Minnesota's Trampled by Turtles has been called the Ramones of bluegrass music. Since its 2004 debut, Songs From a Ghost Town, the band has gathered plenty of touring miles under its collective shell. The Turtles are especially popular on the summer-festival circuit, but the guys are just as at home playing punk-rock basement shows. They adhere to genre traditions while simultaneously testing new facets of their thoroughly American music. Besides, we can't think of any other indie-bluegrass group that drops quotes by Benjamin Franklin on its website. Now that's roots.
