The Kruger Brothers

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The Kruger Brothers’ dedication to Americana music is sincere and profound.

—No Depression

The Krugers are nothing short of magnificent.

—Bluegrass Journal

The Kruger Brothers’ remarkable discipline, creativity, and ability to infuse classical music into folk music has resulted in a unique sound that has made them a fixture within the world of acoustic music.

Originally from Switzerland, brothers Uwe (guitar, lead vocals) and Jens Kruger (banjo, vocals) began playing North American folk music at an early age and were particularly inspired by recordings of Doc Watson, Flatt and Scruggs, Bill Monroe, and other progenitors of country, bluegrass, and folk music. Their first public performances were as a duo, busking on the streets of cities throughout eastern and western Europe. After gaining a recording contract as well as a radio show on SRG SSR, the Swiss public broadcaster, they teamed up with bass player Joel Landsberg from New York, New York, inaugurating a trio that has been playing professionally together since 1995. The first recording project to include Landsberg was Behind the Barn, Vol. 2, released in 1997. The Kruger Brothers moved to the United States in 2002 and are based in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

The group is highly regarded within the world of acoustic music in North America. They have gained the attention of some of the musicians, including Bill Monroe, Doc Watson, Tut Taylor, and Bobby Hicks, that once served as their models. Watson has said, “The Kruger Brothers are just about as fine a band as I’ve ever played with. . . . I love to play music with them.”

In 2013, Jens Kruger was named the fourth recipient of the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass Music. He has been inducted to the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame and was nominated for Banjo Instrumentalist of the Year by the International Bluegrass Musician Association (IBMA) in 2014.