What began as a group of friends gathering for Thursday night jam sessions during the COVID era has blossomed into one of bluegrass music's most exciting new ensembles. Throwdown Thursday brings together an impressive lineup of musicians whose résumés include performances with some of the genre's most respected acts, including JD Crowe, American Drive, Kenny & Amanda Smith, Blue Moon Rising, Grasstowne, David Parmley, and Newtown. United by a shared love for hard-driving bluegrass and a desire to preserve the energy of the genre's 1990s sound, the band has transformed from an informal living-room gathering into a recording and touring act with a distinctive musical identity.
Their self-titled debut album showcases that identity across eleven tracks, blending traditional bluegrass roots, contemporary Americana influences, and songs that reflect the members' Christian faith. Highlights include "My Love Will Not Change," penned by acclaimed songwriters Billy Burnette and Shawn Camp, a moving declaration of steadfast love that endures through distance, hardship, and loss. The album concludes with the gospel-inspired "Jesus Is All I Need," underscoring the spiritual convictions that remain central to the band's music and fellowship.
In this exclusive interview, Throwdown Thursday reflects on their unlikely beginnings, the chemistry behind their all-star lineup, the making of their debut album, and their hopes for the future as they continue sharing their music with audiences across the bluegrass world.
To listen to their new album, click here.
Q: For readers who may be hearing about Throwdown Thursday for the first time, how did a series of living room jam sessions during the COVID era evolve into a full-fledged recording band?
Throwdown Thursday started as a group of friends who got together about once a month. Due to work schedules and life in general, Thursday nights always seemed to work best for everyone. We posted some videos of our jam sessions on Facebook, and Kati jokingly created the hashtag #ThrowdownThursday. That eventually led to the band name when Moochie Hart from Lake Cumberland Bluegrass Festival called and asked us to play on a Friday night that year. That became our first official gig, and the name just kind of stuck from there.
Q: Throwdown Thursday features musicians who have performed with some of bluegrass music's most respected artists. How has the experience and chemistry of this all-star lineup shaped the band's sound?
Some of the band members have played with very well-known artists and have enjoyed success with their own music as well. The biggest thing about our band is that we usually agree on the material we play, and we all tend to enjoy the same style of music. We lean toward a more aggressive 1990s-style bluegrass sound that seems to be slowly fading from today's bluegrass circuit. We also make a point of including as much original material and lesser-known songs as possible. We take all of our past experiences and blend them together to create what we feel is our own unique sound.
Q: Your debut album includes a mix of traditional bluegrass influences, contemporary Americana elements, and songs of faith. What was your vision when selecting the material for this project?
Honestly, there wasn't a grand vision or plan for the material when we started recording. The original intention was simply to make a project for fun and to have something we could look back on years down the road. We literally chose songs that we enjoyed playing and listening to ourselves. As we began posting videos online and people started reaching out to book us for performances, the project gradually evolved from being a living-room band endeavor into something much bigger.
Q: "My Love Will Not Change" was written by acclaimed songwriters Billy Burnette and Shawn Camp. What drew you to this song, and why did you feel it was an important part of the album?
Evan had heard Del McCoury's version of "My Love Will Not Change" and immediately loved the mandolin kickoff. We were looking for more material for Kati to sing, and I felt that the phrasing of the song naturally fit her vocal style. We changed the key to place it more comfortably in her vocal range. We also love the high-energy nature of the song and feel it fits our style perfectly, both on the album and in our live performances.
Q: The album closes with "Jesus Is All I Need." How important is faith in the band's music and identity, and what message do you hope listeners take away from that song?
We chose to close the album with "Jesus Is All I Need" because He truly is all that we need. Faith is extremely important to every member of the band. God has blessed each of us with the talent and opportunity to play the music we love. We are forever grateful for the plan of salvation that God has provided through His Son, Jesus Christ. We're also thankful that He continues to allow us to gather together-not only as bandmates, but first and foremost as friends. We hope listeners are encouraged by that message and reminded of Christ's sufficiency in every season of life.
Q: With your debut album now available, what are your hopes for Throwdown Thursday moving forward, and can fans expect more music or live performances in the near future?
Our hope is simply to continue making and playing music that we enjoy and that others enjoy as well. We absolutely plan to play as many shows as we can fit into our schedules, and we're already looking forward to getting back into the studio. Fans can definitely expect more live performances, and we hope to begin recording new music again very soon.
