Imagine your favorite death-metal band going full-on bluegrass - that’s the sound of Bridge City Sinners. Punk as hell, roots as deep as the Pacific Northwest. This fiery acoustic five-piece has been on our wishlist for a while, and we’re pretty sure we’re not the only ones. Attentive and frequent RBF-goers might have spotted one of the band members in 2025: fiddler Lightnin’ Luke made a guest appearance during The Devil Makes Three’s show. Now he’s back in Rotterdam with his own band, alongside frontwoman Libby Lux (vocals/banjolele), Michael Sinner (dobro/vocals), Clyde McGee (banjo/vocals) and Scott Michaud (double bass/vocals).

In a revolutionary, completely DIY way, Bridge City Sinners have found the perfect balance between authentic genres like folk, bluegrass, and depression-era jazz on one side, and punk, metal, and hardcore on the other. They never fall into clichés, and they resist the urge to overuse big guns like distorted guitars or double-bass drum blasts. Their street-musician past, working with limited resources, has been a masterclass in skill and mindset. Pure acoustic power is what this band is all about, with the fierce voice of their striking frontwoman as an extra weapon. Her reflective, thoughtful, and universally relatable lyrics hit listeners with maximum impact.