True North Duo Electronic Press Kit

True North Duo

Short bio

Singer-songwriter acoustic duo Kristen Grainger and Dan Wetzel’s performances resonate deeply with audiences listening for well-crafted songs, skillful instrumentation, and gorgeous vocals.

The alchemy of their interlocked voices with the warm, spare loveliness of Dan’s handmade guitar deliver the goods — that indescribable feeling that is part joy, part longing; a deliciously sweet ache haunting the darkest corridors of the heart.

Detailed bio

American Roots duo True North (Kristen Grainger and Dan Wetzel) create songs of haunting beauty that nestle in the ear on the way to the heart.

Kristen and Dan met by chance several years ago, when the bands they were playing in were both booked at the same venue on the same night. By day, Dan was working as a custom homebuilder, and Kristen worked in politics as a speechwriter. Without their shared interest in bluegrass music, it is unlikely their paths would ever have crossed.

They realized early on that their musical connection was profound, creating a unique alchemy much greater than the sum of their respective talents.

Both Kristen and Dan feel incredibly lucky to have found each other and to share this life-long musical adventure. They have produced eight albums and composed nearly 100 original songs, winning songwriting awards at MerleFest, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Wintergrass, and the USA Songwriting Contest, to name a few.

Based out of Oregon’s beautiful wine country on the west coast of the USA, True North tours nationally and internationally, promoting their new album, Time and Materials, which Grammy- nominated bluegrass artist Kate Mackenzie called, “Great writing, beautifully sung.”

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Industry Reviews

“The musicianship is excellent as is Grainger’s vocal work, but the album’s greatest strength may be the material.”

“As a writer, I suppose it’s natural for me to have a soft spot for well-written lyrics. I was gobsmacked, though, at some of the turns of phrase on the latest record from Oregonian Kristen Grainger.”

“Kristen Grainger’s singing is perfection. No gimmicks, nothing superfluous. Just amazing tone and killer songwriting. They [True North] are the perfect modern bluegrass band… Focusing around the terrific lead vocals of Kristen Grainger, the band shows what can happen when great songs meet great singers… This is a band making wonderful musical choices. They are going deeper than mere instrumental wind sprints and reworked standards. Highly recommended.”

“Sometimes the most gentle approach accentuates the power in a lyric. Kristen Grainger & True North prove that again and again.”

“These are powerful and emotional songs. This slice of Americana deserves to be spread a little further than America's Northwest.”

“I truly love the energy of good hot picking as well as celestial harmonies, yet perhaps more than anything I love a well-crafted song that transports me and tells me a story, and Ghost Tattoo is filled with such songs. For the past decade and a half Oregon-based True North has been producing recordings with well-crafted songs, tasteful instrumentation and beautiful vocals."

“The songs ring with resolute determination even though they ply each of their arrangements with carefully considered subtlety and finesse.”

"What are front and center are Grainger’s songwriting, which is graceful and intelligent, and her singing, which is beautiful but plainspoken, and becomes heart-stopping when combined in harmony with that of guitarist Dan Wetzel."

Has shared a stage with:

Sarah Jarosz, We Banjo 3, Crooked Still, Della Mae, John Cowan and Darrell Scott, The Duhks, The Punch Brothers, Ronnie Bowman, Kenny and Amanda Smith, Trampled by Turtles, Steel Drivers, The Seldom Scene, Chris Thile

Honors & Awards Highlights

(For complete list, see “About” page)

Winner, USA Songwriting Contest
Winner, Wintergrass song contest, Bellevue WA
Winner, Wildflower Art and Music Festival songwriting contest, Richardson, TX
2nd Place, Merlefest songwriting contest, Wilkesboro, NC
Finalist, Telluride Bluegrass Festival songwriting contest, Telluride, CO
Finalist, Kerrville New Folk songwriting contest, Kerrville, TX

Winner, Acoustic Roots Songwriting Contest
Common Ground on the Hill
Westminster, MD
Ghost of Abuelito (K. Grainger)

Featured Song: Hope Rises II Compilation album showcasing excellence in social change songwriting
Music To Life,founded by N. Paul Stookey (Peter, Paul & Mary)
Wilder, VT
Ghost of Abuelito(K. Grainger)

The Bluegrass Situation’s
Women Who Wrote Our 2020 Soundtrack: Kristen Grainger

“Throughout 2020, the BGS editorial team embraced this wealth of excellent music
from women songwriters in roots music. It has been a privilege to share these original voices with our readers, too.

Finalist, International Acoustic Music Awards (folk category) Tattooed Love Song (Kristen Grainger)