Larry Keel is described by music critics and reviewers as the
most powerful, innovative and all-out exhilarating acoustic
flatpicking guitarist performing today. Keel has absorbed the
best lessons from his Bluegrass family upbringing, both sides
deeply steeped in the rich mountain music culture and heritage
of Southwest Virginia. From there, he has always integrated that
solid musical grounding and natural-born talent with his own
incomparable approach to playing amplified, acoustic guitar and
composing original music. He’s also got a knack for choosing
interesting and appealing material from all realms of music with
guts, whether it’s a tune written by a fellow song-
writer/musician friend, or a surprise cover from any number of
musical acts all over the map. The combination is pretty
irresistible, and has earned Keel the highest respect and billing
among the top acoustic and jam rock musicians alive, and some
now gone: Tony Rice, Chris Thile, Steve Martin, Tim
O’Brien, Vassar Clements, Sam Bush, Del McCoury, John
Hartford, Bill Monroe, Peter Rowan, and Danny Barnes to
name a few. And his fierce, high-spirited energy also appeals to
young rockers, jammers and alt-country pickers and fans who
are equally drawn to Keel’s blazing guitar power, the deep
rumbling voice, his earthy and expansive song-writing, and his
down-home-gritty-good-time charm. Keel convenes and
collaborates with JamBand and Rock giants Greensky
Bluegrass, Infamous Stringdusters, Yonder Mountain String
Band, Keller Williams, Jorma Kaukonen, David Nelson,
Little Feat, Railroad Earth, String Cheese Incident, Fruition
and Leftover Salmon, amongst others.