Sounds of the Mountains – The Kruger Brothers (Limited tickets available)
The Kruger Brothers
Born and raised in Europe, brothers Jen and Uwe Kruger started singing and playing instruments at a very young age. They were performing regularly by the time they were eleven and twelve years old, and began their professional career in 1979. Several years later, the brothers teamed up with bass player Joel Landsberg, a native of New York City who also had a very extensive musical upbringing in classical and jazz music (studying with jazz great Milt Hilton), thus forming a trio that has been playing professionally together since 1995. Together, they established the incomparable sound the The Kruger Brothers are known for today. Since their formal introduction to American audiences in 1997, their remarkable discipline, creativity and their ability to infuse classical music into folk music has resulted in a unique sound that has made The Kruger Brothers a fixture within the world of acoustic music. The honesty of their writing has since become a hallmark of the trio’s work.
Originally from Switzerland, brothers Uwe and Jens Kruger began playing North American folk music at an early age and were particularly inspired by recordings of Doc Watson, Flatt and Scruggs, Bill Monroe, and other progenitors of country, bluegrass and folk music. Their first public performances were as a duo, busking on the streets of cities throughout eastern and Western Europe. After gaining a recording contract as well as a radio show on SRG SSR, the Swiss public broadcaster, they teamed up with bass player Joel Landsberg, inaugurating a trio that has been playing professionally together since 1995. Landsberg is an American citizen from New York, NY. The first re- cording project to include Landsberg was Behind the Barn, Vol. 2, released in 1997. The Kruger Brothers moved to the United States in 2002, and are based in Wilkesboro, NC. The group is highly regarded within the world of acoustic music in North America, in particular by those within the industry. They have also gained the attention of some of the musicians, including Bill Monroe, Doc Watson, Tut Taylor, and Bobby Hicks, that once served as models. Watson has said, “The Kruger Brothers are just about as fine a band as I’ve ever played with. … I love to play music with them.” In 2013, Jens Kruger was named the fourth recipient of the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass Music. The prize, created and endowed by Martin, recognizes “outstanding accomplishments in the field of five-string banjo,” Jens was selected by a committee that included Martin, Pete Wernick, Béla Fleck, Alison Brown, J.D. Crowe, Tony Trischka and others. Jens Kruger has been inducted to the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame, and has been nominated for Banjo Instrumentalist of the year by the International Bluegrass Musician Association (IBMA) in 2014 and has received commissions for his ensemble compositions that include through the National Endowment for the Arts and Chamber Music America.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ARTIST
https://www.krugerbrothers.com/
About Yadkin Arts Council
Yadkin Arts Council’s mission is to transform and enrich the lives of every citizen, and visitor, of Yadkin County through a broad variety of arts programs, including live theater.
About Willingham Theater
Willingham Theater is located at 226 E. Main Street Yadkinville, NC 27055.
Seating is general admission for all shows, and while there is not a bad seat in the house, we recommend you arrive early for optimal seating options.
Willingham Theater is ADA accessible – please let us know if you have any special seating requests by calling 336-679-2941 prior to the day of the performance.
If you have any questions about the ticket purchasing process you can call our box office at 336-679-2941.
Box Office Hours:
(Mon-Fri) 10am-5pm & one hour before show time