JACKSON, Wyo. — Pickin’ their way out of Lander, Wyoming, Low Water String Band one of the state’s most recognizable purveyors of bluegrass. While the genre has largely grown further away from traditional foundations in recent years (especially the onslaught of jamgrass groups and their accompanying pedal boards), Low Water sticks closer to roots music and story songs. And while they do give a proper nod to both traditional and modern heroes, it’s what they bring as songwriters that set them apart as a string band that’s altogether danceable, charming, original, and downhome.
Totaling 26.5 strings, the quartet features Jared Scott (clawhammer banjo/vocals), Joe LeFevere (mandolin/fiddle/vocals), Annie Scott (upright bass/vocals), and Stuart Cerovski (rhythm guitar). The band formed nearly a decade ago, launching into the recording world with a self-titled album in 2016 followed by the 2018 EP, When You’re Gone. A new release is planned for later this year, which is a culmination of what the band was working on during 2020, when they managed to gather and rehearse weekly, masks and all.
“We were fortunate with being able to rehearse last year, but I realized how much you get back from an audience once we started playing again this year,” said Annie Scott. “Watching a person in the crowd recognize a song and start singing along, seeing someone grab a dance partner, having folks cheer and demand an encore, those are the things you can’t replace or replicate in a rehearsal. Those are the reasons playing live is so much fun for a band. It’s what lights the fire and inspires you. Although, I loved getting back into gardening again last year! That was a total joy.”
LeFevre added, “I got a preview of what level we were playing a couple years ago when we started hitting it again this spring. Luckily, I also felt it when we hit the level we were at before Covid too. I do miss exploring and fishing every weekend, but it’s also great to be back and see everyone’s smiling faces.”
Low Water String Band has been featured on the annual WYOmericana Caravan Tour, a traveling showcase of Wyoming acts, as well as at Wyoming festivals Whatfest, Evanston Bluegrass Festival, NoWoodstock, Donkey Creek Music Festival, Mansface Music Festival, Bear Trap Festival, and Big Horn Mountain Festival. This fall, they will join five other Wyoming bands at Treefort Music Fest in Boise.
Center for the Arts’ Music Mondays featuring Low Water String Band, 7 p.m. Monday at The Center Park. Free, all-ages. JHCenterForTheArts.org.
