Bluegrass mandolin virtuoso and Berklee American Roots Music Program Alum to Celebrate Debut Bluegrass Album with Boston Release Concert

BOSTON, Massachusetts 

Berklee College of Music’s American Roots Music Program celebrates the success of Franco-American Class of 2026 alum Jean-Baptiste (JB) Cardineau, who will mark the release of his new bluegrass album with a special hometown concert at Club Passim in Cambridge on Thursday, August 13.

A mandolin player, songwriter, and old soul heralding a new and deeper version of bluegrass to a new generation, Jean-Baptiste has quickly earned recognition on the national stage. Recent honors include a 2026 nomination for the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Instrumentalist of the Year, first place in Mandolin at the 2026 FreshGrass awards, and winning Berklee’s Songwriting for Social Change Contest and PSB Records Songwriting for Social Protest and Change Contest.

The August 13 performance celebrates the release of The Eponymous Album by Jean-Baptiste Cardineau, a collection that mines in the fertile grounds of both the traditions of American roots music and a new generation of deep spontaneity shaped by Berklee’s collaborative and singular musical community.

“Jean-Baptiste Cardineau is single-handedly heralding a new and deeper version of bluegrass to a new generation.” — Matt Glaser

Jean-Baptiste carries forward a deeply rooted musical lineage while bringing a distinctive and unique perspective to the instrument. At Berklee, JB further developed that tradition through the American Roots Music Program, whose emphasis on bluegrass, roots songwriting, old-time fiddle music, and various other branches of the American musical family tree. This program has helped launch the careers of many of today’s leading roots musicians.

Jean-Baptiste Cardineau & The Local Heroes are a Boston-based bluegrass band led by Franco-American mandolin player, singer, and songwriter Jean-Baptiste Cardineau, one of the fastest-rising young voices in bluegrass music. Mining the fertile ground between traditional bluegrass, old-time mountain music and early country, the band carries forward a bygone tradition with timeless hard-driving instrumentals, powerful three-part harmonies, gospel songs and original music. His distinctive and instant-classic “Nouveau-Traditional” sound has already brought him to some of the world’s premier bluegrass main stages, including Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, RockyGrass, Thomas Point Bluegrass Festival, and Joe Val Bluegrass Festival.

The album release concert will feature Berklee students Arlea Forbes-Prater, Micah Phillip and recent alum Jack Holland with many special guests to showcase original music alongside deeply traditional bluegrass music.

Event Information

Album Release Concert
Thursday, August 13
Club Passim
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Doors: 7pm
Show: 8pm

Tickets are available through Club Passim or through link: