Musicians

Music Lineup for Festival 2010

The SPINNEY BROTHERS from the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Canada, the Spinney Brothers are comprised of Allan Spinney, Rick Spinney, Gary Dalrymple and Terry Mumford. Brothers Allan and Rick debuted their band in 1992, showcasing a tight brother duet vocal style that was immediately recognized for it's energetic and distinctive sound. The cornerstone of the Spinney Brothers musical identity is the sound of traditional, southern-flavored bluegrass music with a unique East Coast Flair. The first generation bluegrass legends have been an important musical influence, yet their music is equally shaped by their personal lives and local heritage. By incorporating original material, which draws from various sources, the Spinney Brothers effortlessly intertwine the past with the present. The Spinney Brothers believe in freshness and excitement of traditional bluegrass music and are truly a must see Band.

FOUR CHORDS OF WOOD are an energetic group of talented performers based on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Known for their love of hard driving Bluegrass music, Their music comprises rich vocal harmonies and strong instrumental accompaniment. The members are all experienced performers grounded in stage presence and audience rapport. The group's professionalism and talent have brought numerous requests for appearances at clubs, private functions and public festivals. Four Chords of Wood is an emerging powerhouse Bluegrass band that appreciate the roots and traditions of Bluegrass both from the performers and audience’s perspective. They gather around a single microphone, lay down solid rhythm and dress it up with passionate lead vocals, tight harmonies and exciting instrumental solos. Expect to hear waltzes, blues, sentimental numbers, fiddle tunes, gospel and some foot to the floor ravers. Expect to see some fancy footwork as each soloist steps up to the mic and then make way for the next. But most of all, expect to be entertained!

FROSTY HOLLOW is the is truly a “Good ol’ Boys” family band out of Quilcene, Washington. John Bobo on the mandolin has his lovely daughter Pam to set the tempo on Bass. They have played together for more years than I am allowed to say. Bill Stone and his son Don add the rhythm and flatpickin guitars to the mix. Both have played guitar in other forms of music, but became hooked on bluegrass music at a festival in 1987. The bluegrass banjo duties have fallen to Norman Olsen just 19 years old from South Bent, Washington. Norman plans to go to collage in the fall but for now it’s all bluegrass. Frosty Hollow has some great tunes and a wonderful old bluegrass sound your gonna love.

Formed just over a year ago, LAST TRAIN made an immediate impact on the Vancouver Island bluegrass scene with stellar performances at both the Sooke and Coombs bluegrass festivals. Led by Eric Adams (Lost Connection, The New Nash Ramblers) LAST TRAIN delivers a hard-driving bluegrass sound characterized by soaring harmony vocals and blistering instrumental breaks. The very next moment, they can turn around and produce a lilting old-time sound thanks to banjo talents of Shanti Bremer, who is equally well-versed in both styles. Her versatility is matched by fiddler Heather Cunliffe, a native of Saltspring Island and former member of the creative folk group The Gruff. Both women are also talented harmony singers. Most of the lead vocals in LAST TRAIN are handled by Eric and guitarist Zev Roman. Zev's strong singing voice and ability to deliver a song with feeling and emotion stems from a lifelong affection for bluegrass. He plays a powerful rhythm guitar and contributes some flatpicked guitar solos. Rounding out the band is mandolinist Michael Brooks, a highly creative musician and composer who writes most of the LAST TRAIN'S instrumentals.

SKAGWAY The original members from Skagway (Dinah, Ira, Natalie, & Darrin Wiebe) played together as a unit for the first time at a late-night kitchen jam after a gig in the spring of 2006. Two bands, the Cherry Bridge String Quartet, which Darrin, Ira and Dinah were in and The Lonesome Paisleys, which Natalie and Darrin were in, joined forces after the gig along with many others and a legendary kitchen jam took place. The seed was first planted then of combining forces to create a serious bluegrass band. The group got together in December 2007 and began rehearsing. Their performances to date include venues like the Dancing Bean in Chemanius & The Chapel at Providence Farm near Duncan; they were also featured at the Coombs Country Bluegrass Festival in August 2008. In September 2008, Darrin moved to Saskatoon to pursue studies in the medical field (brave lad, that one! and smart too!), and Duncan's Tad Ruszel stepped in to pick up where Darrin left off. (wait till you hear this one - he's got some mad pickin' under those fingers!) With the new lineup intact, things are looking good for this up-and-coming band.

Bryon Clayton Thomas & Don is a Bluegrass vocal group from the Cowichan Valley. Consisting of four individuals with distinct personalities and eclectic musical styles melded together to form a bluegrass band that is steeped in tradition, personality and character that can only be created by “Bryon Clayton Thomas & Don”. “BCT&D” originally got together almost five years ago to have some fun playing music and building and arranging vocal harmonies. One gig led to another and now they have become the valley’s local favorites, filling venues where-ever they perform. “We do it for the fun” says “BCT&D”; “we get a real high sharing laughs and music with our listeners.” The band consists of Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Electric Bass and Banjo and just the right amount of humour and humility to make it fun to be a part of.

The CLOVER POINT DRIFTERS are a bluegrass band from Victoria BC Canada. Their repertoire consists primarily of traditional bluegrass songs, with a sprinkling of country, folk, blues and pop melodies served up in the bluegrass style. Their songs feature close heartfelt duet and trio harmonies, backed by strong banjo, dobro and mandolin accompaniment. The band has been active since January 2000, but the members each have a decades-long love affair with bluegrass music.