Steam Machine is an award winning Minneapolis old time bluegrass project formed to explore midwest fiddle and string band traditions that blur the lines between old time, bluegrass, and related genres to create sounds of their own. Fronted by 2023 Clifftop fiddle contest champion AJ Srubas and old time music and dance instigator Rina Rossi, powerful fiddling, driving three finger banjo, rock solid rhythm backup and straight ahead vocal duets combine to create their ‘suspiciously entertaining’ sound. They have collected over a half dozen ribbons individually and together at contests including Mt. Airy Fiddlers Convention (North Carolina) and Clifftop (West Virginia) and delighted audiences at venues across the midwest and country from concert halls to bluegrass and Americana festivals to listening rooms. When home in Minneapolis, they are heavily involved as organizers in many of the local community old time and bluegrass institutions.
Praise for Steam Machine:
“Simply put, Steam Machine is a supergroup, one with intertwined musical relationships that create a chemistry so much more profound than four disparate musicians coming together. Steam Machine’s renditions seem faithful and classic, so it’s hard to explain how they’re playing feels bright and fresh. You can step back and be impressed by their artistry, but you might instead wind up just swept away in enjoyment because they make it seem effortless and look like they’re having so much fun.” – Adventures in Americana
“Relentless attention to detail…highly polished performance style that is both rustic and sophisticated” – Phil Nusbaum, Bluegrass Saturday Morning
“Very talented musicians with impressive musical backgrounds and abilities” – Old Time News (UK)
“Powerful traditional old time, pre-bluegrass and bluegrass music…that seriously honors the old traditions without smothering them” – Paul Brown, NPR/Across the Blue Ridge