Commissions
The Ruta Beggars
Appealing to traditional and progressive acoustic music fans alike, The Ruta Beggars combine bluegrass and early swing to create a timeless act filled with intricate vocal harmonies, fiery instrumentals, and plenty of fun. They have been praised for their creative yet tasteful arrangements and charming performances. Since 2018 they have brought the joy of their live show to audiences across the US and Canada from festival stages to storied folk listening rooms and as support for legacy acts Lyle Lovett and Ricky Skaggs. The Ruta Beggars are 2019 Thomas Point band competition winners, 2023 IBMA official showcasing artists, Freshgrass Foundation commissioned composers, Freshgrass Award finalists, and Skyline Records artists.
Best-of-friends since their inception, The Ruta Beggars are Micah Nicol (guitar), Trevin Nelson (banjo), Noah Harrington (bass), Sam Stage (fiddle), and Jean-Baptiste Cardineau (mandolin), who met through studying in Berklee College of Music's American Roots Program.
Bluegrass Concerto
FreshGrass is exploring a reinterpretation of this classical music form in the modern world of roots music. The concerto is a great metaphor for the empowered soloist reveling in his or her individuality and represents life lived on the extreme musical edge. We commission artists to write a concerto-like piece consisting of three movements with thematic consistency.
The Ruta Beggars perform their FreshGrass commissioned Concerto at the 2021 FreshGrass | North Adams music festival held at MASS MoCA in North Adams, MA.