Sam Bush
The father of newgrass: five decades of mandolin revolution and still the most joyful player on any stage.
Where to see Sam Bush
About Sam Bush
Sam Bush is a bluegrass artist from Bowling Green, KY.
Sam Bush, 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.
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Questions about Sam Bush
What festivals is Sam Bush playing in 2026 and 2027?
Sam Bush is booked at 2 festivals we cover: Strings & Sol 2026, MerleFest 2027.
Is Sam Bush on tour?
Yes. Sam Bush has 2 shows listed, from Scottsdale, AZ on Feb 26, 2027 to Skokie, IL on Mar 6, 2027, plus 2 festivals on the page above.
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.
Is Sam Bush playing MerleFest 2027?
Yes, Sam Bush is on the MerleFest 2027 lineup, April 29 – May 2, 2027 at Wilkes Community College, Wilkesboro, NC. They play Saturday, May 1.
Where is Sam Bush from?
Sam Bush is from Bowling Green, KY.
What was Sam Bush's first album?
Sam Bush's first album was Norman Blake/Tut Taylor/Sam Bush/Butch Robins/Vassar Clements/David Holland/Jethro Burns (1975). The latest is Radio John: Songs of John Hartford (2022).
What kind of music does Sam Bush play?
Sam Bush plays bluegrass and newgrass.