When you think about the sounds that make bluegrass come alive, the banjo, fiddle, guitar, and mandolin may be the first instruments that come to mind. But holding it all together is the steady pulse of the bass—and few musicians have made that role their own quite like Travis Book.
A longtime member of the Grammy Award-winning The Infamous Stringdusters, Book has spent nearly two decades bringing his upright bass playing, powerful vocals, and songwriting to stages around the country. He’ll bring his own unique perspective on roots music to the Earl Scruggs Center as part of our Roots Music Revue series.
From Colorado to the Bluegrass World
Book grew up in Colorado and attended college in Durango, where he first became deeply immersed in the bluegrass scene. Along the way, he became part of the Broke Mountain Bluegrass Band, a group whose members would go on to become important figures in the progressive bluegrass and roots music world.
In the mid-2000s, Book joined the group that would become The Infamous Stringdusters. Since then, he has served as the band's upright bassist, lead and harmony vocalist, and one of its principal songwriters.
The Stringdusters have built a reputation for pushing the boundaries of bluegrass while maintaining a deep respect for its traditions. The band blends bluegrass, Americana, country, and indie-folk with the improvisational energy of a live jam band.
For Book, the bass isn't simply about keeping time. It provides the foundation that allows the rest of the band to stretch, experiment, and explore.
More Than a Bass Player
While Book is perhaps best known for his work with The Infamous Stringdusters, his musical world extends far beyond one band.
His work as a vocalist and songwriter has become an important part of the Stringdusters' sound, and he released his debut solo album, Love and Other Strange Emotions, exploring a more personal side of his songwriting and musicianship.
He is also the host of The Travis Book Happy Hour, a live music and conversation series that brings together musicians from across the roots music spectrum. His regular shows in Brevard, North Carolina, range from bluegrass and folk to jazz, blues, rock, and swing, reflecting his broad musical curiosity.
That same curiosity is what makes Book such an interesting voice for the Roots Music Revue.
Finding the Connections in Roots Music
At its heart, the Roots Music Revue is about more than a particular genre. It's about the stories, traditions, musicians, and musical connections that have shaped American roots music.
Book's career is a perfect example of those connections.
His music begins with the traditions of bluegrass but doesn't stop there. Through The Infamous Stringdusters, his solo work, collaborations, and live performances, he explores what happens when musicians respect the past while continuing to push the music forward.
Today, Book calls Brevard, North Carolina, home, making his connection to the musical community of the Southern Appalachians especially fitting.
Get to Know Travis Book
Whether you know Travis Book as the bassist and vocalist of The Infamous Stringdusters or you're discovering his music for the first time, the Roots Music Revue offers an opportunity to hear the stories behind the music directly from the people who live it.
Come hear Book share his experiences, influences, and perspective on the ever-evolving world of roots music—and discover why the bass player isn't always just the one keeping time. Sometimes, he's helping lead the way.
Join us at the Earl Scruggs Center for Roots Music Revue and get to know Travis Book!