The Bottom Shelf Bourbon Trio returns to Tractorgrease on Jan. 17.
The group plays core roots music anchored between the lowdown grit and growl of early blues, the high lonesome sounds of bluegrass, and folk. Their music explores themes of blue-collar angst, substance abuse, infidelity, unrequited love, and wanderlust.
Through a process of musical distillation the band became the duo Steven Huston (upright bass, guitar, vocals) and Chris Dawson-Murphy (banjo, guitar, vocals).
Huston’s dynamic song writing reflects on urban life through engaging lyrics woven into solidly crafted tunes. The band’s sound reflects a melding of the Maritime picking parties of Huston’s Nova Scotian upbringing and Dawson-Murphy’s country blues guitar and unorthodox banjo picking, evocative of the deep southern sounds he was immersed in while at art school in Louisiana.
Bottom Shelf Bourbon Trio is based in Vancouver. They’re influenced by roots luminaries like Blind Blake, Victoria Spivey, Doc Boggs and contemporaries like The Devil Makes Three, Pokey Lafarge, and Mandolin Orange.
They perform Thursday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. at Tractorgrease (48710 Chilliwack Lake Rd.). Tickets: $10 cover. Call 604-858-3814 or email tractorgrease@gmail.com for more info.
