Josh Cole Band Bluegrass Matinee at the Laurelthirst

Josh Cole has been playing bluegrass in the Pacific Northwest for over 25 years. It started in the late 90s, when he first heard “Midnight Moonlight” from Old and In the Way. That moment forever bonded Josh to bluegrass music. He went on to serve as President of the Oregon Bluegrass Association and continues to host “Music From the True Vine” on KBOO-FM, the longest running bluegrass show West of the Mississippi.

Josh’s influences include Ralph Stanley, Larry Sparks, and Bill Monroe, many of whom are featured on the Josh Cole Bluegrass Show, his podcast with nearly 200 episodes of traditional bluegrass recordings. Josh has played in dozens of bands, along with running his own hard-driving bluegrass band for nearly two decades. That’s why hometown fans have lovingly nicknamed him “The Elvis of Portland Bluegrass.”