photography by Marko Hämäläinen, Artwork on CD by J.Sävy. The video made by ertrudsgn!