"It's Gonna Have To Be Bluegrass"

"It's Gonna Have To Be Bluegrass"
The Story of the Atkinson Family Bluegrass Band
Traditional Arts in Upstate New York
A Film by Clara Riedlinger
Produced by Joshua Vink, Executive Director, TAUNY

Featuring (In order of appearance)
Dick Atkinson - Banjo, Vocals
Shelene Atkinson - Guitar, Vocals
Liza Atkinson - Guitar, Vocals
Sara Atkinson - Bass, Vocals
Raven Atkinson/Winters - Mandolin, Vocals
& Don Woodcock (Fiddle)

The Atkinson Family Band:
Formed in 1988 and from Harrisville, NY, the Atkinson Family Band has played hundreds of shows across the North Country and the region, becoming a staple of traditional music in the area. Their contributions to the bluegrass, Americana and Folk Music field are distinct, and their significant reach and emphasis on family have made a lasting impact on the North Country community. The Atkinson Family band’s leader is banjo linchpin Dick Atkinson. He learned to love the banjo at an early age, listening to the early sounds of bluegrass, Flat and Scruggs, Bill Monroe and the Stanley Brothers. He has his own three fingered style, with a bit of Scruggs and Stanley. Shelene Atkinson plays rhythm guitar and singing lead and harmony. She finds her roots with the early sounds of Emmy Lou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and early country greats like Patsy Cline. Liza Atkinson sings lead and harmony vocals and plays mandolin and guitar. Her voice has a pure sound like no other. Her background of growing up in a musical family, she has been singing since she was a toddler and playing guitar at an early age. Mandolin came later and she drives the band with her strong chunk keeping the rhythm. Sara Atkinson plays bass and sings harmony vocals. Raven is the youngest of the Atkinson children and decided to try her hand at playing bass with the band and singing a few years ago.

This film was made possible by the Sweetgrass Foundation & the Northern New York Community Foundation (NNYCF) Thompson-Weatherup Family Charitable Foundation (Research & Documentation).

Traditional Arts in Upstate New York Programs are made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature

To support our work, please visit: https://tauny-folkstore.myshopify.com...​

Visit us online: https://tauny.org/​

Follow us on Facebook:   / thetaunycenter​  

Follow us on Instagram:   / thetaunycen...​  

Subscribe to TAUNY's YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIgr...

TAUNY (Traditional Arts in Upstate New York) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to showcasing the folk culture and living traditions of New York's North Country. Explore our YouTube videos to discover the diverse customs and traditions--like storytelling, music, crafts, foodways, and folk art--that make life special in our region, from the St. Lawrence River to the Adirondack Mountains.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To support our work, please visit: https://tauny-folkstore.myshopify.com...​

Visit us online: https://tauny.org/​

Follow us on Facebook:   / thetaunycenter​  

Follow us on Instagram:   / thetaunycen...​  

Subscribe to TAUNY's YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIgr...


TAUNY (Traditional Arts in Upstate New York) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to showcasing the folk culture and living traditions of New York's North Country. Explore our YouTube videos to discover the diverse customs and traditions--like storytelling, music, crafts, foodways, and folk art--that make life special in our region, from the St. Lawrence River to the Adirondack Mountains.