Young bluegrass band tops charts

The band Grasstowne is a relatively new phenomenon in the world of bluegrass music.

"We started the band in December 2006," said Phil Leadbetter, dobro guitar player and vocalist. "In that amount of time, we did an album called 'The Road Headin' Home.' "

The CD, released by Pinecastle Records, spent a good while at the top of the charts.

This month and last, a single from that CD, "Dixie Flyer," has been parked at the top of the national bluegrass charts.

The band will perform at 8:55 p.m. Friday as part of an extensive lineup of talent featured at the 14th annual Naperville Bluegrass Music Festival.

Leadbetter, who lives in Knoxville, Tenn., said he's been part of the Naperville festival in the past.

"We played there for (festival producers) Terry and Jan Lease a couple times," he said. "They do a really good job. They bring in the best stuff and they do it right."

While Grasstowne may be a young band, several of its members have longtime associations.

"Me and Steve Gulley were friends since we were young," Leadbetter said.

Leadbetter went on to found the band Wildfire, while Gulley played with the band Mountain Heart. When they left their respective groups to join forces, they added mandolin player Alan Bibey. Jason Davis on banjo and Jamey Booher on upright bass round out Grasstowne.

The combination proved a musically powerful one.

"Everything just took off," Leadbetter said.

The band's debut album was named 2008 Album of the Year by the Society of the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America in Nashville.

Bibey was named 2007 Mandolin Player of the Year, and Leadbetter was named 2008 Dobro Player of the Year by the same organization.

Leadbetter describes Grasstowne's sound as a contemporary version of bluegrass.

"We're a lot more modern-type sound. We're not the nasally mountain-type stuff," he said. "I think there's a lot of stuff in there that appeals to a lot of people. We attract probably a younger fan base. We're seeing a lot of people in their teens."

Leadbetter said Grasstowne, now on radio playlists worldwide, plans several tour dates in Finland and Sweden this summer.

A genre born in America, bluegrass has gained an international following, he said.

"A lot of this music went to Japan in the '70s and it just kind of migrated," he said.

Grasstowne recently returned from dates in Florida and Georgia, following a gig aboard a cruise ship, he said.

After their stop in Naperville, the band sets out for a long string of dates in the South, Midwest and on the East and West coasts.