The Bluegrass Regulators

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Bluegrass Regulators

The Bluegrass RegulatorsIn February 2009, several young musicians got together and started playing. Something clicked.Fueled by a mutual passion for good music, they formed what was to become The Bluegrass Regulators. At the time, none of them could foresee the musical adventure that was about to unfold; the band had no name, no gigs, and no plans. The music was all that mattered. Perhaps the aspect that makes this young band so compelling, is their ability to stay true to their musical roots while respectfully pushing the envelope. Their refusal to conform to the conventional boundaries within the bluegrass genre produces a pure and unique blend of music that is entirely their own, yet firmly tied to tradition. The band draws from a variety of influences in a wide array of genres; hitch a car ride with one of the Regulators and you'll likely be kickin' it with Vince Gill, J.D. Crowe, Pearl Django, the Lonesome River Band, Blue Highway, and John Mayer all in the same trip. In 2010, the Regulators released their self-titled debut CD, a 12-track project featuring mostly original pieces. The CD was met with local and national acclaim and is available by mail-order. Recently, the band has been invited to perform at the 2011 official IBMA showcase in Nashville, Tennessee.

Martin

Martin StevensMartin Stevens, 23, has been a part of the Northwest Bluegrass and Contest Fiddle community since age six. Growing up contest fiddling, he won the Washington State Fiddle Contest multiple times in different categories.However over the past several years he has focused his attention on bluegrass music, as opposed to contest fiddling. The northwest bluegrass crowd might recognize him from Athena and the River City Boys, a teen bluegrass band that was together from 2001-2006. One of the highlights of Martin's musical childhood was getting on stage at Wintergrass' Midnight Mandolin Madness in 2002 with his mandolin heroes Chris Thile, Mike Marshall, David Grisman, Tim O'Brien, Ronnie Mccoury and John Reischman. When not performing with the Bluegrass Regulators, Martin can often be found helping out at bluegrass festivals throughout the Northwest, teaching at youth bluegrass academies or workshops. Teaching music is one of his greatest passions and also his career goal, as he is currently studying elementary education at Washington State University.

Josh

Josh AdkinsBassist Josh Adkins (20) was introduced to acoustic music at an early age by his father, bluegrass guitarist Dale Adkins of current northwest groups Broken Top and True North. Josh picked up the mandolin at age ten and then the guitar at thirteen, playing along with his father and grandfather. In his late teens he began playing the upright bass, lending his understated groove and distinctive tenor singing to the Bluegrass Regulator sound. Early on, Josh was exposed to almost exclusively bluegrass music. Among his primary influences were Tony Rice, David Grisman, Bela Fleck, Alison Krauss, Blue Highway, of course Dale Adkins. In a concerted effort to broaden his musical horizons, Josh was influenced by several artists whose impact is evident in his musicianship today, including Eric Clapton, Queen, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Tommy Emmanuel, and the Rosenberg Trio.Josh is currently studying electrical and computer engineering at Oregon State University, and hopes to find time to balance his musical aspirations with his academic career.

Luke

Luke DewhirstLuke Dewhirst(17) is the banjo player and youngest member of the Bluegrass Regulators. Throughout his childhood, Luke was exposed to a variety of music but quickly found an affinity for bluegrass. His early access to acoustic instruments and good music clearly made a lasting impression.One fateful night when Luke was 7 years old, he and the banjo found each other after a performance by the Dry Branch Fire Squad and by age 11, he was sponsored by OME Banjos and proudly plays his OME Gold Phoenix to this day. In 2004, Luke and his sister Kaiti attended the first Wintergrass Youth Academy run by Chick Rose. During the festival, Luke, along with his siblings and cousin Steven, made their debut performance as the family band Dewgrass. He continued to attend the Wintergrass Youth Academy until 2011. Over the next few years, Luke continued to play with Dewgrass where he grew as a musician and showman. Along the way, mom, Erin, and dad, Gary joined the band to fill out the sound. This configuration played all over the NW at many festivals and venues. In January of 2008, Luke and the rest of his family joined Chick Rose's instructors at the very first River City youth academy. During this weekend, Luke found that he really enjoyed teaching bluegrass to kids, and was privileged to watch the very first Molly Adkins and Martin Stevens duet performance. Later in the year, Luke was recorded on brother Jake's solo CD (Shades of Grey) at Big Owl studios where he met Dale and Josh Adkins.At the 2009 Wintergrass Bluegrass Festival, Luke participated in a secret experiment with Jake Dewhirst, Martin Stevens, and Josh Adkins. The experiment proved successful, for on that infamous night, the Bluegrass Regulators were born. The Regulators only played two shows that year, Bluegrass From the Forest and Northwest Folk Life, but Luke was far from idle. In August of 2009, Dewgrass traveled to Colorado to compete in the contests at the Rockygrass Bluegrass festival. Dewgrass received a great response with the crowd and Luke won first prize in the banjo contest.

