Nickel Creek

Nickel Creek Artistfacts

  • 1989-2007, 2014-
    Sara WatkinsFiddle, Vocals, Violin
    Chris ThileBanjo, Mandolin, Harmony Vocals, Bazouki, Guitar
    Sean WatkinsGuitar, Mandolin, Vocals
  • Nickel Creek are the bluegrass trio of Chris Thile (pronounced "THEE-lee") and the siblings Sara and Sean Watkins. They spent much of the '90s playing festivals, which got the attention of Alison Krauss. She helped them land a deal with Sugar Hill Records, which released their acclaimed self-titled album in 2000.
  • In 2003, their album This Side won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album, beating Johnny Cash and Steve Earle for the honor.
  • They met in 1989 at a weekly bluegrass show at That Pizza Place in Carlsbad, California, when Chris and Sara were 8 years old and Sean was 12. They started performing together soon after.
  • Sara Watkins won the National Yodeling Championship in the Junior Female category in 1992.
  • Their first album, Little Cowpoke, is a collection of folk-country trail songs released independently in 1993.
  • In October 2000, Nickel Creek won the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Emerging Artist of the Year. In October 2001, they won the IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year, and Chris Thile also won the IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year.
  • Time magazine named them one of their Five Music Innovators for the Millennium in May 2001.
  • They took a very amicable hiatus in 2007 so they could work on other projects and take some time off. They made it clear they weren't breaking up by calling their tour the "Farewell (For Now) Tour." They returned to action in 2014 with a new album called A Dotted Line.
  • Chris Thile is also known for his group the Punch Brothers; Sara Watkins for her group I'm With Her. Both of these groups have won Grammy Awards, putting Thile and Watkins in a rare class of musicians who have trophies with two different bands.

Comments: 3

  • Todd from Westland, MiOne of their latest singles,the instrumental "Smoothie Song" for which they also made a video, features an unusual guest appearance on stand-up bass by Metallica bass player Robert Trujillo.
  • Brett from Somewhere, GaAmazing live performance! They incorporate covers from the likes of The Beatles, Sheryl Crow, Wilco, Coldplay and Pavement just to name a diverse few.
  • Anders from Skagen, DenmarkI was completely amazed when I fist heard "Reasons why" and "the hand song". I have never heard anyone with a voice like Sara?s, it is so beautiful
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