The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys formed in the Smoky Mountains and have since toured the world with their straightforward, heartfelt sound. The band has made frequent appearances at Raleigh’s IBMA Bluegrass Live! powered by PNC.
“I think to a certain extent everyone is just craving music they can feel and any music that feels real will reach any audience,” says the group’s founder CJ Lewandowski. “We want to put bluegrass where it’s least expected.”
The band was recognized as Emerging Artist of the Year at the 2018 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards in Raleigh. Their 2020 record “Toil, Tears & Trouble” was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album.
“We want to do something for the music to show our appreciation. There’s no telling what could have happened to us, what we would have become if we hadn’t found this music. It’s gotten us through a lot, the good and the bad,” says Lewandowski. “When I think about all the damn medications that I didn’t have to take because I had music to turn to. We didn’t have to go to the doctor and pay for something to make us feel better, because we had this music, so we really want to honor it by bringing it out of the shadows and onto new stages.”
For the 2023 IBMA Festival in Raleigh the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys paid tribute to Bluegrass Hall of Fame member Bobby Osborne Sr with during their set on the Red Hat Amphitheater stage. The band welcomed Bobby’s sons Wynn and Bobby Jr for a crushing version on “Rocky Top.” The late Bobby Osborne Sr and CJ Lewandowski were close friends and have a new album scheduled for release in 2023.
The band’s 2023 set at Red Hat Amphitheater was featured on NPR Music’s Live Sessions.
