The Downtown Mountain Boys, based in
Seattle,
Washington, is
the
Pacific Northwest's most exciting and
accomplished bluegrass band. Veteran bluegrassers and recording artists Terry
Enyeart (bass, lead and harmony vocals), Dave Keenan (banjo, fiddle, lead and
harmony vocals), Don Share (guitar, lead and harmony vocals), Tom Moran
(mandolin), and Paul Elliott (fiddle), seen for years in such popular Northwest
bands as Ranch Romance, Rural Delivery, Rainy Pass, and Who’s Driving?, have
come together in a match made in musical heaven. Take three-part harmonies that
send shivers up your spine, add dazzling instrumental firepower, and you have
the sound of The DownTown Mountain Boys.
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-longlove affair
with bluegrass music.
Five on a String is made up of some very talented lads, starting with Garry Stevenson on lead guitar and baritone vocals. Garry's talents on the guitar have earned him the Western Canada Flat-picking Championship title three times. Garry also looks after of the musical and vocal arrangements for the band. Gordie Sadler on banjo and lead vocals, lays down that traditional Scruggs style of banjo inherent to bluegrass. Dan Mornar is the singing swaying, songwriting Bass and lead vocals, for the band. Huge Ellenwood plays fiddle in the group andit's said he plays like he wants the whole world to dance. Tim Eccles plays mandolin and also sings lead vocals. The newest member of the band Tim has added his great talent and yodeling ability to the band.
“Bryon Clayton Thomas & Don (BCT&D)” is a Bluegrass vocal
group from the
CowichanValley. 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.
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.
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
SaltspringIsland
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.
Shearwater;
Hailing from Vancouver Island in
British
Columbia, Shearwater Bluegrass Band is fronted by
acclaimed singer-bassist Tammy Fassaert, and features guitarist Dave Clarke and
hot young mandolinist James Whittall. Shearwater's signature sound comes from
combining refined vocal harmonies with blistering instrumental duets.
Shearwater has been making waves since it first started performing on the folk
and bluegrass circuit on the West Coast in late 2006, and its reputation is
spreading with the release of the group’s first album, Shearwater.
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.
Meet Flash In The Pan, a new group from the Victoria area. The name refers to the sudden nature of the bands' inception, which resulted from the Victoria Bluegrass Association looking for a feature act fall of 2008. These folks hope it will become an ironic title as they become a staple in the Victoria acoustic community. Original songwriting, as well as classic bluegrass and old time influences, characterize their sound. On top of all that, these guys can sing! The band lineup should be familiar to most members of the Victoria bluegrass scene. It includes Miriam Sonstenes (fiddle), Cluny Macpherson (banjo), Kelly Sherwin (bass), and Jeff Dill (guitar).
Everyone in the band is very excited about the show, their first festival performance!