Molly

Molly AdkinsMolly Adkins (18) is the newest member of the Bluegrass Regulators. Being the daughter of guitarist Dale Adkins, Molly has been a familiar face in the Northwest bluegrass scene most of her life. Her debut album entitled Down in the Valley was released in 2004 as a benefit project to raise money for her friend and mentor Carol Harley (of the band Misty River) for her Leukemia treatment fund. Molly began performing with Martin Stevens in 2007 and started appearing all around the Northwest. In 2008, the duo released a CD produced by the renowned bluegrass artist Kate MacKenzie. Joining the band in 2010, Molly adds a feminine touch to the Bluegrass Regulators sound while meshing seamlessly to the signature Regulator groove. In recent years Molly has been featured on a segment on PBS and is the 2011 Grey Fox Bluegrass festival Bill Vernon Memorial Scholarship recipient.

Jake

Jake DewhirstJake Dewhirst is well known in the northwest for his powerful rhythm and smooth, tasteful lead playing. He also does most of the bands songwriting, drawing from influences such as Buddy Miller, Tim Stafford, and John Mayer. Jake has literally been playing guitar since he could walk, encouraged by his father, Gary Dewhirst. When Jake was old enough, Gary bought him his own guitar a tiny blue Ibanez with a black nylon case. Jakes life took on new meaning. In 2000, Jake started attending the annual Wintergrass Music Festival then held in Tacoma, Washington with his dad and his brother Luke. Over the next few years, he was fortunate enough to spend one-on-one instructional time with guitar masters Kenny Smith, Chris Eldridge, Tim Stafford, and Andy Falco through the Wintergrass music academy, quickly growing into a force to be reckoned with in the northwest music scene. Soon Jake, Luke, and sister Kaiti started playing as the family band Dewgrass. Eventually, they would record a CD with Gary and mom Erin. In the summer of 2008, 16-year-old Jake started work on his debut CD under the mentorship of guitar master and recording engineer Dale Adkins. Shades of Grey, released in February 2009, quickly gained local and national acclaim. In July 2009, Jake won the Colorado State Flatpicking Championship in Lyons, CO, becoming the youngest winner in the contests 35+ year history. Jake is currently a sophomore at the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. Although the distance from home and his music buddies makes things difficult sometimes, he is honored to represent West Point and the Army as he prepares to serve as an officer when he graduates in 2014. Thankfully, Jakes roommate doesnt mind listening to guitar music!

Bluegrass Regulators
Martin
Josh
Luke
Molly
Jake

Tunes

Cover Flow

Discography

Without A Doubt No Frame

Bluegrass Regulators No Frame

Shades of Grey No Frame

M and M Tunes

Man Overboard.mp3
Where the Soul Never Dies.mp3
Sleeping to Dream.mp3

Track List

Local Flowers

All Prayed Up

Tennessee Rose

Say Goodnight

What You Don't Know

Man Overboard

Where the Soul Never Dies

Love Has No Pride

Sleeping to Dream

Cold Black Heart

Trapeze

Hallelujah

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Regulator Tunes

Look Again.mp3
Girl.mp3
Red House.mp3

Track List

Kill Me With Your Smile

Uphill Climb

Piggy Goes Splat

Be Thou My Vision

Red House

Jar Of Clay

Black As A Crow

Haymaker

Look Again

Rambler

Girl

Well Done

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Jake Tunes

Heads Up.mp3
Armor.mp3
Priceless.mp3

Track List

Dawson County

Kentucky Rail

Willow Garden

Nashville Blues

Fly By

Armor

Beaumont Rag

Priceless

Heads Up

Driftwood

Southbound Train

Amazing Grace

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