Mike Davies Reviews Open Road, Broken Heart
A Pacific northwest bluegrass quartet lining up as singer and ukulele player Kristen Grainger, who handles most of the songwriting, Dan Wetzel and Dale Adkins,
Highway 61 (Italy) Reviews Open Road, Broken Heart
The beautiful songs, the delicate and subtle acoustic sound (with some echoes of bluegrass every now and then) and those wonderful harmony vocals (sometimes reminding
Massimo Ferro Adds True North Tunes to Highway 61 Radio Show
“The beautiful songs, the delicate and subtle acoustic sound (with some echoes of bluegrass every now and then) and those wonderful harmony vocals (sometimes reminding
Roots Time (Belgium) Reviews Open Road, Broken Heart
The Americana quartet True North from Oregon on the American West Coast combines traditional bluegrass music with folk and acoustic harmonious vocals. The album “Open
Country Jukebox (Germany) Reviews Open Road, Broken Heart
The current release  already the fourth album of the Bluegrass Acoustic Folk-Roots-Quartet TRUE NORTH from Oregon settles comfortably in our ear canals with its twelve
Kristen Grainger’s Song “Be Here Now” Wins Song of the Year
Kristen Grainger’s song “Be Here Now” won Song of the Year in the folk category for the 2015 International Music and Entertainment Awards. Winners were
Kristen Grainger Places 2nd in 2015 MerleFest Songwriting Competition
Kristen Grainger placed 2nd in the 2015 Chris Austin songwriting competition at Merlefest in Wilkesboro, NC in April. This brought her recognition by the “Big
SING OUT! Magazine (USA) Reviews Elsebound
Particularly in the “Internet Age” of the past twenty years or so, the discussion of what is and what is not “bluegrass” has pushed the
TWANGVILLE (USA) Reviews Elsebound
For the first few decades of bluegrass music, it tended to lean toward the high, lonesome sound invented by Bill Monroe, or an old-timey vibe
Roots Music Report (USA) Reviews Elsebound
It’s been nearly a decade since True North released their debut album, “Cobalt Miles of Sky.” Then, they followed a year later with “Pluck,” that
A Moment with True North’s Lead Singer
From Willamette University Website Story: From the soulful narrative “Be Here Now” to the toe-tapping melody of “Shiny Black Shoes ,”the latest album from True
Rambles.net (USA) Reviews Elsebound
From all the way across the country in the Pacific Northwest, True North, not merely a family band, is a families band, consisting of married
QUOTES:
"Fear of Falling Stars - a set of sometimes very personal bluegrass-based songs that highlight why the group are multiple-award winners.”
"Every aspect of this offering is crafted with intention and meticulous detail, executed with precision while remaining fresh and loose."
Kristen Grainger sings with vocals that are soulful and convey the sense of emotion that is packed into the lyrics. Her band provides sparse yet beautiful instrumentation, layering in subtle flourishes.
Glide Magazine
“Even in the darkest moments, whether in the music or the vocals, there’s a light somewhere on the horizon, bringing you back to listen again and again. Catch this falling star and put it in your pocket.”
Folk Radio UK
“On ‘Fear of Falling Stars,’ Kristen Grainger & True North return with a veritable feast of perfectly coupled harmonies, exquisite instrumental work, and mouthwatering lyrical treats that will leave you wanting to go back immediately for third and fourth helpings."
"Grainger’s voice is clear but gentle; her bandmates contribute harmonies that are tight but silky. The songs draw on bluegrass tradition but take its elements in entirely new directions without ever seeming aggressively experimental. Highly recommended."
"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."
"The music of True North is a contemporary blend of bluegrass sensibilities, singer/songwriter craft and a spirit that is willing to go where the song leads them. The harmonies of Kristen and co-band leader and husband Dan Wetzel are beautiful and reveal an intimate depth to them."
"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." the musical reputation of True North.”