Boxcars bring Bluegrass to Ogle Center

Lynn Bailey

Adam Steffery and Ron Stewart playing the blues on stage in the Ogle Center

Lynn Bailey, Staff Reporter
May 1, 2015

The electrifying sounds of banjos, cellos, violins, and acoustic guitars filled the Ogle Center. Where the bluegrass band The Boxcars performed country music from various songs featured on their albums The Boxcars, All in, and It’s Just a Road. Their musical styles are a mix of country with swing, old time, and gospel.

Band member Keith Garrett and acoustic guitar player for The Boxcars discussed how long he has been playing music, and what makes The Boxcars stand out as a band.

“I’ve been playing music for about 32 years. I started playing bluegrass music because my dad plays the guitar and I’ve always have been around bluegrass music. I started playing bluegrass music ever since I was 13-years-old. What makes us stand out as a bluegrass band is that we pay attention and maintain traditional bluegrass music instead of modern traditional.” Garrett said

Band member Adam Steffey  has been playing and performing music for 35 years.

“I heard Bluegrass music at a young age and my grandfather bought me my first Mandin and I fell in love with it. Our music standouts because we try to keep traditional style of bluegrass within our music.

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  • Band member Harold Nixon plays the Cello on stage

    Lynn Bailey
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  • Band member Keith Garrett singing while playing his acoustic guitar

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  • Adam Steffey and Ron Stewart playing the blues side by side

    Lynn Bailey
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According to The Boxcars official website  www.theboxcars.com, The Boxcars are an award winning band with various awards and achievements for bluegrass music, such as 2013 International Music Group of the Year, and a Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass album in the 56th Grammy Awards Ceremony.

Jean Day discussed how much he enjoyed the country bluegrass stylings of The Boxcars.

“ The performance was wonderful the musicians did a good job. I enjoyed the mixture of sad songs,” Day said.

Day also discussed the typical genre of music she listens to.

“I listen to all different kinds of music. My mother is from Kentucky that’s why I like bluegrass music its in my roots. We travel 35 minutes away to attend Ogle Center concerts we have a subscription to attend all of the music events on IU Southeast campus.” Day said.

For more information about The Boxcars or the Ogle Center go to these links below.

http://www.theboxcars.com/ and  http://www.ius.edu/oglecenter/