Colorado bluegrass, newgrass, string band, progressive acoustic group – categorizing the quartet Head for the Hills
proves difficult, even for its members. “We clearly struggle with that a lot,” says fiddler Joe Lessard. “We’re not country boys and we’re not bluegrass musicians to the core. We’re using bluegrass as a jumping off point.”

Lessard, Adam Kinghorn, Matt Loewen and Mike Chappell met at Colorado State University in 2003 and found that bluegrass was a meeting point for their respective instruments of fiddle, banjo, bass and mandolin. They played for fun in the dorms and at backyard barbecues, developing their own version of bluegrass. The twentysomethings combine upbeat and fast picking, vocal harmonies, modern melodies, original compositions and traditional tunes.

The band began receiving attention and accolades after its first two albums, earning spots performing with prominent artists and at festivals across the country.

“There’s definitely an element of spontaneity to the live shows,” says Lessard. “But we’re less likely to really jam something out for 20 minutes. We’re really relying on the energy of the crowd to feel out what’s going to happen.”

Appearing at: DelFest,High Sierra, Crested Butte Music Festival, Strings in the Mountains and more.