“It’s the things we love most that destroy us,” the familiar voice of President Coriolanus Snow rang through the dark theater before the end credits of The Ballad Of Songbirds and Snakes rolled. I sat, paralyzed, in awe as thousands of names scrolled across a black screen. As a fan of each previous Hunger Games movie and book, this film was highly anticipated. I couldn’t wait to travel back in time to the 10th annual Hunger Games and witness the story of Coriolanus Snow and his ultimate descent into tyranny. But of course, there is no snake without its songbird, Lucy Gray Baird, who engulfed my thoughts immediately following the evening showing I attended. Portrayed electrically by Rachel Zegler, the District 12 singer’s voice echoed throughout my mind.
But there was something about the soundtrack of this movie, despite the obvious heightened theatrical components in comparison to the other Hunger Games movies and the raw strength of Zegler’s vocals, that captivated me. Specifically the songs, “Nothing You Can Take From Me”, a high-energy country song, and “Pure As The Driven Snow”, a slower folk-waltz tune. I then realized that the songs performed by Lucy Gray and her Covey, a group of nomadic performers, belong to the bluegrass, Appalachian folk genre; characterized by acoustic stringed instruments, its country roots, and jazz influences.
In an effort to not overplay the soundtrack so much to the point I’d get sick of it, I compiled a list of artists that make ballads fit for a District 12 ho-down–from the newest to oldest bluegrass.
- Sierra Ferrell
Born in West Virginia, USA, Sierra Ferrell has brought back the old-timey bluegrass sound and refined it. Leaving home with a group of nomadic musicians, not dissimilar to the Covey, she played everywhere from truck stops to train tracks. After years of busking the streets of New Orleans and Seattle, she signed a record deal in Nashville with Rounder Records. Her highly-anticipated 2021 album, Long Time Coming, gave us a dozen songs that demonstrate her instrumental mastery and spellbinding voice. Sierra Ferrell has the twang and flow of Loretta Lynn, but ultimately, her voice is uniquely her own. Her music is swoon-worthy with catchy mandolin and guitar riffs in “Jeremiah” and “In Dreams”, poetic lyrics like “But the bounty of a garden can all rot away without love and protection and a hard will to stay” from “The Garden” (featured on The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Soundtrack), and skillful fiddle playing in one of her newest singles, “Fox Hunt”. Ferrell’s sophomore album, Trail of Flowers, is set to release on March 22nd.
- Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys
It doesn’t get much more bluegrass than Bill Monroe, the founder of the genre. The “father of bluegrass” and his brothers began playing music in the early 1900s on their family farm in Kentucky. Their music was influenced highly by their family and friends, who set them on the path of fiddles, thumb-style guitar, and mandolin which shaped that high-lonesome sound we know today. In 1939, after the splitting of the brothers’ band, the Monroe Boys, Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys were formed. From appearing on the Grand Ol Opry stage to significant success in touring, the band took a traditional country sound to a brand new level and turned it into what we now know as bluegrass. Each of their songs has something to offer and will bring you knees-deep into the roots of the genre. “Blue Moon Of Kentucky” demonstrates lively fiddle-playing and reminiscent lyrics. “Kentucky Waltz” opens with prominent mandolin strumming, and a trance-inducing fiddle solo fit for a slow dance.
- Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Two-time IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, made her vocal debut on single “Can’t Live Without Love” and added a cheerful twist to the classic lonesome sound of Appalachian Folk. Bronwyn’s impeccable fiddle skills paired with a pure, clean voice, make her forthcoming album highly anticipated. Following “Can’t Live Without Love”s three-week run at the top of Bluegrass Today’s charts, the second single preceding her album, set to release this spring, “Will You Ever Be Mine ft. Dudley Connell” made its debut on January 19th. This vibrant track has it all; from impressively swift mandolin and guitar picking to Bronwyn’s flawless bowing. Until her release this spring, you can find Bronwyn Keith-Hynes touring with Molly Tuttle all over the USA.
