Donna Davis: Boundary-bursting bluegrass bands bond

Janet Storm Feb 4, 2023

Capable of playing Bach to bluegrass, Hank, Pattie and The Current (HP&C) established themselves as a band whose signature sound colors outside the lines of musical norms.

Attempts at assigning labels sometimes settle on “soulgrass.” They’ve forged their own style with whimsically wowing originals like “Earl of Vienna,” a nod to Bluegrass banjo phenom, Earl Scruggs. But with their current North Carolina Winter Tour, they’ve gone a step — or one might say a continent — further.

Next Saturday hometown favorite fiddler Pattie Hopkins Kinlaw will be joined by more than banjo player Hank Smith, guitarist Billie Feather, and bassist Stevie Martinez, the consummate musicians that complete the HP&C ensemble. A unique musical collaboration promises to bring a distinctive show to The State Theatre, adding Icelandic band Brek and Merlefest band competition winners Into the Fog.

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