There many different reasons why people choose to live, work, and play in Marietta, but two of the big ones seem to be the desire for a small-town community feel and a love of history. It makes sense, then, that the growing "roots music" scene would find a comfortable and welcoming home in this city. The idea of roots music changes a bit depending on who is defining it, but it generally refers to the Americana influenced music of bluegrass and alternative country. So that usually means Yes to banjos and No to expensive cowboy hats that have never seen a speck of dirt. In addition to getting your roots music fix at the now infamous Tuesday night bluegrass jam sessions at Australian Bakery, here are two like-minded musical acts that hail from Marietta that will set your bare feet a-tapping.
This band sounds like a back porch party gone right. Their songs are a perfect combination of working class frankness and inspired hootenanny, guaranteed to provide outlet for your daily grind woes. Currently recording a new album, you can catch Rolling Nowhere playing inside and outside the Metro area.
Video: Rolling Nowhere sings "Keep on Walkin" - Live at The Strand
With 4 out of 5 band members growing up in and around the Marietta area, this alternative bluegrass band first found fame in the Telluride bluegrass competition in 2002, and has been receiving awards and recognition ever since. Packway Handle mixes originals with an extensive catalog of modern covers, traditional bluegrass tunes, and gospel. The band has quite a few local shows a year peppered in with their regional tours.
Video: The Packway Handle Band - BBC Travelling Folk - Part 6 - "Worried Man Blues"
Follow us on Twitter!
And kudos for using the word "hootenanny!"