The American bluegrass-influenced folk rock band Trampled By Turtles is set to perform at Huber Heights’ Rose on August 16, marking the band’s first appearance at the venue. Joining them as support will be the Waterville, Ohio-based indie-folk trio Oliver Hazard.
Founded in Duluth, Minnesota, in 2003, Trampled By Turtles emerged from a practical necessity. Frontman Dave Simonett, whose music equipment was stolen from his car, initially formed the band as a stripped-down side project. Armed with only an acoustic guitar, Simonett drew inspiration from genres that did not rely on amplification, such as bluegrass and folk.
The band’s lineup was soon expanded to include bassist Tim Saxhaug and fiddler Ryan Young, who had previously played drums in a speed metal band, as well as mandolinist Erik Berry and banjoist Dave Carroll. Despite their collective inexperience with bluegrass, the members’ diverse musical backgrounds led to a distinctive, energetic sound that blends rock and acoustic elements.
Ryan Young, who joined the band in 2007, reflects on the group’s eclectic influences: “I’ve been in jazz bands, punk rock bands, and even a hip-hop cover band. Other members of Trampled By Turtles have backgrounds in jam bands and rock bands. While we enjoy bluegrass, it’s not our sole influence.”
Young notes that the band’s influences are closer to Neil Young and Bob Dylan than traditional bluegrass icons like Flatt & Scruggs and Bill Monroe. Nonetheless, the presence of fiddle and banjo gives the band a bluegrass appearance.
Trampled By Turtles released their debut album, “Songs from a Ghost Town,” in 2004, which showcased their modern sound blending various musical styles. Subsequent albums, including “Blue Sky and the Devil” (2005) and “Trouble” (2007), further defined their unique sound. It was the 2008 release, “Duluth,” that garnered significant recognition from the bluegrass community, peaking at number eight on Billboard’s bluegrass chart and leading to festival appearances at Coachella, ACL Fest, and Lollapalooza, among others.
The band’s fifth album, “Palomino” (2010), topped the bluegrass chart and remained in the Top Ten for over a year. Their sixth album, “Stars and Satellites” (2012), achieved crossover success, reaching the Billboard 200 pop chart.
In 2014, Alan Sparhawk of fellow Duluth band Low produced “Wild Animals,” marking a further exploration of the band’s genre-blending approach. The album, which featured a modern pop and hip-hop influenced sound, reached number 29 on the Billboard charts.
Looking ahead, Ryan Young revealed that the band has more music in the works, including a collaboration with Alan Sparhawk, an EP, and a song for an upcoming television show. The future direction of their music remains open to new possibilities and creative explorations