- Bella White
Despite her Canadian upbringing, Bella White is no stranger to bluegrass. Introduced to the world of country and that high-lonesome sound by her Virginia-native father, her old soul seeps through each of her songs. The multi-instrumentalist wrote her debut album, Just Like Leaving, through her teenage years and released it in 2020. The work demonstrates lyrical genius, enchantingly controlled vocal breaks, and a love for the genre that can be attributed to her roots. Her 2023 album, Among Other Things, illustrates the same aspects with a higher degree of maturity and a heightened courage for experimentation. Her desire to step outside of the box of traditional bluegrass while still honoring its genesis shines throughout all ten tracks. Dynamic changes, from folk to country and rock, in each song enhance the listening experience. Bella’s ability to maintain her mastery during acoustic performance is proven in her latest single, an alternate version of track six, “Numbers”.
- Gillian Welch
Folk legend Gillian Welch appeared on the genre’s scene as a young songwriter with a maturity few had to offer. Becoming fascinated with bluegrass at a young age set her up for a tradition-honoring discography. Following her upbringing in Los Angeles, she attended Boston’s Berklee School of Music, where she and her duo partner, David Rawlings, honed their skills. The duo began sharing their music nationally, performing regularly throughout the country. After opening for Peter Rowan in Nashville, they signed a record deal which brought us their 1996 album Revival. The tracks ranged from raw duo performances to more cleanly produced songs. But whichever track you choose, Welch will draw you in with her bewitching vocals and harmonies. Welch went on to release 6 studio albums, each demonstrating why she bears such a prestigious name in Appalachian Folk; her undeniable talent, songwriting abilities, and captivating voice. My personal favorite is her 2011 work, The Harrow & The Harvest, due to its ethereal nature, and story-book-esque lyricism.
- Lindsay Lou
Coal miner’s daughter and Nashville native Lindsay Lou has intertwined bluegrass roots, Americana, and folk. On her newest album, Queen of Time, she leads us through ten tracks of heartbreak and self-discovery. On them, you can find classic bluegrass elements like folk guitar and energetic rhythm, weaved with modern aspects such as synth. Despite this work being her most vulnerable yet, the album is certainly not her first rodeo as she’s been putting out records since 2014. Across 4 albums, her love for bluegrass traditions, spirituality, philosophy, and inspiration sourced from the world around her shine through.
- The Stanley Brothers
I couldn’t compile this list without including bluegrass pioneers and American music legends, The Stanley Brothers. Parallel to Bill Monroe, their music can be classified as pure, raw bluegrass with every aspect that defines the genre, from its mountain sound to simplistic beauty. Born on a farm in Dickenson Country, Virginia, music defined the brothers’ lives from childhood. Notably influenced by the Monroe Brothers, J.E. Mainer’s Mountaineers, and the Grand Ol Opry radio station, their start to music was postponed until after World War II. After serving in the US Army, both brothers, Ralph and Carter, resumed music with the formation of their band The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys in 1946 as the first band to replicate the Monroe sound. Each of their 15 albums is a masterclass on the traditions of bluegrass, and what the genre has to offer.
- Tyler Childers
While not strictly bluegrass, due to his genre-crossing tendencies and a knack for experimentation, Tyler Childers is one of the most loved country artists today. From vulnerably narrative songwriting, resonant vocals, and a wide discography that presents a mix of country, bluegrass, and folk, Childers is an artist whose music is hard not to fall in love with. Born and raised in Lawrence County, Kentucky, Childers learned to sing in his church choir. He went on to learn guitar and songwriting at just 13 and released his first album, Bottles and Bibles at 19. His lyrics cover a variety of topics, from religion and identity to love and heartbreak, in a skillfully beautiful way. His 2023 release, Rustin’ In The Rain, stitches together that high-lonesome sound with rock, synth, and lo-fi beats, demonstrating his ability to venture outside the box.
