Sam Grisman Project (SGP) joins Peter Rowan to celebrate the music of Old & In The Way and explore its enduring legacy as well as Rowan's own extensive catalogue. Led by Sam Grisman, a bassist deeply rooted in the tradition of American acoustic music and son of legendary mandolinist David Grisman, the group infuses classic material with fresh energy and dynamic musicianship. Known for their collaborative spirit, SGP features a rotating cast of extraordinary instrumentalists, creating an ever-evolving, heartwarming, impactful live experience.
SAM GRISMAN
Sam Grisman is a bassist and bandleader leading a commanding improvisational ensemble performing live acoustic music in the tradition shaped by Jerry Garcia and David Grisman and many others heroes. Known for deeply attuned interplay and dynamic performances, Sam Grisman Project brings together a rotating cast of exceptional musicians to create listening-room experiences rooted in musicianship, storytelling, spontaneity, and collaboration. With frequent guest appearances and ongoing collaborations with bluegrass pioneer Peter Rowan, the band continues a living tradition of great American acoustic music.
PETER ROWAN
Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Peter Rowan is one of America's most revered musical storytellers. A 2022 inductee into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, and winner of the Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award in Music given by 'Your Roots are Showing' (Ireland), Rowan has spent over five decades shaping the sound and spirit of American roots music—from bluegrass and folk to rock, country, and beyond.
Raised in Wayland, Massachusetts, Peter found his voice in Boston’s vibrant 1950s folk scene, learning guitar from his uncle and frequenting the Hillbilly Ranch nightclub, where old-time legends like the Lilly Brothers lit the stage. By high school, he had formed his first band, The Cupids, and was already charting his own musical course.
Peter’s professional journey began at the source—joining Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys in 1963. With Monroe, he co-wrote “Walls of Time,” now a standard in the bluegrass canon. “Monroe’s music had more blues in it,” Rowan later reflected. “It had more edge, and it carried the old ballad tradition I loved.”
In the decades that followed, Rowan pushed the boundaries of genre through pivotal projects including Earth Opera, Sea Train, Muleskinner, and The Rowans (with brothers Chris and Lorin). His work with Old & In the Way—alongside Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, Vassar Clements, and John Kahn—brought bluegrass to a new generation, fusing counterculture energy with Appalachian roots.
Rowan’s legacy is felt not only in recordings and performances but in his enduring mentorship. His collaborations with the Sam Grisman Project preserve the Old & In the Way legacy, while his ongoing work with Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, and other young artists ensure the vitality of acoustic music for decades to come.
