Founded in 2014 by Matt Ringressi and american roots music veteran Ruben Minuto (who continues to collaborate with the band occasionally), the Truffle Valley Boys have placed themselves at the forefront of the Blue Grass music scene in Europe.

They perform authentic Blue Grass in the most uncompromising way, around a single microphone and using period instrumentation, with the utmost attention to musical and aesthetic details, a fiery drive and a healthy dose of good-natured entertainment!


With thousands of miles traveled each year headlining major festivals and events, the band has won unanimous approval all over Europe for their live performances, and their records have received worldwide airplay and enthusiastic reviews on publications like Bluegrass Unlimited and Bluegrass Today...the Boys are even featured in a permanent exibith at the Bluegrass Music Hall Of Fame And Museum in Owensboro, KY!

The Truffle Valley Boys' show is a real throwback to era gone by, and their music is a tribute to the genuine, raw and powerful sounds of the more obscure regional Blue Grass acts of the 1950s...full steam ahead, indeed!

Matt Ringressi - Mandolin, fiddle, guitar, vocals

Matt was born in Forli, Italy, and he first heard the sound of a banjo on “the Muppet Show” when he was just three years old - he’s been hooked ever since.
He has been regularly performing on the most prestigious stages of the Blue Grass, Country and Rockabilly scene worldwide for over 15 years, both with his projects and backing up a number of legendary performers. He plays authentic, period-perfect mandolin (he is a firm believer in the use of oval-hole mandolins in Blue Grass!) as well as guitar and fiddle, and handles most of the lead singing as well as some harmony.
A real scholar of 1940s/1950s Blue Grass (and Country music in general), he complements his performing activity with discographical and music research work.

Germano Ciavone - Banjo, vocals

Germano comes from the small village of Carpinone, nestled in the mountains above the city of Isernia in Molise, Italy...a.k.a. the "Truffle Valley"!
With a fiery passion and in-depth knowledge of early Blue Grass music, he raises his banjo to the microphone and plays with unstoppable power and inventiveness. His style is derived from the study of 1950s players such as Don Stover, Ralph Stanley and Jim Smoak, along with his own sensibility, and his powerful tenor singing enriches the band's harmonies. He also sings lead on selected numbers.
Currently making his home in Yorkshire, England - he’s also a bona fide expert on early 1900s steam trains, and works part-time as an engineer on a number of historical railroad lines!

Denny Rocchio - Resonator guitar, guitar, vocals

Also hailing from the Molise region of Italy (Roccaravindola is the name of his native village), Denny is responsible for "all things guitar" in the band.
When performing on resonator guitar, he proudly carries on the tradition of all-too-often overlooked pioneers of the instrument such as George "Speedy" Krise, Bill Carver, Pete "Oswald" Kirby and Shot Jackson. His style on the instrument is a defining trait of the Truffle Valley Boys' sound.
Denny is also one of the very few proponents of the "thumb-and-finger style" and "Carter scratch" rhythm guitar styles worldwide, an extremely authentic touch that allows the band to employ seldom heard timing nuances.
He lends his rich voice to baritone parts on trio numbers, and sings lead on selected songs.

Emanuele Valente - Double bass

Originally from Eddie Lang's native village (Monteroduni, Italy), but now living in Genova, where he performs with top name jazz artits and works as a music tutor, Emanuele is the driving force that holds the band together.
Speaking of Lang, some of the legendary guitarist's musical spirit must have rubbed off on Emanuele, as he became interested (and extremely proficient) in many different forms of pre-1960s music at a young age: from Swing to Blue Grass and to early Bebop.
With the Boys, his double bass playing relies heavily on intricate, adventurous walking runs in the Howard Watts vein. Pushing and pulling the timing where needed (a must in Blue Grass!), his robust and powerful tone constantly sustains the band's rhythm.

Ruben Minuto - Guitar, vocals

One of the founders of the band, Ruben now collaborates with the Truffle Valley Boys occasionally, on selected show dates.
Hailing from Milano, he is one of the most eclectic proponents of American music in Italy, and has been for more than 35 years. He started playing professionally in 1985 - and soon found himself touring all over Europe and the USA with different Country and Blue Grass bands. His distinctive vocal style and guitar playing have made him one of Italy's most requested sidemen, and throughout the years he has worked, recorded and toured alongsides many renowned Americana and Blues artists.
Ruben currently fronts a number of projects in musical styles as diverse as Southern Rock, Americana, Blues, and Singer-Songwriter.