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About

Hardscrabble music can best be described as pure Colorado bluegrass. The band has made a name for itself by offering a unique blend of original songs mixed with traditional bluegrass anthems, and colorful renditions of crowd favorites. They deliver a lively show aimed at audiences of all ages and musical backgrounds.

Hardscrabble is influenced by music from a variety of different genres, and that’s evident in their shows. Moreover, they always try to have fun up there and keep the audience engaged. You’ll hear them play Hardscrabble originals, as well as traditional bluegrass anthems by Jimmy Martin, Bill Monroe, and Flatt & Scruggs. In addition, HS mixes in ‘newgrass’ favorites by artists like The Punch Brothers, Gillian Welch, The Infamous Stringdusters, and Yonder Mountain String Band; as well as occasional rock tunes from The Marshall Tucker Band.

Formed in 2009, this four-piece group consists of Jena Skinner (Nova Scotia) on lead vocals and mandolin; Robby Brown (North Carolina) on lead guitar and vocals, Eric Lovgren (Michigan) on banjo and vocals, and Andy Leister (Indiana) on bass. Hardscrabble has a rich and lively sound showcasing the amazing songwriting and flat-picking skills of Rob and the rafter-shaking voice of singer, Jena. More recent to the band, Andy has brought in a fresh sound to round out that of banajer Eric, pickin' on the five-string.


Hardscrabble has shared the stage with some of the biggest acts in bluegrass music including Peter Rowan, The Steep Canyon Rangers, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, Great American Taxi, Tyler Childers, and many more over the years. Hardscrabble has been featured at festivals like the Bonfire Blockparty, Yarmony Grass, Camp Out for the Cause, Ullrgrass, and the WinterWonderGrass Festivals, and events such as the GoPro Games, and the Vail International Beer Festival.

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