As the first Norwegian bluegrass band to sign an international record deal, these guys are truly pioneers. Marshall Monrad Band is an acoustic band from the hills and valleys around the Oslo area, with wide influences. Former politician and deep-sea diver Cato Monrad (banjo/mandolin/vocal), Joachim Svendsen (guitar/mandolin/vocal), Erlend Hølland (bass/vocal) and singer/songwriter Bjørn Nilsen (vocal/guitar/harmonica) complement each others talents in an inspirational way. MMB formed in 2008, and has been regarded a great live act, with highly praised appearances at fine festivals like Live At Heart, Rammerokk, Countryfestivalen Seljord, Sjømatfestivalen i Oslo and Risør Bluegrass Festival to back it up. Banjo, mandolin and harmonica etc makes this a band not only for hard-core bluegrass fans, but also for people into country and folk music in the neighborhood of Bruce Springsteens’ ”Seeger Sessions”, The Band, Ralph Stanley, and Old Crow Medicine Show. Swinging originals and re-imagined well known, or not so well known traditional songs, all done with a clear signature, the bands debut album; ”The Marshall Plan” was released to fine reviews in Norway and abroad autumn 2009. Marshall Monrad Bands second album and international debut; Minerals & Mud: Eleven rustic songs with lyrics related to mining, traveling and everyday life. Nine originals and two reworked bluegrass classics makes up this interesting piece of work. Legends like Stephen Ackles, Paal Flaata and Norwegian Country Grammy winner Tore Andersen lend their great voices to this album.