The High Street Drifters

The High Street Drifters, A bluegrass quartet based in South Australia and Victoria, are leaving an indelible mark on the music scene. Drifting around the country since 2021 they are fast making a name for themselves combining their commitment to the traditional bluegrass sound with their love for the Australian bush and what it means to play bluegrass music in the southern hemisphere. Featuring Mae Traeger on fiddle, Daniel Watkins on guitar, Justin Vilchez on mandolin, and Gage Stead on bass, this dynamic ensemble weave through intricate melodies and showcase their instrumental and vocal prowess pushing the boundaries of the genre.
The High Street Drifters captivate audiences with a fresh perspective on bluegrass, bridging the gap between tradition and innovation. With their debut record coming out in 2024 and recent appearances at Dorrigo Bluegrass Festival, Mountaingrass Festival, and Wirrina Bluegrass Festival, The High Street Drifters have garnered high praise solidifying their reputation as a must-see act in the future of Australian bluegrass.

Members of High Street Drifters:

Daniel Watkins:
Guitarist/Mandolinist and Australian Youth Bluegrass Award winner, Daniel Watkins moved from Newcastle to Melbourne to pursue his music career in 2011. Since then he has worked as a touring performer and go-to session musician in the Country/Folk music scene in Australia and the USA. As a member of such varied local acts as One Up Two Down, Buffalo Nickel, The Davidson Brothers, Freya Josephine Hollick, John Flanagan Trio; and Internationally alongside Chris Henry and the Hardcore Grass and Rachel Baiman,
Daniel provides solid vocals and instrumentation with a wealth of knowledge and passion to his various musical projects.

Gage Stead:
Gage (bass) After being bitten by the bluegrass bug in 2011, Gage has found his life completely taken over by the Aus folk scene. Gage considers himself primarily a bassist, but, like many working musicians, he has filled in the gaps by picking most things with strings including banjo, mandolin, cello, and guitar, to name a few. He brings this understanding of the roles of these instruments back to the “engine room” of a bluegrass band, and it shows, or, in his words, doesn’t: “If you can notice bass, it’s doin’ something wrong!” His passion for bluegrass music also shows through in his work as an instrument builder.
He is currently concentrating his efforts on creating classic Martin style acoustic guitars from the 1930s and 1940s.

Mae Traeger:
Mae Traeger is a fairly recent addition to the bluegrass world, yet her fiddle playing and singing has already become recognised by some prominent artists within the scene such as Michael Cleveland, Jason Carter, Justin Moses and Sierra Ferrell. Mae’s love and passion for bluegrass hit her like a wave and it quickly took over her life, with her time being completely dedicated to honing her craft. Mae has worked as a musician for the majority of her life, and started to play in venues around the age of eight, being heavily inspired by her parents who are also musicians.
One of Mae’s aims is to bring bluegrass to a younger audience within Australia and works hard to create a place within the genre for generations to come.

Justin Vilchez:
Justin Vilchez, a mandolinist from Melbourne, began his musical journey playing music at the age of eight. His love for melody led him to pursue a bachelor's degree in jazz and contemporary music. He then ventured overseas to Canada, where he joined the well-established bluegrass band, The Local Group, in 2018. With the band, he has recorded two albums and toured extensively across western Canada, performing at notable festivals such as Blueberry Bluegrass and Northern Lights Bluegrass. Justin's versatile talent allows him to excel in various genres, but his youthful and dynamic approach to Bluegrass has earned him the admiration of both fans and industry professionals. The folk ethic remains a strong influence in his music, taking inspiration from bluegrass greats such as Bill Monroe, Buzz Busby, and Joe Val. Bridging the gap between long-standing tradition and youthful flair, Justin continues to entertain and inspire audiences around the world with his unique take on tradition as well as his original compositions.