Ken Started wayward vessel in 2010 when he met fiddle player and singer Julie Schmidt at a bluegrass jam in Portland, Oregon.
Wayward Vessel was an Oregon-based progressive bluegrass band known for their eclectic, original sound blending traditional bluegrass with folk, making waves by finishing second at the 2012 Telluride Band Competition and releasing their second album, “Before the Grey,” around 2012-2013. While active and gaining attention in the early 2010s, the band has gone on indefinite hiatus, with members like Ken Chapple moving on to projects like “Another Country”, “Blue Ridge Tradition” and “Wrealist” in Asheville, NC, and Julie playing shows around Portland with remaining members as “Julie and the WayVes”.
https://waywardvessel.bandcamp.com/album/wayward-vessel
Press:
- https://bluegrassunlimited.com/article/wayward-vessel-before-the-grey/
- https://www.reverbnation.com/waywardvessel/press
- https://bigredstudio.com/wayward-vessel-recording/
Key Aspects of Wayward Vessel:
- Sound: Described as alternative, progressive bluegrass with lush harmonies, drawing comparisons to artists like Gram Parsons, and an “edge” to their folk sound.
- Recognition: Achieved significant recognition with their strong performance at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.
- Recorded Albums: Released “Wayward Vessel” in 2010 and follow-up “Before the Grey” (2012) on Dram Records, co-produced with Billy Oskay, featuring a blend of bluegrass and folk.
- Portland Scene: Established themselves in the Portland, Oregon, acoustic music scene.
https://www.facebook.com/waywardvessel