The Coal Porters story begins when native Kentuckian writer/author/broadcaster and ex-Long Ryder Sid Griffin, moved to London in the 1990s and hooked up with Scottish stand up comedian Neil Robert Herd (sound engineer on “Wasp,” Best Live Action Short Film winner at the 2004 Academy Awards.)
The duo started out playing electric, but quickly tired of hauling around amps and drums. As a result of a crazy dare, The Coal Porters decided to play acoustic bluegrass versions of their material at a charity concert in London. This drove the crowd wild, demanding multiple encores. The Coal Porters found their true calling and said goodbye to their electric set forever.
In 2007, Griffin and Herd were blessed to find a gifted banjoist. Almost immediately afterwards, they picked up Canadian fiddle virtuoso Carly Frey and London's noted local attorney and doghouse bassist Andrew Stafford. With this impressive lineup, the Coal Porters were ready to take on the world.
With a published author, a professional comedian and a solicitor in their ranks they are the only band who can sue themselves over copyright and joke about it.
In April 2009, after traveling halfway across the globe, The Coal Porters arrived outside of Durango, Colorado, played two killer shows at the famous MeltDown Festival (Colorado's answer to the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco), and laid down the tracks to their first album in two years. Durango was recorded in two weeks in the Colorado mountains at the Kozy Tone Studio of legendary producer Ed Stasium (Ramones, Mick Jagger, Phil Spector, Smithereens, Belinda Carlisle, Jeff Healey Band, and the Long Ryders.) The entire album was cut 'Basement Tapes' style, with the same authenticity of Dylan and The Band. Everyone crowded in one room. Overdubs were few and laughter frequent.
Durango was released in January 2010, and faithfully represents The Coal Porters hot live act, and creates new moods of it's own. This highly anticipated follow-up to 2007's Turn the Water On, Boy! is a clear country mile step forward, evoking the sounds of a bluegrass Clash, or a Bill Monroe for the 21st century.
There you have it folks. Five musicians from four different parts of the planet who come together as an incredibly powerful fusion of talent, the world's first “alt-bluegrass” act, The Coal Porters.
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