Cole Quest & the City Pickers
Rooted in tradition yet driven by a restless New York energy, Cole Quest and The City Pickers carry American folk music forward with wit, warmth, and originality. Led by dobro player, songwriter, and vocalist Cole Quest — grandson of folk icon Woody Guthrie — the band has carved out a singular place in today’s roots music landscape, blending the storytelling spirit of folk with the drive and precision of bluegrass.
Their latest album, Homegrown (Jalopy Records, 2025), produced by Grammy Award–winning engineer Steve Rosenthal, brings the band’s journey into full focus. The record weaves four new originals with reimagined takes on songs by John Hartford, Peter Rowan, and Woody Guthrie himself, linking Cole’s own creative voice with his grandfather’s enduring legacy. No Depression hailed it as “an album that deftly moves the legacy of Woody Guthrie along in all the right ways.” Critics like Songlines (UK), Glide Magazine, and the Berkshire Eagle have noted how the band honors its lineage while forging its own path. Their broad recognition includes a Bluegrass Standard cover (August 2025) and a feature in Bluegrass Unlimited.
Formed by friends with a shared love of bluegrass and traditional American music, Quest first pulled the Pickers together in 2017 to record their debut self-titled project at the legendary Magic Shop studio. They went on to release their acclaimed EP Self [En]Titled on Omnivore Records in 2021. Over the years, they’ve won the Podunk Bluegrass Festival band competition, toured Germany multiple times, and shared stages with artists like Billy Strings, Sierra Hull, and Tony Trischka.
But beyond accolades, what defines Cole Quest and The City Pickers is community. Their music bridges the intimacy of a Guthrie family sing-along with the rhythmic pulse of bluegrass, creating a sound that feels both timeless and immediate. Whether on record or on stage, they deliver an energizing, joyful performance that creates spaces where tradition meets innovation, laughter meets resilience, and every listener feels at home.
— Ketch Secor / Old Crow Medicine Show
