Growing Into Bluegrass: The DellaValla Trio

For the young members of the DellaValla Trio, building a career in the biz requires full immersion in the bluegrass scene. For these talented teens, experiencing the recent annual SPBGMA convention for the very first time was a great way to dig deeply into the music and culture they love so much.

“We went mainly to support friends, to learn, and to jam our hearts out,” explained Joseph DellaValla, 17-year-old banjo player and vocalist for the family group. “We’ve been genuinely surprised by the connections that came out of just being there. We’ve had dozens of new folks follow us on Instagram or connect in other ways, and some from around the country have reached out about possibly playing together. That’s been really exciting, honestly, and pretty unexpected.”

His 14-year-old brother, John – who brings mandolin, fiddle, and vocals to the trio – joined him on the trip. John explained why events such as SPBGMA are vital.

“It feels a bit like stepping into a parallel universe, where everyone speaks the same language you do,” he said. “It’s not a typical festival; it’s more like a sprawling, multi‑floor bluegrass village that springs up inside a hotel for a long weekend. As first‑timers, we walked into the hotel and were immediately hit by the sound of overlapping jam circles tucked into every hallway, stairwell and open space.”

“The jamming never really stops,” he continued. “Before long, we found ourselves pulled into circles with people we’d never met who treated us like old friends. Even the well‑known musicians felt surprisingly approachable, wandering around with their instruments, happy to chat or jump into a tune. By the second day, the hotel felt like its own little universe, where time blurred, meals were optional, and friendships formed faster than we expected.”

In a comment that seems wise beyond his years, John added: “Being in that environment, surrounded by so many great players, bands and industry people, definitely lit a fire under us. These experiences are both humbling and super inspirational, because you realize that whatever amount of talent and success you may have, there are ten other people who are even better than you and just as deserving.”

Hailing from Jackson, New Hampshire, they’ve been honing their skills since they were little kids. Along with their sister – 19-year-old guitarist and vocalist, Molly – they first started playing for others when they’d appear at venues that are really quite forgiving for youthful beginners.

“We visited our local nursing homes and adult day centers regularly for singalongs,” Molly explained. “Since we formed as a band, we have continued to play monthly at most of them. In the past decade that has been, I think, in the hundreds. They are some of our favorite gigs because many of the guests have watched us grow up and put up with us when we were not very good. They forgive us when we make mistakes and sing along with their whole hearts. Now that we have gotten bigger, they come to our shows, and they will even bring friends and family. They root for us like we are their own.”

In 2022, they first performed in public as a proper bluegrass band. They appeared at an open mic night, then were offered a regular restaurant gig. Soon, they made a guest appearance on a local radio variety show. 

“We’ve played at lots of restaurants, and we try to play at as many fundraisers and community events as possible,” Joseph said. “Probably the most memorable experience we’ve had performing has been opening for the Clements Brothers at Stone Mountain Arts Center in Maine. Then, this last November, being invited back to headline by ourselves. We can remember seeing Bela Fleck there and thinking that we really would have ‘made it’ if we could ever get to be up there. 

“Honestly, it was better than imagined,” he added.

Molly recounted one of her favorite gigs of their past, an appearance for The Cold River Radio Show, at The Majestic Theater in Conway, New Hampshire. It was a sold-out show, and they’d rehearsed Danny Barnes’ version of Don Stover’s “Black Diamond.” 

“John had practiced Jason Carter’s solo, but he was still pretty little and it was like, when the spot for the solo came, it seemed the whole crowd collectively held their breath,” Molly reminisced. “Admittedly, Joseph and I did, too.”

She said she could see her mom and dad in the front row, and “they were frozen while they waited to see if he could get through it!”

“When he did it, everyone went crazy,” she said. “And then they did the same thing for ‘Randy Lynn Rag.’ Then when Joseph came out on his own to play the John Henry Medley with his Keith Tuners, people got rowdy. I think at one point someone threw a hat up in the air.”

Other favorite gigs include appearing on the Stage Too! at Ossipee Valley Strings Festival; Yale’s Family Weekend; and Maine’s The Fryeburg Fair, at which they’ve performed five times.

Upcoming shows include some big events. In June, they’re slated for the Main Stage at the Market Days Festival in Concord, New Hampshire. They’ll also be on the Main Stage for the Labor Day event, The Crooked River Gathering.

Right now, the DellaValla Trio is in the middle of mixing their very first record.

“That project became this sort of time capsule of the last few years…the places we played, the people who showed up for us, all the little inside jokes that somehow turned into setlist staples,” Molly said. “Most of it is covers of songs we’ve loved playing together – and that remind us of growing up together – but Joseph slipped in a few originals that really tie the whole thing together.”

Joseph is also working on his own solo project, which he said gives him “space to experiment and figure out what my own writing or recording voice might sound like in the future.”

When asked about where the trio might be in the future, John presented more wisdom.

“We’re not trying to rush anything,” he said. “We just want to play. This album made sense because of where we were in our lives and how we wanted to mark the time. We’re really just starting out, and there’s a lot more we need to learn.”

“The main goal right now is to keep playing, keep learning, and soak up as much as we can for as long as we get to do this,” he added. “We’re lucky to have gotten to do this much in such a kind community.” 

https://www.dellavallatrio.com/