Biography

"When looking back at the development of the subgenre of newgrass music, what distinguished trend-setting bands such as Newgrass Revival and Skyline were the presence of a strong lead vocalist to match collective outstanding instrumental skills, a body of distinctive and unique material, and a collective ear for fine arranging. Fitzmaurice displays all of these strengths on what turns out to be, amazingly enough, their debut recording...This is a group with ability, style, and originality that are absolutely astonishing for being so new. They're definintely worth keeping an eye on, and one can only hope that they stay together long enough to carve out their own niche in newgrass music."
- Bluegrass Unlimited

Embracing a crossover sound between progressive bluegrass and alternative country, Fitzmaurice has captured the attention of people on both sides of the tracks. Virtually unknown just six months ago, the band finds themselves on the fast track to success, landing opening positions for such major progressive bluegrass acts as The Infamous Stringdusters, The Dixie Bee-Liners and Mountain Heart, as well as major country recording artists Jason Michael Carroll and Josh Gracin.

Recently, Fitzmaurice appeared on stage at the Lincoln Theater for a filming of the award-winning PBS series, Song of the Mountains, and were also featured in-studio guests on WAMU's Bluegrass Country Radio promoting their self titled debut album, "Fitzmaurice"

This young quintet, fronted by twenty-one year old identical twin sisters Maria and Sarah Fitzmaurice, has generated a rarely-seen amount of attention for a band that has just released their first album. At the beginning of 2010, they kicked off the year by placing in the Top 15 in FOUR CATEGORIES (Best Band, Best Female Vocalist, Best Fiddle, and Best Mandolin) in The Bluegrass Legacy's People's Choice Awards. With a daily expanding fan base that covers not only the US but also Europe and Australia, they are poised to rise to the top with the recent release of their debut album, and soon to follow music video.

The magic in this band is rooted in the fact that they are not just band mates, but also the best of friends, and this can clearly be seen on stage. The energy, interplay, and synchronicity they possess are characteristic of the most seasoned of bands, and their love for music comes across with clarity, absorbing the audience into their experience and generating a genuine bond between listener and performer.