Double Bass Do bluegrass bands still wear suits?

[Sam Reese]

As a kid in the 1970s, I remember Bill Monroe's band, among others' bands, wearing suits while playing their set. Besides the Earls of Leceister, do bands still wear suits/uniforms while performing in concert at bluegrass shows?

 

[Don Hergert]

None of the four bluegrass/bluegrassish performing bands that I play banjo and bass with wear suits. And some of us sit while performing (due to LBP or other issues). We're on the left coast though, so it may be more of a geographical/philosophical/traditional thing.

I am aware of at least one local southern California traditional bluegrass band that does wear suits, but at least from what I see on stage at festivals, it's pretty rare.

 

[sean_on_bass]

I think mainly the super traditional guys tend to do it, like the Del McCoury Band.



Although even new acts like the Punch Brothers sometimes suit up too.



But locally, most of the bluegrass groups i see play are in pretty casual wear.

 

[brianrost]

It's a mix, go to a festival sometime and see for yourself. I'd say way less than 50% of touring bands today wear suits, maybe about 25%. I've never worn a suit when playing in a bluegrass band.

It's more common for the more traditional bands to wear suits, but that is not always the case. You can thank (or blame) John Hartford, Sam Bush and the Seldom Scene for this

 

[Acoop]

Suits no, straw hats yes! ... That's a joke. ... These cats are serious players and dress to impress.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

The logistics of maintaining a wardrobe of suits on tour for a band are, to say the least, daunting.

Boston ska band the Mighty Mighty Bosstones always played in suits and used to drag a trailer behind their bus that was effectively a rolling wardrobe.

 

[Neon Scribe]

Don't forget your western string bow ties! https://www.amazon.com/TopTie-Black-Satin-Western-String/dp/B00W5070JW

View attachment 3433005

 

[The Biz]

I play in a tie (of various type) 90% of my Blues and Rockabilly gigs. Usually with a jacket.

I would relish the opportunity to do so in a Bluegrass band.

 

[Sam Reese]

Thanks for the input. I seldom see suits at bluegrass festivals, but I do enjoy feedback from TalkBass. I do dig the western string bow tie. I was wondering what that's called. Most bands have a "come as you are" policy that I know.

 

[Don Hergert]

I do dig the western string bow tie. I was wondering what that's called.

That's a "Bolo" tie.

 

[Don Hergert]

Ahhh, or if you're referring to @Neon Scribe's post (#7), that's actually called a "Western String Bow Tie".

 

[Sam Reese]

Yep...like the one the Earls of Leceister wear in some of their videos...the groovy string tie

 

[AboutSweetSue]

Some do, some don’t. I’d say most I’ve seen don’t, but they usually have a style about them that fits the music well.

 

[Jeremy Darrow]

The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys wear vintage suits. Those boys look pretty sharp!

 

[neddyrow]

our band wears shirts and ties. i am in a vest and the rest of the band wears suits....even when its 85!

gotta look the part....you'd be surprised at how many comments we get about our dress.

i will say we are in a minority at most festivals. usually pants and a buttonup shirt for most.

next festival season, i want to go paisley!!!

 

[garrett2]

Suits say: 1we are tight, 2 we can do a gospel number, 3 we would have been willing to put up Bill Monroe's fences to be Bluegrass Boys.

(John Hartford's vest & bowler said 1 & 3, but not 2).

 

[Don Hergert]

Well, three of my four bands are exclusively Gospel bands and none of us suit up on stage, although there may be some minor thought about coordinating. And I'd say we get pretty good acceptance (festivals, TV, radio, album distributions, etc.).

To me, a band should work on their sound first above everything else. One of the most frustrating things I've seen (and even experienced) on stage with any genre is a band with everyone dressed up and dressed pretty uniformly, but not sounding together at all; it's like the clothes are supposed to make up for the band's generally poor performance.

That said, of those bands that do sound together, I do get a kick out of seeing them dressed up. Some of the bands shown in this thread are excellent examples of that.

 

[neddyrow]

this is what i want bluegrass to go back to...

 

[Fredrik E. Nilsen]

our band wears shirts and ties. i am in a vest and the rest of the band wears suits....even when its 85!

gotta look the part....you'd be surprised at how many comments we get about our dress.

i will say we are in a minority at most festivals. usually pants and a buttonup shirt for most.

next festival season, i want to go paisley!!!

Please, take your pants to a tailor. And bring your bandmates and their pants too.

 

[Fredrik E. Nilsen]

I wear a suit on all gigs nowadays. Feels good, looks good.