The Coal Porters

The Coal Porters were formed in the 1990s by ex-Long Ryder Sid Griffin. The Coal Porters claim to be the worlds first alt-bluegrass act, given as they take old themes and melodies and soup them up for the 21st century.

 The band has demonstrated the power of fiddle, mandolin, banjo, acoustic guitar and doghouse bass when matched with four-part harmonies and memorable melodies - and taken this sound around the world. They have wowed audiences at numerous UK and European arts centres, done no less than four North American tours and performed to tens of thousands at festivals such as Glastonbury, HebCelt, Stagecoach (USA), Larmer Tree, Didmarton, LaRoche (France), Cork Midsummer Fest (Eire), Wombwell and Hultsfredsfestivalen (Sweden).

 In March 2027 Cherry Red Records releases a two-disc set called “27 Strings: the Best of The Coal Porters”, the first disc being a collection of studio tracks off their six albums and the second disc being a recent live recording where they were joined by many old chums onstage including Billy Bragg. Their albums have been warmly received with reviews in Mojo, Uncut, Word, The Observer, The Sunday Times, Rolling Stone and many other publications.

 The Coal Porters line-up is Griffin (a native of Kentucky), long-term sidekick Neil Robert Herd, fiddle virtuoso Kerenza Peacock, banjo whiz Paul Fitzgerald and bassist Andrew “Dr Funk” Stafford. They have performed several live BBC sessions and are no strangers to radio abroad be it the Ireland, Canada, Italy, or Norway. In the USA the Coal Porters were recorded by NPR for their prestigious Regional Voices series at a benefit concert they gave at the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky, and they were featured nationwide in the States on NPR’s prestigious Weekend Edition show. Which proves the Coal Porters are truly international!  

 “Great harmony singing and memorable songs that often recall a British Flying Burrito Brothers or a back porch Ronnie Lane”  MOJO 

“Not your average fish and chips bluegrass, the Coal Porters have expanded their music with broad strokes and fearless execution” CHRIS HILLMAN

“A sumptuous bluegrass spread impeccably served”  UNCUT 

“Sid Griffin was playing Americana years before the term was invented and that pioneer spirit shines on with his current band, the Coal Porters”  BILLY BRAGG