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Bluegrass is stripped down country
music…
Interview with Tim Surrett (Balsam Range)
© Lilly Drumeva-O’Reilly.
On the 24th of September 2013 at IBMA's conference in Raleigh North
Carolina I had the chance to talk to Tim Surrett, bass player of the
band Balsam Range. Here is what he shared with me:
Why do you like bluegrass music? What is so exciting
about it?
I don't know. I got hooked it at a young age.
The sound of it appealed to me. The power of what could happen with
acoustic instruments. Another thing about it is that it is unaffected;
it's the only kind of music where you use only your hands, your instrument
or your voice. It's all completely natural.
How old were you when you started playing?
I was just a kid. My dad played bluegrass so
I've been around it all my life. My dad was a singer - more of a country
singer - but he sang some bluegrass too, so I learned it a young age.
What is the difference between bluegrass and country music?
Bluegrass is kind off a striped down version of country music I think,
a more acoustic version of country music.
Do you also play country music?
Yes I have played electric bass on some country
albums. But mostly I play bluegrass.
Apart from bluegrass what other genres do you like?
I like rock and roll. I like classic country
music, the old stuff.
You are currently a board member of IBMA. What it
your position?
I represent the artists, composers and the publishers.
It is my constituency. Basically I represent the other bluegrass musicians.
Today we had a meeting where they could tell me their ideas about the
future of IBMA.
Have you played in Europe?
No I haven't. We had some enquires do it but
it didn't work out.
Do you know where your ancestors are from?
From France I believe.
Thanks Tim, that was all.
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