I was sure the The Cleverlys’s name was made up. That turned out to be true, but the rest of my assumptions about the band turned out to be utterly wrong. These performers turn popular music into charming, legit-sounding bluegrass music, and I’m here for it! I love that they self-describe as comedy bluegrass, but don’t let the use of comedy fool you. They’re magnificent musicians.

The Cleverlys were initially pitched as a TV show, in the mid aughts, but while the show didn’t take off, the band sure did. Their leader and creator, Paul Harris, said his goal was to create something entirely new. He wanted to raise the standard for bluegrass comedy away from the “podunk hillbilly, black tooth, bow tie” stereotype. The group gained popularity throughout the early 2000s, performing at the CMA Music Festival and at the Grand Ole Opry, but they didn’t go viral until their genius cover of Walk Like an Egyptian caught the attention of YouTube viewers in the late 20teens. Egyptian is certainly genius, but honestly all their covers are fantastic. I also love the complete commitment to the bit they all exhibit on stage. They’re truly magic to watch. In the first video below, the band leader Digger Cleverly introduces the whole band, and it’s the perfect way to sum up the vibe of these brilliant entertainers.

You can follow The Cleverlys on their website and on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.