September 14–16, 2007 • Flagstaff, Arizona
Pine Mountain Amphitheater / Coconino County Fairgrounds

The Bands

We've got a fabulous lineup for our 2nd Annual Pickin' in the Pines Bluegrass and Acoustic Music Festival, featuring some of the best tradtional and comtemporary bands anywhere! Our goal is to provide some of the tried and true favorites with some of the newer up-and-coming bands and also feature a showcase of Arizona talent with a variety that's sure to please everyone.

David Grisman Bluegrass Experience

For nearly 40 years, mandolinist/composer David Grisman has been busy creating "Dawg" music, a blend of many stylistic influences (including swing, bluegrass, Latin, jazz and gypsy) so unique he gave it its own name. In doing so, David has inspired a whole new genre of acoustic string instrumental music. The band includes Keith Little (Ricky Skaggs, Dolly Parton, the Country Gentlemen) on 5-string banjo, guitar and vocals, Jim Nunally (John Reischman & the Jaybirds) on guitar and vocals, Chad Manning on fiddle, Samson Grisman on bass and of course, David Grisman on mandolin and vocals.

Kruger Brothers

The Kruger Brothers, from Switzerland, have been performing professionally since 1973. Almost twenty years later, after playing together in various formations throughout Europe, Uwe Kruger on guitar, and Jens Kruger on banjo, teamed up with bassist Joel Landsberg to form the band as it appears on stage today. Kruger Brothers performances are exciting, calming, entertaining and spontaneous all-in-one, exhibiting their sheer joy in playing music. Add to that their personal musical development, along with their Classical European musical influences, and you have acoustic string music performed with a rich new flavor.

Chatham County Line

It is easy for the listener to instantly peg the band into a specific genre but singer, Dave Wilson explains, "We see ourselves more like a rock band without a drummer and cables than a 1940s traditional bluegrass band." He continues, "You see us up there with acoustic guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, stand-up bass, singing into a single microphone, all wearing suits, and you think we're a gonna sound like the Kingston Trio, but listen up 'cause you're gonna get rocked." Chatham County Line are Dave Wilson (vocals, acoustic guitar), John Teer (vocals, mandolin, fiddle), Chandler Holt (banjo, vocals), and Greg Readling (bass, vocals, pedal steel).

Sweet Sunny South

Sweet Sunny South is an acoustic old-time bluegrass band that plays a unique blend of new and traditional music. Banjo and mandolin player, Bill Powers, writes most of the band's songs, which take the listener on scenic journeys into dusty old American music. Cory Obert plays a mean old-time fiddle, sometimes with a Cajun flare and sings a solid high tenor. Rob Miller also writes songs, plays the D-28 and sings lead and harmony. The newest member, Shelley Gray (a.k.a. "Laura Ingalls Wilder-n-Swingin") plays the ol' Kay Bass, sings, hollers, and puts the "Sweet" in Sweet Sunny South. Sweet Sunny South represents the traditional music of greats such as The Stanley Brothers and the Carter Family at the same time drawing influences from more contemporary bands such as The Freighthoppers, The Wilders and The Reeltime Travelers.

Burnett Family Bluegrass

From the mountains of Northern Arizona comes the sound of Burnett Family Bluegrass. This is family music at its best with hard driving instrumentals and fine-tuned harmonies. The intricate breaks show a deep understanding about intimate musical detail that skyrocketed them from good to outstanding in the field of Bluegrass. Brian (Dad) guitar and mandolin; Connie (Mom) stand-up bass; Rachel (21) fiddle, mandolin; Jessie (18) mandolin, fiddle, guitar, banjo; Ryan (17) banjo, fiddle, guitar, and mandolin.

The Badly Bent

The Badly Bent started in Durango with a group of well-known musicians gathering to become the top of the bluegrass scene. The configuration of the band evolved to its current form in 2003. Sharing lead vocals are Pat Dressen (guitar) and Mark Epstein (banjo). Harmony vocals by Robb Brophy (mandolin). Jimmy Largent (bass), combined with the sought-after sound of Bill Adams (dobro), rounds out the ensemble of The Badly Bent. Although their musical prowess allows them to explore the edges of traditional music, the listener will find that the music never strays far from the roots established by the fathers of the genre.

True Blue

True Blue is as traditional as a band can get: not soft or polite, but compelling in a way that is both fresh and familiar. They bring together the three crucial elements of good bluegrass: instinctive harmonies, soul, and an organic rhythmic feel reminiscent of Flatt & Scruggs. This band is an example of what can happen when four people share a musical sensibility and joy in what they are doing.

