About Rumpke Mountain Boys
For over ten years, Ohio’s #1 bluegrass band, the Rumpke Mountain Boys, have been amassing devoted fans with their signature blend of jamgrass, aptly named “Trashgrass.” Phenomenal songwriting framed by fiery-fast mandolin, banjo, acoustic guitar and upright bass, creates a sound that has been described as foot-stompin’ whiskey-spillin’ old-timey psychedelic folk music!
Hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, the Rumpke Mountain Boys have made a name for themselves with their high-energy improvisational shows that showcase some of the fastest picking in the game. Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon sums it up well, stating, “The Rumpke Mountain Boys – Hot licks, cool tunes. A party waiting to happen.” 2012 was a banner year for this talented quartet, highlighted by the release of their album “Trashgrass,” and an epic performance at the All Good Music Festival in a 10:30am time slot. Normally, this would be prime sleeping time for most festival go-ers, but the Rumpke boys brought the throngs out early. 2012 also marked the return of their own Festival, Snugglefest. They appeared at Appalachian Uprising, Dark Star Jubilee and Terrapin Hill Music Festival, just to name a few. Named Cincinnati’s best bluegrass band for seven years running, they have shared the stage with iconic artists such as Leftover Salmon, Tim O’Brien, Ralph Stanley, Keller Williams, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Del McCoury.
Despite all these accolades, the Rumpke Mountain Boys are known as one of the most fan-friendly groups in the music world today. This is due to their “campfire tours,” where they migrate from campsite to campsite, many times picking until dawn with a hoard of faithful followers in tow. Their drive, dedication, and desire to play good music together shines through in their performances. Many music fans who dismiss bluegrass as “country” or “old people” music have walked away from their set with a newfound respect for this style. The Rumpke Mountain Boys are not your Grandfather’s bluegrass band. With influences ranging from Jimmy Cliff, The Grateful Dead and Tom Waits to the more traditional Osborne Brothers and Stanley Brothers, the Rumpke Mountain Boys take old time music to a new level with an original approach, leaving no genre of music untouched.
Each member is a talented songwriter – Ben Gourley on mandolin, Adam Copeland on acoustic guitar, and Jason “Wolfie” Wolf on banjo are joined by Memphis-bred upright bass player J.D. Westmoreland to form a team that has taken the region by storm. The boys can be found honing their chops at a weekly Tuesday residency at Stanley’s Pub in Cincinnati. Their marathon live shows are now legendary, making them one of the most sought after festival acts in the east. 2013 is destined to be a pivotal year for the Rumpke Mountain Boys, kicking off the year with a New Year’s show in Cleveland, OH and a trip to the legendary Royal Studios in Memphis to begin working on the next album.
