Hayseed Dixie
American band that created the bluegrass-hard rock fusion genre 'rockgrass.'
Hayseed Dixie is an American band formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2000. They are known for creating a self-described musical genre called 'rockgrass,' which blends bluegrass instrumentation with hard rock and original satirical songs. Their debut album, A Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC, brought them initial attention, and they have since released 14 studio albums and performed over 1,400 live dates in 31 countries.
- Formed
- 2000
- Origin
- Nashville, Tennessee, United States
- Genre
- Rockgrass (bluegrass cover versions of hard rock songs and original satirical material)
- Nationality
- American
- Known for
- Bluegrass tributes to hard rock, especially AC/DC; self-created genre 'rockgrass'; extensive touring in Europe
Lore & Background
Hayseed Dixie formed in Nashville in 2000 and released their debut album, A Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC, on April 17, 2001. The album consisted of acoustic hillbilly-styled reworkings of AC/DC songs and received considerable morning-show radio airplay in the US, selling over 250,000 albums from 2001 to 2003. In March 2003, the band had three different albums in the Top 15 of the US Billboard bluegrass chart simultaneously. Western Europe has shown the group the most enduring appreciation.
The band has performed at major European festivals, including opening the main stage at Glastonbury in 2005 and appearing at the Download Festival in 2007, Roskilde Festival in 2007, and Wacken Open Air in 2011. In September 2005 they held their own festival, Loopallu, in Ullapool, Scotland, which became an annual event. They have recorded songs in Norwegian, Finnish, German, and Spanish.
Longtime member Don Wayne Reno left around 2007. Dale Reno remained with the band until his departure in 2013. They were replaced in January 2014 by Johnny Butten and Hippo Joe Hymas. John Wheeler has released two solo albums and an EP. The band continues to release albums, including Blast From the Grassed in 2020 and Shattered Grass in 2021.
Reader's Guide
Hayseed Dixie's significance lies in their pioneering of 'rockgrass,' a fusion that brought bluegrass instrumentation to hard rock audiences and introduced satirical original songs. Their debut album, A Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC, capitalized on the novelty of acoustic covers of a hard rock band, leading to substantial US sales and chart success. Their enduring popularity in Western Europe, including festival appearances and a self-organized festival in Scotland, highlights their cross-cultural appeal. The band's willingness to record in multiple languages (Norwegian, Finnish, German, Spanish) and their ability to perform marathon sets (e.g., eight hours over four nights in Glasgow) demonstrate their versatility and dedication to live performance. Personnel changes, including the departure of founding members and the arrival of a world-record-holding banjo player, show evolution while maintaining the core rockgrass sound. Their legacy includes influencing the bluegrass-cover genre and maintaining a dedicated international fanbase.
Did You Know?
- The band's name is a linguistic play on the name AC/DC.
- They performed an eight-hour set over four nights in Glasgow, Scotland, in October 2010, with no songs repeated.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hayseed Dixie?
Hayseed Dixie is a Nashville-based American band that reinterprets hard rock classics using bluegrass instruments like banjo, fiddle, and mandolin. Active since 2000, they are most closely associated with their bluegrass takes on AC/DC material.
What is 'rockgrass'?
Rockgrass is a genre label the band invented themselves to describe their fusion of bluegrass instrumentation with hard rock energy. It encompasses both their instrumental tributes to rock acts and their original satirical songs.
What is Hayseed Dixie's debut album?
Their first release, A Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC, translated the Australian rock band's riffs into a bluegrass setting and gave them their initial break. That record kicked off a catalog that has since grown to 14 studio albums.
Where and when was Hayseed Dixie formed?
The group was assembled in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2000. Being rooted in the heart of country music country gives their bluegrass-meets-rock approach a natural home base.
How much has Hayseed Dixie toured?
The band has logged over 1,400 live performances across 31 countries, with a particularly devoted following in Europe. Their extensive touring has made them a regular fixture at both bluegrass and rock festivals worldwide.
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