Bluegrass Parkway

Australia’s favourite bluegrass band, Bluegrass Parkway hold true to the origins of this exciting musical genre, capturing the magic of the golden years of bluegrass.

Bluegrass Parkway remains faithful to the 1940s by playing to a single microphone and incorporating strong three and four part harmonies. Whether it be the traditional sounds of Monroe and the Stanley Brothers or material closer to the ‘cutting edge’, Bluegrass Parkway will thrill you with great picking, strong harmonies and fancy footwork! 

Over three decades of touring, along with countless concert performances have combined to strengthen the band’s reputation as Australia’s most highly credentialed and experienced bluegrass band.

What has helped set the band apart from many others is the priority they have placed upon presenting Bluegrass music in its most authentic form. Bluegrass Parkway has just celebrated its 36th anniversary and since the early part of 1994, they have performed around a single microphone, as was the norm for the pioneers of the genre in the 1940s.

At any Bluegrass Parkway performance the audience can enjoy a taste of bluegrass music 1940s style.

Bluegrass Parkway can claim a special link to the home of Bluegrass music, Kentucky USA. Maria Duff plays bass in the band and hails from the heart of Bluegrass territory, Lexington Kentucky. She was a casual member of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra for twelve years and teaches Suzuki violin.

Paul Duff has become renowned as one of Australia’s premier mandolin builders, exporting the vast majority of his instruments to satisfy an ever-increasing demand from the United States. Paul met Maria in the early eighties while touring America gaining experience in musical instrument building.

The strong, tasteful banjo playing in the band is delivered through the very experienced hands of Mick O’Neill. Mick’s experience and expertise in microphones and acoustic engineering is an essential part of creating the Bluegrass Parkway sound.

Wayne Perry has been a close friend and picking partner of the other band members for many years. Wayne’s powerful voice and strong rhythm guitar have added a substantial authenticity to the overall sound of Bluegrass Parkway.

Michael Patrick has a great musical reputation all around Australia for his work with The Company and provides a strong fiddle presence to the band’s sound. His quality voice has provided a wonderful diversity, adding yet another lead and harmony option to Bluegrass Parkway’s already powerful vocal reputation.