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Paul and Loren Barton are the Brothers Barton, a Bakersfield California bluegrass duo. They have toured extensively throughout the US, with Paul favoring the mandolin and Loren the guitar, they perform a repertoire of mostly original music. Chris Faletta, a freelance writer for Bluegrass Now, had this to say, “Paul, mandolin, and Loren, guitar, do it all extremely well, soulful vocals, thoughtful, emotive lyrics, incredible instrumentals, and creative, inspired compositions, be it traditional or modern bluegrass(Newgrass) even modern jazz. A big label needs to pick these guys up and run with them.”
Their first record, released in 1998, was simply called “The Brothers Barton”. It was a bluegrass album that featured Paul’s songwriting along with some traditional bluegrass. The brothers recruited fellow Californian Gabe Witcher to play fiddle and Phillip Bostic the Oklahoman to play banjo.
Their second CD, entitled “Originals” was recorded in December 2003 and released in January 2005. It features all original music written by Paul. Loren did much of the arranging and also played guitar on every track. This time the boys hooked up with famed producer Gary Ferguson, bassist Mark Schatz (Nickel Creek), banjo wizard Ron Stewart (JD Crowe) and fiddler Richard Greene.
The Brothers reputation has spread far and wide. For the past three years they have been touring with veteran bluegrass icon Richard Greene (Bill Monroe, Seatrain, Loggins and Messina) dubbing themselves “Richard Greene and the Brothers Barton”. RGBB released their first effort entitled “Shufflin” in 2005, which has received national airplay and has also been nominated for Roots Instrumental album of the year at the JPF Awards. The band was an official showcase band at IBMA in 2005.
When the Barton’s get a break from touring with Greene, they can be found performing with their own company which includes, Christian Ward on fiddle and Austin Ward on acoustic bass. This band has been together since 2005 and is working on a new recording.
The late great Forest Rose (Bill Monroe, Perfect Strangers) remarked of the brothers. "The Brothers Barton, as a duo or in the context of a full bluegrass band, keep the tradition alive and evolving "While their sound is steeped in tradition, the Brothers Barton are way too imaginative to be labeled preservationists. Their music is alive, spontaneous and accessible."
The Brothers have played at Rockygrass, Summergrass, Wind Gap, Supergrass, Mayville, IBMA Fanfest and numerous other concerts and festivals in the US. In 2005 the Brothers Barton won the National Bluegrass Playoffs in Victorville, CA and were invited back in 2006 to play Huck Finns Jubilee. They have shared the stage with folks like Merle Haggard, Earl Scruggs, Maria Mudaur, David Sanborn, Lost Highway, Jason Theiste (Smokin Armadillos), Kym Warner (The Greencards), Yonder Mountain String Band, Jerry Douglass and Tony Rice and many others.
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