Established in 2012, The Barrel Boys are a 5-piece string band based in Toronto. The band’s sound is built around rich vocal harmonies and virtuosic instrumentals, and their repertoire finely balances standard tunes with their own original writing. Their instrumentation lends itself to classic bluegrass, but they are also fluent in old time, classic country, and Americana, and their original material is informed by all of these styles. Each of the 5 members writes and sings their own tunes, making for a wide stylistic range within the band’s sound.
In addition to being great songwriters, The Barrel Boys are also seasoned performers. All 5 members crowd around a single vocal mic, making for a beautiful vocal blend, as well as an energetic and engaging experience. The group first honed its craft through a 2-year-long weekly residency at Toronto’s Cloak and Dagger Pub, where they performed 3-hr sets every Tuesday night. Since then, they have been featured on stages of all sizes across Canada. Notable performances include Mariposa Folk Festival (ON), Folk Fest sur le Canal (QC), Northern Lights Bluegrass and Old-Tyme Festival (SK), Blueberry Bluegrass Festival (AB), and Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES (BC).
The Barrel Boys are: Nathan Smith (Fiddle); Rob McLaren (Banjo); Ben Wright (Guitar); Kyle Kirkpatrick (Dobro); and Tim O’Reilly (Bass)
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