Celebrating the Music of Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard
Hailing from New England, The Hazel Project pays tribute to the music written or recorded by bluegrass pioneers Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard. These groundbreaking women tackled subjects from social injustice to the hardships of workers, as well as love and loss. The Hazel Project weaves the rich history of the songs into their performances. With Betsy Green (fiddle), Gretchen Bowder (banjo), Winnie Roy (guitar), and Lindsay Talmage (bass), the group features strong lead singing from each member and sweet soaring harmonies underpinned by traditional grassroots music. The Hazel Project was featured in Bluegrass Unlimited and has played at the Bluegrass Hall of Fame in Owensboro, KY as part of the ROMP festival, as well as many festivals throughout the Northeast. Their 2026 collaboration with bluegrass legend Alice Gerrard at the Joe Val Festival was a true honor for the band, culminating in a heartfelt performance that brought the audience to their feet.
Alice Gerrard and The Hazel Project at the Joe Val Bluegrass Festival, 2026. Photo by Tara Linhardt.
Top photo by Alex Steed.
Excerpts from Michael Daves’ interview with the Hazel Project at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame as part of the ROMP festival, Owensboro, KY, June 26, 2026. Check out the whole interview and his fantastic lessons on bluegrass singing at Michael’s ArtistWorks page: https://artwk.co/MichaelDaves