Kruger Brothers: The Lyric Theatre
t’s a long way from Switzerland to North Carolina, but brothers Jens and Uwe Kruger, made the long trip and thrived in the world of country, bluegrass, and folk music. The two grew up in a family where music was an important part of life and they were exposed to many musical influences, including American folk music. In Europe, they performed regularly by the time they were 11 and 12, busking the streets with songs influenced by heroes like Doc Watson, Flatt and Scruggs, and Bill Monroe. The brothers received a recording contract from CBS Records while still in their teens, and in 1982, Jens was a featured guest artist of Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys at the Grand Ole Opry. He is arguably the first European banjo player to perform on that hallowed stage. The brothers eventually teamed with bass player Joel Landsberg, a New York City native, and the group has been performing as a trio since 1995.
