Finland’s Jussi Syren & The Groundbreakers have announced two new members of the band. Jürgen Biller is their new banjo player, and Pauli Halme has joined on fiddle, taking them to a five piece band.
Syren, who has led the group since 1995 on mandolin, shared a brief introduction to his new bandmates.
“A talented multi-instrumentalist, Pauli is a well known figure in the Finnish roots music scene, playing weekly at Hilland Mondays country music club in Helsinki, and backing up top-of-the-line Finnish country and pop acts.
Jürgen, from Germany, is one of the most talented and exprienced banjo players in Europe, known from Four Wheel Drive and Helmut and the Hillbillies. He has also toured with US bluegrass legends, such as Jim Eanes and Bill Harrell. Some of the Groundbreakers gigs will be played by various Nordic banjo pickers.
We are exited to have these guys join our lineup.”
They join Syren on mandolin and lead vocals, J.P. Putkonen on guitar, and Tero Mäenpää on bass.
The Groundbreakers perform throughout Finland and western Europe, and deliver a powerful traditional bluegrass show based on Jussi’s original music. Their tour schedule is posted online.
