When frontman Dave Simonett formed the group Trampled by Turtles as a side project, he had never played blue grass music before. Thieves had just stolen almost all his musical gear, leaving Dave with only his acoustic guitar, and he decided to make the most of it by exploring bluegrass music. Dave filled Trampled by Turtle’s lineup with other newcomers to the genre including fiddler Ryan Young, bassist Tim Saxhaug, mandolinist Erik Berry, and banjo player Dave Carroll. The group quickly began carving out a fast, frenetic sound that owed as much to rock & roll as to bluegrass. For a genre steeped in tradition, Trampled by Turtles showcases a contemporary sound, bridging the gap between rock and acoustic. They’ve since built an international following with their D.I.Y. aesthetic and innovative brand of roots music. In addition to major bluegrass and folk festivals, they have appeared at Coachella, ACL Fest, and Lollapalooza. They’ve also gone on tour with bands like Lord Huron, Wilco, Caamp, Mt Joy, and Deer Tick to name a few.