Nickel Creek

Bluegrass evokes images of working in the fields, whittling on the front porch, swinging at a square dance and occasionally thinking impure thoughts about your cousin. Nickel Creek's bluegrass is something the same and completely different. The California trio has earned plenty of plaudits from pundits as well as a Grammy for its ability to meld traditional bluegrass stylings with psychedelic pop and folky instrumental experimentation. The group's sound has also won it countless converts, lured by that surefire formula for success that incorporates at least one fiddle and one mandolin.