Countybandists (bluegrass, country, folk music), Smolensk, Russia

About the Band

The Russian group CountryBandists was founded in 1988 by Alexandr Naumov in the city of Smolensk.

They play country music, combining American bluegrass and Russian folk songs, that is their most distinguished feature. In 1989 Countrybandists made their appearance at the first All-Russia festival of folk music "Fermer", held in Moscow and broadcast by the central TV of the Soviet Union.

In 1997 they took part in the country music festival in Lithuania "Visagino-Country".
In 2000-2002 they took the stage of the European World of Bluegrass (EWOB) festival in Holland.
In 2001 they won at the festival the second place.
In 2003 they participated in the International Country music festival in Bad Ischl (Austria). They have played many gigs in Holland and Denmark.

The band line up:

• Alexandr Naumov - banjo, guitar, back vocals, 
• Igor Romanov - guitar, vocals,
• Vadim Tchatov - mandolin, fiddle, back vocals, 
• Serguey Molotkov - double bass, accordion, back vocals,
• Irina Gribova - vocals.
  
  "Slavonic folk music with elements of bluegrass... as in "Yak pri luzhku" by the Russian band Countrybandists has got the passion that not many groups from the USA are able to show." (Country Gazette, NL, 2000)
  "Country Bandists... build a musical bridge from Russia to America... I am exhilirated and moved by the way their music embodies Russian strongest tradition of village choral singing." (Acoustic Guitar magazine, 2002)
  
  Discography: European World of Bluegrass 2000. European World of Bluegrass 2001.
  Article about  the band: How to find the right strings. (pages: 1, 2, 3) 
  
For booking and information: Tatyana Zamilova, manager of the band, 2-Krasnoflotsky per, 46, app.50, Smolensk, 214025, Russia.

e-mail: tatyanazamilova@mail.ru
web site http://www.ultramax-music.com/countrybandists/ or
http://countrybandists.ultramax-music.com