Youth is wasted on the young, said some smart writer, who had never heard Heartbreak Hill.   Heartbreak Hill is a four-piece band that extends the roots tradition of bluegrass music into some new, high-energy areas that touch on the future of folk-pop as well as the past of country music. And, yes, this band is young. Young, but experienced.  After all Dan Whiteley's career is almost twenty years old, and he's only in his mid-twenties now.  As the band's fiery and creative mandolin player, he has a résumé that includes performances on stages and in studios all over North America, in genres such as blues, jazz and folk, and, of course, bluegrass. Then take his older sister, Jenny.  She sang on Raffi's multi-platinum kid's albums, cut a track on a Joni Mitchell tribute album and she and Dan are still members of The Junior Jug Band with their father and uncle (Chris and Ken Whiteley).  Now Jenny is Heartbreak Hill's bass player, singer and one of its acclaimed songwriters. The other woman on stage is Dottie Cormier;  she brings a true sense of tradition to the band, and more to the point she's a powerful singer, a rock-solid guitarist and a songwriter with passion and intensity. Finally, check out Chris Quinn, who disproves all those tired old banjo jokes by taking a lively, aggressive approach to an instument who's very mention conjures images of appalachian front porch swings and hot, bluegrass jam sessions. Some writers cite Gen-X music, whatever that means, when they enthuse about Heartbreak Hill.  But this is a band that has really built its reputation not on hype, but on the music it plays and the way it plays it.  Some of the repertoire consists of songs made famous by the bluegrass pioneers, but much of the music in a typical show are sparkling original songs that the band has written.  The four members of Heartbreak Hill just keep playing.  They've taken their music to clubs, concert halls and coffee houses, and along the way they've earned their credits on radio and television.  They've had jam and toast at Stewart McLean's Vinyl Cafe, they've dragged themselves out of bed for Breakfast Television and been featured on TVO's Studio Two program.  They've played folk festivals and they've stolen the show at Fred Eaglesmith's annual picnic, who'll tell you simply: "These guys are the real deal."  All of their hard work has paid off in the form of a JUNO nomination in the category of "Best Roots Traditional Album" for 1998. Heartbreak Hill is four years old.  As demand for their infectious mix of contemporary influences and the bluegrass tradition continues to grow, so does the band's energy, its performance skills, and its instrumental and vocal approach.  Audiences want great songs, excellent playing, and a show that has both substance and entertainment value. Heartbreak Hill delivers all that -- and the sheer joy of timeless music.