Born and raised in New England he might have been, but Boston-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jake Armerding is best known for performing music that draws much of its inspiration from bluegrass. Having played fiddle since the age of 13 with Northern Lights, the veneerable newgrass ensemble led by his father, Taylor Armerding, it's perhaps only natural that Jake should end up combining New England's sophisticated contemporary folk music with the soulful strains of bluegrass.

Having created a considerable following for himself on the local roots music scene with his sharp, accessible blending of classic and modern sounds, Jake was voted "Best New Artist of 2001" by listeners of the influential Boston folk radio station WUMB. He released a self-titled album on the Compass label last year.