What do you get when you mash up a virtuosic bluegrass mandolinist, a traditional Irish fiddler, and an old timey songster? Kenny Blackwell (mandolin and guitar), John Weed (fiddle), and Stuart Mason (guitar, banjo, and mandola) are the bluegrass-roots trio Little Black Train. From Depression-era gospel and blues to Appalachian and Celtic dance tunes, they dig up the roots of bluegrass that traveled to America from Ireland and Scotland in the 19th century. Avid practitioners of the time-honored folk process, these boys combine new words and melodies with traditional songs from sources such as the Carter Family, Doc Boggs, and Charlie Poole. On the instrumental side, they mine fiddle tunes from archival sources in West Vireginia, Ireland, and Scotland. A fun, refreshing fusion of vintage fiddle tunes, blazing mandolin, and songs of old-time Americana. "Each of these three is amazingly accomplished, but something magical happens when they play their instruments swirling around one another like curls of smoke from a smoldering fire. This is old-time music at its most riveting!" —Glen Starkey, New Times SLO