Grace van't Hof

Michigan’s Grace van’t Hof discovered the banjo in high school when they built a five-string prototype that won second place in a statewide science olympiad. Inspired by a classical and liturgical music background and artists from Charlie Poole to Puccini, Grace’s banjo, ukulele, and accordion playing proffer equal parts rhythm and ornamentation to projects of varied musical genres, though never straying too far from the genre bending pop, country, and stringband music of the 1920s and 30s.

A founding member of both the Grammy-nominated group Della Mae, and the internationally known oldtime group Bill and the Belles, van’t Hof’s career has taken them around the world. In addition to performances with various Detroit ensembles, Grace also tours the U.S. and beyond with the bluegrass group Chris Jones & the Night Drivers.

In their writing and solo work, Grace seeks to explore, map, and poke holes in the varied and complicated roles of men, women, and those in between in early country, bluegrass, gospel and old-time music.

Of Grace’s time with Bill and the Belles, Rolling Stone Magazine said, “[they are] committed to helping early country music remain appreciated - not just replicated.”

‍