The Packway Handle Band makes its first appearance at Music in the Park on Thursday, bringing a contemporary blend to the bluegrass scene.
Guitarist and vocalist Josh Erwin said "a lot of our newer stuff is not straight-up bluegrass."
The songs are played with bluegrass instruments, but he said the audience will not hear them singing about wagon wheels. Their songs are about "the things we live around and the stuff we get into."
Other members of the Athens, Ga.-based band include Zach McCoy, bass; Andrew Heaton, fiddle and vocals; Michael Paynter, mandolin and vocals; and Tom Baker, banjo and vocals.
The band will perform original songs that are nontraditional bluegrass, in addition to standards, Erwin said.
Touring year-round, the group has played venues across the United States and in the United Kingdom, France and Belgium. It also has played at the RockyGrass festival at the Planet Bluegrass Ranch in Lyons, Colo.
The band's audience covers a wide range of ages, Erwin said.
"People tell us that their babies listen to us, that it calms them down," he said.
In January, the band released a new self-titled album.
For more information about the band, visit www.packway handle.com or listen to their music at www.myspace.com/thepackwayhandleband.
Music in the Park concerts are held outdoors behind the North Augusta Community Center off East Buena Vista Avenue. In the event of rain, concerts will be moved inside the community center.
For more information, visit www.naartscouncil.org or call (803) 442-7588.
Reach Crystal Garcia at crystal.garcia@northaugustatoday.com.
