In the dangerous search for middle ground, Mustered Courage manage to find the link between Bill Monroe and Mumford & Sons, with just the right mix of mirth and mournful. There’s enough here to satisfy bluegrass traditionalists, with brilliant playing and diverse vocal arrangements, while younger fans should embrace the ‘newgrass’ approach. Unlike many similar acts, they don’t rely on cheesy covers (though their fun take on Boyz II Men’s I’ll Make Love To You works). If Mustered Courage are this good a year after formation, I can’t wait for album two. By Jeff Jenkins.

Laughing Outlaw/Inertia