Work
Five bands, dozens of stages, and a shared love of acoustic string music.
Red Skies brings together four of New England's most talented and widely-beloved bluegrass musicians into one powerhouse band. Joe K. Walsh, BB Bowness, Alex Rubin and Steve Roy have made careers out of playing acoustic string-band and bluegrass music at the highest level all over the world. They have recorded and toured with the best in the business, including Molly Tuttle, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, John Reischman, Tony Trischka, Darol Anger, Brittany Haas, Laurie Lewis, April Verch, Matt Flinner, and many more. With a shared love of the old sounds and an infectious joy for playing together, Red Skies are lighting up stages everywhere. Joe K. Walsh (mandolin) has been hailed by David Grisman as a "wonderful mandolin player", and by Darol Anger as "one of the finest mandolin players ever". Known for his exceptional tone and taste, Joe is an associate professor at the Berklee College of Music and a founding member of the genre-bending stringband Mr. Sun. BB Bowness (banjo) is a winner of the prestigious Steve Martin Banjo Prize and a founding member of the IBMA award-winning bluegrass band Mile Twelve. "A wonder to behold," says legendary banjoist Tony Trischka about BB's 2025 debut solo album, Goodtime Revival. Alex Rubin (guitar) has brought his brand of virtuosic flatpicking to stages all across the world, including 49 states as well as extensively abroad. Formerly a member of The April Verch Band, and currently a member of Ethan Setiawan and Fine Ground, Alex is also a winner of the Freshgrass Guitar Contest. Steve Roy (bass) is a multi-instrumentalist fluent in a vast array of musical styles. As a sideman, he has toured with many of the acoustic world's top acts, including Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum, John Reischman, Eli West, and Molly Tuttle. He is also a founding member of the New England-favorite Old Hat Stringband.
Members
Red Skies — Live session
Red Skies — Live session
Drawing on years of inspired collaboration and celebrated recordings featuring a creative approach to string band music, fiddler Darol Anger and mandolinist Joe K. Walsh have assembled an all-star band featuring some of their favorite musicians from the bluegrass and string band worlds. With Steve Roy on bass, BB Bowness on banjo, and Alex Rubin on guitar, the quintet explores and expands the sounds of the modern string band. From burning bluegrass to understated new acoustic, and with decades of improvisational experience, this ensemble's deep interpersonal rapport and adventurous spirit lead the way.
Members
Blur-Grass — Live
Blur-Grass — Live
Ethan Setiawan & Fine Ground was born of New England mandolinist Ethan Setiawan's yearning to return to bluegrass roots. Taking time-honored traditions and imbuing them with original tunes and exceptional songwriting, Fine Ground comprises some of the finest bluegrass musicians to come out of the Northeast. At the helm is Ethan Setiawan, an accomplished mandolinist who has won both the National Mandolin Championship and the Rockygrass Mandolin Championship.
Members
Fine Ground — Live
Fine Ground — Live
BB Bowness is a New Zealand-born banjo player who moved to the US in 2012 and co-founded Mile Twelve, earning IBMA honors including New Artist of the Year (2020). Winner of the FreshGrass Banjo Contest (2015) and the Steve Martin Banjo Prize (2020), she released her acclaimed debut solo album Goodtime Revival in 2025.
Alex Rubin is a Boston-based bluegrass guitarist who has toured extensively across 49 states and internationally, performing at Merlefest, Australia's National Folk Festival, Estonia's Viljandi Folk Festival, and Finland's Kaustinen Folk Festival. A former member of The April Verch Band and winner of the FreshGrass Guitar Contest, Alex is also currently a member of Ethan Setiawan and Fine Ground.
As a duo, Alex & BB have performed around the world, bringing together their interpretations of old-time tunes, Swedish Polskas, Bach, Bluegrass, and more.
Members
Alex & BB — Live
Alex & BB — Live
Alex Rubin is a Boston-based bluegrass guitarist who has toured extensively across 49 states and internationally, performing at Merlefest, Australia's National Folk Festival, Estonia's Viljandi Folk Festival, and Finland's Kaustinen Folk Festival. A former member of The April Verch Band and winner of the FreshGrass Guitar Contest, Alex is also currently a member of Ethan Setiawan and Fine Ground.
Alex Rubin — Solo
Alex Rubin — Solo