Snohomish County entertainment
Festival headliner sings "in-your-face bluegrass"

By Diane Wright
Times Snohomish County bureau

RIQUE "[Bluegrass legend] Ralph Stanley ... and Dolly Parton are my heroes," singer Rhonda Vincent says. "I want to be Dolly and Ralph when I grow up."

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Rhonda Vincent has a lot in common with country-music superstar Shania Twain.

Like Twain, Vincent is gorgeous and blessed with impressive singing chops. And like Twain, she's won a slew of awards: She has been the International Bluegrass Music Association's best female vocalist four times and claimed a Grammy nomination for best bluegrass album.

But Vincent, a rising star, doesn't have nearly the same recognition as Twain. Bluegrass may be growing in popularity, but it hasn't approached the following of country music.

Nonetheless, Vincent will be one of the brightest stars at this weekend's annual Darrington Bluegrass Festival, where she will perform with her four-man band, the Rage, at 5 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, and 5:15 p.m. Sunday.

They'll perform such songs as "Kentucky Borderline," a hard-driving train saga that Vincent co-wrote with Terry Herd; "One Step Ahead of the Blues," another song written with Herd that throws a bit of blues into the mix; and "Ridin' the Red Line," about a female truck driver riding as fast as she can to get back to the ones she loves.

Vincent, who comes from a musical family, was a veteran recording artist by age 23.

"[Bluegrass] is a family venture. You can bring your baby and your grandma. 'O Brother' gave it that extra boost," Vincent said, referring to a 2000 Coen Brothers film, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" which helped boost interest in bluegrass music with its big-selling soundtrack.

"Rhonda does in-your-face bluegrass, strong and energetic," said her executive assistant, Julia Yocum. "... It's a powerful voice that was more done by the men."

Vincent was named the Female Vocalist of the Year from 2000 to 2003 by the International Bluegrass Music Association and has performed with Vince Gill, Randy Travis, Dolly Parton and Alison Krauss.
 
"I look at [bluegrass legend] Ralph Stanley. He's 78 years old, and his career was relaunched with 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' " Vincent said. "He and Dolly Parton are my heroes. I want to be Dolly and Ralph when I grow up."

Vincent is 42, with a 20-year marriage and two teenage daughters, and a touring schedule that puts her on the road 300 days a year, including gigs at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn.

Vincent finds outdoor venues such as Darrington to her liking.

"Outside is my favorite place to perform," she said. "It changes from day to day, and you never know what's coming next. Inside, it's the stage, a controlled environment.

"It shakes it up a bit in the open air."

Diane Wright: 425-745-7815 or dwright@seattletimes.com