FROM THE GRAND OLE OPRY TO ASHEVILLE: THE SLOCAN RAMBLERS LIGHT UP WORTHAM JAN. 16
ASHEVILLE, NC — Wortham Center for the Performing Arts is thrilled to present The Slocan Ramblers, one of North America’s most dynamic bluegrass bands, for their first major Asheville performance on Friday, January 16 at 8:00 p.m. in the Diana Wortham Theatre.
Rooted in tradition yet fearlessly creative, The Slocan Ramblers have carved out a bold, genre-expanding sound that has earned them international acclaim. Their latest album, Up the Hill and Through the Fog, transforms hardship into hope with a powerful, joyful soundtrack—blending heartfelt songwriting, bluegrass grit, and instrumental brilliance. Known for their blistering live shows and magnetic stage presence, the Ramblers have become a leading light in today’s acoustic music scene, performing at major festivals including MerleFest and RockyGrass and making their Grand Ole Opry debut in 2023.
“The Slocan Ramblers deliver the soul of traditional bluegrass while pushing the genre into exciting, unexpected territory,” says Wortham Managing Director Rae Geoffrey. “Audiences love that combination of authenticity and innovation—it’s what makes their shows unforgettable.”
The band’s accolades speak to their artistry: 2020 International Bluegrass Music Association Momentum Band of the Year, 2019 Juno Award nominee for Queen City Jubilee, and 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards Ensemble of the Year. Their music has been praised as “contemporary bluegrass at its very best” (Songlines Magazine), and Bluegrass Unlimited calls them “a band who reinvents a genre.”
The current lineup features Bryan McDowell on fiddle and clawhammer banjo, Adrian Gross on mandolin, Darryl Poulsen on guitar and vocals, and Charles James on bass and vocals—a powerhouse ensemble delivering tight harmonies, dazzling musicianship, and the kind of energy that turns first-time listeners into lifelong fans.