Sam Bush
The father of newgrass — five decades of mandolin revolution and still the most joyful player on any stage.
Sam Bush, born in 1952 and raised in Kentucky, is a mandolinist and fiddler who helped push bluegrass instrumentation into new territory. In the early 1970s he co-founded New Grass Revival, the band whose name effectively supplied the term for the newgrass movement — bluegrass instruments played with the harmonic and rhythmic freedom of rock, jazz and reggae.
Since that group ended he has led his own band and worked extensively as a sideman and session player. His playing is marked by aggressive rhythm chopping and a strong blues feel, and he remains one of the most recognisable mandolin stylists in American acoustic music.
Festivals Sam Bush is playing
Sam Bush at a glance
What festivals is Sam Bush playing in 2026?
Sam Bush is booked at 1 festival: Strings & Sol 2026.
Is Sam Bush playing Strings & Sol 2026?
Yes — Sam Bush is on the Strings & Sol 2026 lineup, December 9–13, 2026 at Sapphire Resort & Spa, Puerto Morelos, Mexico.
Where is Sam Bush from?
Sam Bush is from Bowling Green, KY.
What kind of music does Sam Bush play?
Sam Bush is tagged bluegrass and newgrass.
What festivals has Sam Bush played before?
Sam Bush has played MerleFest 2026.
Also on these bills
The Infamous StringdustersSierra HullRailroad EarthLeftover Salmon
More bluegrass acts
Sierra HullLeftover SalmonMolly TuttleThe Infamous StringdustersAlison Krauss & Union StationBandits On The RunFireside CollectiveJim LauderdaleMountain Grass UnitRailroad EarthSeth Mulder & Midnight RunWyatt Ellis
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