Boulder Acoustic Society

Boulder Acoustic Society began with Kailin and Brad jamming together on Pearl Street in Boulder during the summer of 2003. Aaron joined the band soon after that. After a few open mics and coffee shop gigs, Scott was asked to join to provide the final piece of the puzzle in January 2004. Since then, BAS has been dedicated to both musical tradition and innovation through re-workings of forgotten musical pieces and the composition of new works for their "Neo Acoustic" quartet. Since the release of their second record, "8th Color", BAS has been all over the country playing big and small venues, festivals, house concerts and workshops. In July of 2006 they competed in the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Contest and placed 2nd place.

Fire Ridge

Fire Ridge is an award winning bluegrass band that plays a unique blend of traditional, contemporary and original music. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, the group has been together since 2005 and plays various venues throughout the State. Fire Ridge continues to gain a solid reputation for a lively stage show and for performing top notch music. During their shows you’ll find them working their tight vocal harmonies around a single microphone, captivating the crowd with their dynamic energy and dressed to impress. Fire Ridge won the prestigious Arizona State Bluegrass Band competition in November 2006 at the Wickenburg Bluegrass Festival. The band consists of four outstanding musicians who have honed their talents over many years and show their love for bluegrass music every time they step out onto the stage.

Voluntary String Band

The Voluntary String Band has been a staple of the Flagstaff acoustic music scene for several years with many strange and fantastic lineups. Its current incarnation is a foursome with banjo picker (and sole founding member) Matt Robinson, standup bassist Joe Sorren, guitarist/vocalist Ryan Heinsius, and fiddler/vocalist Kristin Straka. The VSB, while it may resemble a traditional string band lineup instrument-wise, is far from just a bluegrass band. The band's varying influences range from bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe and newgrass virtuosos Belá Fleck, Tony Rice, and Sam Bush, all the way to the Rolling Stones and glam rock legend David Bowie. The VSB are fans of the greats: Dylan, Cash, the Stones, Gram Parsons, and the Clash. Although the VSB hovers loosely around bluegrass, they always manage to venture into the untapped, outer reaches of the genre. Over the last few years the VSB has endured a lot of changes, yet they forge on, picking tunes and having a blast in their great mountain town of Flagstaff, Arizona.

Muskellunge Bluegrass

Prior to moving to Flagstaff in 1998, Nolan McKelvey (guitar) performed at the Newport Folk Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival and many other festivals across the United States. Nolan has been referred to as “One of the best songwriters of the Southwest.” Aaron Tyler (mandolin) has performed in and around Arizona for over twenty years and was the state champion mandolinist at the Wickenberg Bluegrass Festival in 1998. His playing has been referred to as “adrenolin” for his unmatched speed and dexterity. Bass player Tim Hogan has traveled the country in several nationally renowned acts including Acoustic Semi, and the In-Betweens. Frank Dedera (banjo) has performed at festivals throughout the southwest and four corners region.

GreenSky Reunion

Greensky

The GreenSky Bluegrass Band started performing as a trio in 1996. Original members, Julie Sullivan (guitar, vocals, currently of Heart Prairie), Keith Gomora (upright bass and vocals, currently of Gravy) and Aaron Tyler (mandolin, currently of Muskellunge Bluegrass), quickly won the hearts of the Flagstaff and surrounding communities with their homegrown style of bluegrass and swing, weaving in original material with high-powered instrumentals. Their repetoir included traditionally flavored songs and tunes, and more contemporary string music influenced by David Grisman, Tony Rice and Peter Rowan. Steve Borrick joined the band on banjo and guitar in 1998. The quartet went on to place in the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Festival in 2000.

Mars Hillbillies

The Mars Hillbillies take their name from Mars Hill, a prominent mesa west of Flagstaff. Each band member brings something unique and special to the Hillbillies’ bluegrass and old-timey sound. Rusty Tweed, on mandolin, is the founding and guiding member of the band. Bill Hudson’s unique clawhammer banjo style adds an interesting old-time twist, while Bill Vernieu contributes his solid lead and rhythm guitar work for the bluegrass sound. Kristin Straka’s aggressive fiddle style and haunting vocals provide extra spice, and Joe Sorren, a renowned artist in his own right, provides the solid bass foundation that brings it all together.

Presented by Flagstaff Friends of Traditional Music. Contact us at (928)525-1695 or PIPinfo@pickininthepines.org