about

It was a lucky day, when Rudi, a Bluegrass enthusiast and banjo-/mandolin player, met Martin, a Soul and Roots/Americana guitarist. No wonder that the first song they played together was “The Weight”, as “Nazareth” is the home of Martin Guitars. Curious to enter each other´s musical world, they founded “Little Maggie” as a Bluegrass and New Acoustic Music Duo, to merge sounds and experiences in playing and singing styles. With Anna, a classicaly educated true Bluegrass violinist, they now form a Trio with three part harmony singing and the ringing power of Bluegrass.

The eponymous song “Little Maggie” tells about a man’s love to a blue-eyed funny loving heartbreaker, who drives away her troubles by drinking whiskey and playing the banjo. Fallen in love, he still cannot accept her lifestyle, but will pay her fine, when she´s gone over the limit again. “Little Maggie” is true Bluegrass as it is a story about real life, women, booze, love, disappointment, a little bit of despite, and the relieving power of the banjo.

“Little Maggie” emerged as a traditional tune towards the end of the 19th century as part of a song group delineating the „white blues“, sharing some sounds, feelings and even lyrics of its cousin song „Darling Corey“. It uses the sounds frequently described as „modal“ (G maj. with F) employing a Mixolydian scale. It’s first recording by Gilliam Banmon Grayson (Gitarre) und Henry Whitter (Fiddle) in 1928, and the recording of the Stanley Brothers in 1946 were both in a relaxed and rather deliberate pace, which preserved the original oldtimey sound. Since then, it has been played and recorded at various tempos and styles from moanful (Bob Dylan) to bluegrass overdrive (Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder).

In their acoustic Trio “Little Maggie” they and pick up different songs, from Bluegrass, Pop and American Roots Music and give them a new face. In these and own songs they tell stories about life and love. Many of these touch the “Little Maggie” theme of a mislead relationship full of wishful thinking and wrong expectations, which can be handeled in so many ways and sometimes brought to a happy ending.

For Rudi, Anna, Silvia and Martin “Little Maggie” is also a synonym for their perception of Bluegrass Music, which is based in the deep tradition of American Old Time music played in the late 19th century, and diversified to a fantastic variety of styles of acoustic music with overdrive. “Little Maggie” perfectly reflects their view of Bluegrass music in which it is never wrong to approach a song in a new way emphasizing that Bluegrass without the Blues is only Grass. This „cheating“ is the basics of the Little Maggie band. While they always stay true to their bluegrass style, you will also find songs by Little Feat (Willin’), Allman Brothers (Ramblin’ Man) and Grateful Dead (Midnight Moonlight) in their program.

In their musical approach the songs receive a new, unexpected sound even if you thaught that you knew them before. Listening to their interpretation of Bluegrass music will make you realize that there is a little bit of “Little Maggie” in every song: something, which can catch your mind, touch your soul, make you smile, relax you, and make you forget about your everyday.

They surprise with the tonal range of their voices and diversified harmony singing as well as varying instrumentation and stories between the songs, which provide almost true, but not always serious insight into the songs.