Durango Bluegrass Meltdown

The Durango Bluegrass Meltdown has a long and impressive history of being ahead of the curve in booking up-and-coming greats. Some of the earliest festival dates of bands that went on to be major headliners across the country happened on the intimate, 250-person stages of the Meltdown. We're talking about bands such as Steep Canyon Rangers, Chatham County Line, The Reeltime Travelers, The Infamous Stringdusters, Town Mountain, and others (did you know that Nickel Creek played the Meltdown's Farquahrts stage in 1997?).

The festival did it again for 2026, bringing unknown-to-the-West, jaw-dropping, banjo phenom, Ettore Buzzini, and his top notch band. He connected with talent scouts and management representatives at the festival and his name is now being seen at an increasing number of festivals. His skills (and wonderful personality) will take him far, but we can look back to the 2026 Meltdown as a jumping off point for what's to come in bluegrass for the many years ahead.

Check out some brand new music from our friend, Ettore!

*** NEW MUSIC ***

www.pxrec.com

“Out in the Marshy Waters,” an original by Ettore Buzzini is now available on all platforms

● An Appalachian murder ballad in a Southern Gothic setting
● Featuring Ettore on vocal banjo and guitar
● Powerhouse cast of backing musicians: Mark Schatz, Christopher Henry & Patrick McAvinue
● Newest single from album Blue, Blue, Blue - which will be released August 7th

Charlotte, NC — Fascinating bluegrass wunderkind Ettore Buzzini serves up a short-form, Southern Gothic murder ballad with his new single “Out in the Marshy Waters.” The fast-paced tale blends banjo-driven bluegrass with psychological drama, set among cypress swamps and shadowy marsh. The song is the frantic confession of a tortured soul consumed by a guilty conscience.
Ettore’s distinctive style and songwriting ability propel the song with energy, using bluegrass drive to hasten the feel of the low country thriller. Blending the swamp-haunted atmosphere that recalls Charlie Daniels’s “The Legend of Wooley Swamp” with the psychological unraveling of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “Out in the Marshy Waters” spins the tale of a soul chased by the guilt of his crime. Drawing from the Appalachian tradition of murder ballads, the song rapidly unfolds towards a tragic end.
Buzzini says: “I’ve always been drawn to storytelling in songs - artists like Charlie Daniels & Del McCoury, strong stories with imagery and a good plot line. I’ve always loved the mood created by those great storytellers, like in the ‘Wooly Swamp’, and ballads like ‘White House Blues.’”

With ‘Out in the Marshy Waters,’ Ettore further cements the growing belief among musicians and industry veterans that he is a generational talent. While his prodigious banjo ability and charismatic stage presence first drew attention within the bluegrass world, the song reveals something far deeper at work. Combining elite musicianship with cinematic storytelling and sophisticated songwriting craft, Ettore is emerging as far more than a young virtuoso — he is becoming one of the most distinctive artistic voices of his generation, leaving listeners eager to see where his evolution leads next.

Listen to “Out in the Marshy Waters” wherever you stream music and catch a live show near you.
Upcoming Tour Dates

6/17 - WDVX Summer Series Yee Haw Brewing
6/19 - Greenville, NC - Poe Mill Music Hall
6/20 - Charlotte, NC- Charlotte Folk Society - Front Porch Concert Series
Stay up to date on all shows, new releases and more by visiting EttoreBuzzini.com

About Ettore Buzzini

Ettore Buzzini (pronounced like “Letter-A”) is being hailed as a “generational talent” “total package” and “bluegrass heartthrob” in bluegrass music. The young Swiss-American artist’s performances are rooted in tradition, but with a unique, innovative banjo style, distinctive vocals and a unique gift of songwriting. Ettore’s unique music weaves together the iconic acoustic sounds of bluegrass, the youthful energy of rock guitar virtuosos, and the emotional impact of classical romantic music.

Ettore has been garnering attention for his unique bluegrass intensity–winning the prestigious FreshGrass award, and being featured by Bela Fleck and Pete Wernick (Hot Rize). His new album BLUE BLUE BLUE is coming this summer, featuring Bluegrass legends Danny Paisley, Michael Cleveland, and Christopher Henry.
He has been featured at Merlefest, FloydFest, Durango Meltdown, WDVX Big Plate, Bela Fleck Banjo Concert, IBMA Wide Open Bluegrass Raleigh, and countless others. PBS Woodsongs called him “One of the best young bands in America!”
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More information:
[email protected]
www.ettorebuzzini.com

Patuxent Music
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