The Infamous Stringdusters are a progressive acoustic/bluegrass band that emerged onto the scene in 2006 with their self-titled five-song EP, followed by their full-length debut Fork in the Road in 2007. Comprising Andy Hall (Dobro), Andy Falco (guitar), Chris Pandolfi (banjo), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle), and Travis Book (double bass), the group has carved out a distinctive niche within bluegrass by blending traditional instrumentation with complex arrangements and groove-oriented compositions that push beyond genre conventions. Since their inception on Sugar Hill Records, the Stringdusters have become recognized as one of modern bluegrass's most innovative and forward-thinking acts.
The band's early success was cemented when they swept the 2007 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards, taking home Emerging Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for Fork in the Road (shared with J.D. Crowe & the New South), and Song of the Year. Their catalog has continued to evolve through albums like Things That Fly, which earned a Grammy nomination in 2011 for Best Country Instrumental Performance with the track "Magic No. 9." The group's critically acclaimed discography culminated in 2018 with a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album, and they received another nomination in that same category in 2021 for their tribute album A Tribute to Bill Monroe.
With multiple Grammy nominations and wins alongside a 2011 IBMA nomination for Entertainer of the Year, The Infamous Stringdusters have established themselves as essential voices in contemporary bluegrass. Their ability to honor the genre's rich traditions while simultaneously expanding its sonic possibilities has made them influential figures in both acoustic and mainstream music circles, cementing their legacy as architects of modern progressive bluegrass.
