Album review: THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – Toward The Fray

THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – Toward The Fray

Americana Vibes/regime Music Group [Release date 25.03.22]

GRAMMY Award-winning bluegrass, folk and Americana outfit, the Infamous Stringdusters, have been making music since 2006 and ‘Toward the Fray’ is the band’s first original album since 2019’s ‘Rise Sun’.

The Infamous Stringdusters consist of Travis Brook (bass), Andy Falco (guitar), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle), Andy Hall (dobro) and Chris Padolfi (banjo). Like many other releases by fellow artists they recorded this album separately, yet the overall sound still sounds like one where the band have all been jamming and recording together in the same studio. The album also marks the first time the band have used drums, utilising Mark Levy on two tracks.

Opening with ‘Hard Line’ the Infamous Stringdusters soon show why they are so revered in bluegrass and wider musical circles. Not only is their playing fast & furious, yet intricate, but they have wonderful vocal harmonies – think of the likes of Poco or Eagles.

‘I’m Not Alone’ is one of the songs to feature drums, neatly added to the mix with their light touch, adding to the banjo and fiddle sound. Again the vocals are sublime and it is easy to see why this band have won awards. The same goes for ‘I Didn’t Know’ and the fiddle playing on ‘Means To An End’ is pretty damn fine.

Those after a more traditional country fix ‘Pearl Of Carolina’ fits the bill perfectly. The instrumental ‘Revolution’ is another taking a more traditional bluegrass route.

Ignore the bluegrass & country labels if these are genres of music you would normally swerve, as this is an enjoyable album regardless of musical labelling. The Infamous Stringdusters could just well be your new favourite band you’ve yet to discover. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 7 April 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024

ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply