The last time we saw bassist Mark Schatz in Chattanooga it was as the anchor of Bela Fleck’s “My Bluegrass Heart” super group at the most recent 3 Sisters Festival. We were privileged to host him a few years back as a member of the Claire Lynch Band. Needless to say we jumped at the chance to bring him back in the company gifted multi-instrumentalist and singer Bryan McDowell.
With his summer 2021 release of GRIT & POLISH Mark Schatz once again proves he’s true a ‘renaissance man’ of the acoustic music world. A two-time winner of the IBMA Bass Player of the Year Award, Mark is best known for his contributions on some of the most iconic recordings in bluegrass by artists such as Tony Rice, Bela Fleck, John Hartford, Claire Lynch, Tim O’Brien, Sara Jarosz, and Nickel Creek. But Mark is also a master of the clawhammer banjo and is featured playing his own compositions on two solo projects on Rounder Records, BRAND NEW OLD TYME WAY and STEPPIN’ IN THE BOILER HOUSE. Mark is always ready to cut loose with some Southern Appalachian clogging and hambone, and his stagecraft was honed through a long association with the acclaimed Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble, for whom he still serves as Musical Director.
Bryan McDowell is a person predictable only in his consistent excellence. Fiddler, vocalist, and seducer of stringed instruments, his reputation is solidifying as a musician of great interest on the Nashvillle scene. With his move to the area in 2013, Bryan grounded his career in a 4 year tenure with Claire Lynch. He has logged considerable time on the road with bluegrass notables Sierra Hull, Alison Brown, Ron Block, & Molly Tuttle, and shared the stage and studio with an ever expanding list of legendary names from the realm of roots and acoustic music. The talents of the new master have made their way on to several recordings garnering IBMA awards, and one project receiving a Grammy nomination. Prior accolades worth mentioning are his triple win - a sweep of the fiddle, mandolin, and guitar categories - at the National Flatpicking Championship in '09, and his 21 other instrument contest titles from '09 & '10.
Expect a great evening of American music. And maybe a bit of clogging!