Our Story

The story began in a house on King Springs Road in Johnson City, TN. One night after a picking party, Tyler Griffith (USA) and Josh Meade (USA) began to work up some new songs in the basement and had the idea to form a band. Quickly, Griffith and Meade picked up Josh Morgan (USA), Kylie Anderson (USA), and Tyler's roommates Owen Shinkel (NL) and Max Silverstein (USA) to complete the ensemble. At that, King Springs Road was born. The group focused upon showcasing original songs written with the band and songs written by Tyler and Kylie. The band released an EP in 2018 entitled Time for the Blues. Shortly after the release, the band took on an international alter ego when Tyler met a dutch girl, Nienke Bruinsma (NL). Trips to the Netherlands became a regular occurance as their relationship grew. Eventually, Nienke would become the bass player in the band. Coincidentally, Owen and Kylie became a couple as well and moved to Europe in 2019. Since then, the band went through some personnel changes and ultimately became a European-based project. The band now features Lukas Grabe (D) on Banjo, and Katja Grabe (D) on rhythm guitar and vocals.

Tyler Griffith - Lead Guitar & Vocals

 

Tyler comes from a musical family — his mother and uncle were part of a family bluegrass band that his grandfather ran in the 1970s, and his father was a pianist. Although he sticks with the guitar with King Springs Road, he also plays bass, mandolin, banjo, and trumpet.

 

In his younger years he has participated in many bands including Vicki & Crew, Grand Central, Deep Fryed Acoustiblasters, Jeremy Morris & the Harvest Road Band and Bridgewater. He leads King Springs Road on guitar, a project that has always had an international component. His professional career begun by joining Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper in June 2012, where Tyler played bass on Mike’s “On Down the Line” and the Grammy-winning “Tall Fiddler” album. During this time he was honored with two IBMA awards as part of Instrumental Group of the Year. After parting with Flamekeeper, Tyler played bass with Jeff Parker and Colin Ray until the pandemic caused its demise. Currently, he is a member of the Tennessee Bluegrass Band. ​

 

Tyler was born and raised a Hoosier in Avon, IN. He moved to the Tri Cities area of Tennessee in 2016, to attend the Bluegrass Program at ETSU.

 

He is currently living in Piney Flats, TN with his wife, Nienke, from the Netherlands. Tyler is excited about going back on the road and looks forward to seeing everyone out there!

 

Kylie Kay Anderson - Mandolin & Vocals

Kylie is originally from Utah, USA. Her dad taught her to play her first guitar chords at age 9 and she was introduced to bluegrass mandolin at age 13. Growing up, Kylie studied mandolin with one of the most respected bluegrass teachers in the Western US and stayed busy writing music and performing. Eventually, Kylie’s passion for music led her to study music at the university level, including studies in Music Therapy at Utah State University and in the Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies program at East Tennessee State University. Kylie’s music journey has continued to expand over recent years, including performing opportunities across the United States and Europe.

Owen Schinkel - Dobro & Vocals

Owen is originally from Drenthe, The Netherlands. Soon after first encountering traditional bluegrass music in 2013, Owen picked up the Dobro and hasn’t put it down since. At the beginning of 2017 Owen left the Netherlands to study in the Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies Program at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee. While in Tennessee, Owen gained an impressive education in bluegrass and country music, and was mentored by some of the finest musicians in the business. In addition to the Dobro, Owen is a knowledgeable guitar player, and has become a skilled sound engineer.

Nienke Griffith-Bruinsma - Bass & Vocals

 

Nienke comes from Friesland, Netherlands. Starting out as a music lover in hard core metal, she eventally found her way into the European Bluegrass scene. Finding herself at home in the festival going group, the Flying Caravan, she enjoyed going to different festivals and partaking in the music being made. After meeting Tyler Griffith, she signed up to play bass on a few songs on one of the shows. She ended up filling in with one of King Springs Road's first European tours. After playing multiple shows on that tour and finding the passion for Bluegrass bass, she has become our favorite Bass player. Her groovy bass playing sets mood and unmovable foundation for King Springs Road.

Lukas Grabe - Banjo & Vocals

Lukas Grabe, from Leer, northern Germany started playing the banjo at the age of 14. He has been member of the Heiko Ahrend Bluegrass Band since 2015. In early 2018 Lukas met Tyler Griffith at bluegrass festivals in the Netherlands, which resulted in him being part of the european version of King Springs Road that first started performing in winter 2018. Major influences on his playing are JD Crowe, Earl Scruggs, Terry Baucom and Ron Stewart.

Katja Grabe - Rhythm Guitar & Vocals

Growing up in northern Germany Katja was surrounded by country music since she was born. Her steel guitar playing father Erwin Wilken toured with his band Kentucky Five over several decades and had a great influence on his daughters love for traditional American music. Mainly Katja found her passion for singing and started to play rhythm guitar to complement it. She played in different configurations and toured through Germany, England, Belgium and the Netherlands in 2016 with Two of a Kind. After having a great time playing with King Springs Road in sessions or for some songs on stage Katja became member of the band in January 2023.