Four Wheel Drive

Four Wheel Drive is probably the most talked about and lauded European bluegrass group of this past decade that has achieved great popularity without diluting or jazzing up too much this intriguing subgenre on the big Americana music tree.



The earliest roots of the Four Wheel Drive story can be found in the late 80's when the Dutch mandolin player Paul Van Vlodrop was asked to gather a group of musicians to play background music for an American theatre play. Since then the group has stayed together in different line-ups featuring some of the finest European bluegrass musicians.



In 2000 their first album No doubt about it was released on Continental Records (now Rounder Europe) . This CD got things really going for the band. Bluegrass Unlimited, the most popular American bluegrass magazine, published a highlight review and a full length article on this group, something very rare for a European band. The cd can be downloaded from I tunes.



In 2002 4WD won Best European Bluegrass Band Award at the EWOB (European World of Bluegrass) and were sent to the States to represent Europe at the world famous World of Bluegrass Festival, where they received standing ovations at the fanfair . They also performed at The Station Inn in Nashville, the American mecca of bluegrass music but also at The Cobblestone, one of the oldest and prestigious folk venues in Dublin.
On top of that they won the Audience Popularity Award at the annual Ewob festival in Voorthuizen in 2006 as well as in 2007 and last but not least they received the 'Gram Parsons Award' presented by the DCMA (Dutch Country Music Association) for best acoustic band of the year no less than 7 times.



Their repertoire is a keen mixture of hardcore bluegrass, country flavored songs and mostly self written catchy instrumentals. They do not hesitate to throw in an a'cappella-song once in a while either ! The versatility of this group of well seasoned traditional musicians with a stunning instrumental and vocal technique allows them to make a cross-over from American oldtime and bluegrass styles to the European folk tradition. In doing so they seem to please folk oriented audiences all over Europe.



In the last couple of years they were considered a revelation at prestigious festivals like the Omagh Appalachian & Bluegrassmusic Festival in Northern Ireland as well as at the Skagen Folkfestival in Denmark and the Bluegrass & Celtic Music Festival in Namur (B)



Four Wheel Drive prefers to play for just one microphone which adds a nice entertaining effect to their stage show.



A couple of years ago Four Wheel Drive met with female singer Jolanda Peters from Holland while working together on a musical theatre show called 'Somewhere Between'.
Things immediately clicked and
Jolanda was asked to sing the Townes Van Zandt song 'If I needed You' on the new 4 Wheel Drive CD Another Town. It quickly became one of the band's most requested songs and the rest is. history.
Jolanda is an outstanding singer with a remarkable soulful voice well capable of moving people.



What others had to say



Four Wheel Drive certainly possesses the chops to be fan favorites worldwide. No question : 'Another Town' is another quality album from another quality European bluegrass band - Tom Walsch - Bluegrass Now Magazine



Ob in Up-Tempo-Nummern, Balladen oder Instrumentaltiteln, die Gruppe 4 Wheel Drive ist und bleibt eine Klasse für sich. -
Walter Fuchs - Germany



4 Wheel Drive représentait l'aspect le plus traditionnel du bluegrass. Le trio vocal est parfait avec un excellent son et une parfaite chorégraphie autour du micro unique, à l'ancienne. - Le cri du coyote, septembre 2007



The musicianship on 'Another Town' is, as the genre demands, top-notch, and the choice of material is impeccable.
R2 - Rock 'n Reel magazine, UK
'Another Town' is a very impressive cd and I have serious doubts any American group could replicate a traditional European style of music so
authentically. -
Eresian Banda Loop, Wisconsin, USA



I first heard 4WD in 2002 in Omagh and they were an instant hit with me. I'm not an expert on bluegrass music but I know what I like and I thought they made great music - Nancy Morris (UK)
When Jolanda starts singing something happens, something that does not happen every day. – anomynous fan from Belgium.
I agree that 4 Wheel Drive were superb : some very good singers and performers. They are regarded as being the best bluegrass band in Europe I believe.
Online review of the Skagen folk festival, 2007.



It may be a good idea to stop the music player on top of the page before you start the video. You don't want to hear two songs played at the same time, do you ?



For more footage on Four Wheel Drive's adventures : click



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