Cooper's Uncle This group of ambitious, young musicians has grown into one of Austin's premier Bluegrass acts. After meeting at an open mic, the band started really 'pickin' and a grinnin'' together at a weekly BBQ, deemed 'Bluegrass Friday'. These family-style get-togethers quickly sparked a fuse in the Austin music scene and Cooper's Uncle began making many loyal friends and fans. They have now gone from a backyard get-together to a weekly show at Stubb's, to playing Old Settlers Music Festival, the Austin City Limits Festival, and playing several shows at South By Southwest. Their fresh renditions of traditional Bluegrass songs captivate audiences. They are band that can be enjoyed by all ages, yet for the true music critic, their style and talent can't go unnoticed. Add in their upbeat energy and originality, and they have something that old Bill Monroe, himself, would be proud of. Cooper's Uncle stays true to the way Bluegrass was traditionally played, yet adds a young flair to a musical genre with a deep-rooted history. Cooper's Uncle consists of Todd Michael on guitar, James Dinkins on banjo, Tyler Balthrop on mandolin and Brad Degge on the bass. At a Cooper's Uncle show, you will be entertained in the old-fashioned style. They use just two condenser microphones set up in the center of the stage. This is what sets them apart from other string bands... just acoustic instruments played into microphones. It's what they like to call "Organic Music". This is how Bluegrass was played 50 years ago, and that is how they play it today.