Bands
Bluegrass Festival Entertainment:
The following bands have been scheduled for 2013:
Sons and Brothers (Headliner Band)
Sons and Brothers – Colorado’s hottest brother band. The group combines the best elements of western, bluegrass, Gospel, and country music into one completely unique and eminently entertaining presentation of music and stories. Led by the three Wolking Brothers, Mike, Aaron, and Joe and filled out with the musical talents of everybody’s favorite Uncle Fred Wolking, Denver’s legendary fiddle master Johnny Neill, and the irrepressible Brian McClure, Sons and Brothers creates a rapport with the audience unlike any other. Whether it is power of the full six-piece band rocking to some new Americana swing or the simplicity of the all-acoustic brother trio, this band brings something for everybody to enjoy. You will enjoy hearing one of Colorado’s most entertaining acts.
James Reams & The Barnstormers
James Reams & The Barnstormers - James Reams formed the Barnstormers in 1993. Coming from a family of traditional singers in southeastern Kentucky, James has played both old-time and bluegrass music since he was just a little sprout. James is known as an “ambassador of Bluegrass” for his dedication to and deep involvement in the thriving bluegrass and Americana music community. To date, he has released eight CDs including a special DVD documentary of the band. A single (Almost Hear the Blues) from his most recent CD, One Foot in the Honky Tonk, charted nationally and the CD made 2 Top Ten Lists of 2011. His original songs are important additions to the bluegrass repertoire, keeping this tradition alive with contemporary issues and new sounds. His guitar playing was highlighted in Flatpicking Guitar Magazine's “Masters of Rhythm Guitar” column. James is also the organizer of the Park Slope Bluegrass Oldtime Music Jamboree, an annual music festival he started in 1998 that attracts musicians and fans of traditional music to its workshops, jamming and concerts - the only event of its kind in or around New York City.
Much in demand as a performer and session player, Blaine Sprouse performed on the Grand Ole Opry for over 15 years. Blaine has toured nationally and internationally and recorded with a stunning array of legendary bluegrass and country artists, among them, Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys, Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys, Charlie Louvin, Alabama, Randy Travis, Glen Campbell, and the Osborne Brothers. His solo recordings are available on the Rounder and Cumberland Record labels.
In 2013 the band will be promoting itsʼ 20-year anniversary with a Coast-to-Coast Celebration featuring special guest performances and reunions with previous band members. To coincide with the Celebration, James will be releasing another documentary, Making History with Pioneers of Bluegrass, in which he interviews first generation bluegrass musicians about the early days, capturing and preserving this tasty slice of Americaʼs musical pie for the future.
Grits 'n Roses
Grits 'n Roses We are a hard driving bluegrass band based in Phoenix Arizona. The short time we’ve been together has produced a unique bluegrass sound with roots in folk, country, and a lot of bluegrass.
The band members cover the country:
Rick Rhoades from Washington DC plays banjo and joined us after playing for years in the 2010 Southwest Desert bluegrass band champions, “Tangled Strings”. Rick served as the president of the Arizona Bluegrass association from 2006 – 2009.
Vern Dennis from Waterloo, Iowa plays mandolin and sings. Vern’s musical roots began at the knee of his dad and uncle Jack – listening to them pickin on their guitars and singing rockabilly as well as country music in a small rural part of Iowa. Vern moved to phoenix in 2010 and inspires a strong traditional bluegrass feel to our music.
Lem Johnson from Michigan plays guitar and sings. His family is from Kentucky.” I am the first person in our family born north of the Ohio River. Mom was from western Kentucky and dad from eastern Kentucky in Yerkes, a holler town between the town of Hazard and the county of Harlan, just like the song 9 Pound Hammer!” You can hear that Kentucky holler sound when Lem cuts loose.
Ken Killebrew on bass is a native Arizonian-born in Jerome and grew up (maybe) in Phoenix. Ken’s main inspiration growing up in a country music house was, Jimmy Rogers. Bluegrass has been a passion for him since he met Rick Rhoades, four years ago. He loves the purity of the music along with the “bluegrass family”.
We love our music, have a great time performing and hope we get your feet stomping and your hands clapping!
Greg Morton Band
Greg Morton was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He began to play the guitar when he was around 12 years of age. His brother, Randal Morton, began to play the banjo at about the same time. Greg and Randal were headliners at various bluegrass festivals around the country.
Greg’s natural musical ability allowed him to quickly develop a mastery of the guitar. While living in Memphis, Greg won the Midsouth Championship in guitar and mandolin. After sharpening his skills playing traditional bluegrass music, Greg began to apply his talents to other musical styles, including country and jazz.
Greg has toured with several other musicians including Mark O’Connor and the White family. Greg traveled around the world as a member of the USO. At one point, he was a member of Don Ho’s band in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Greg’s travels eventually brought him to Tucson, Arizona. Far from the hills of Tennessee, Greg found that the ‘high lonesome’ sounds of bluegrass music were already reverberating through the canyons of the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona. Tucson is home to a very active bluegrass community.
In 1995, Greg Morton won the Arizona State Guitar Championship. In 2001, 2002 and 2004, Greg won the extremely prestigious TAMMIES Award (Tucson Area Music Awards) for Best Acoustic Guitarist. He was runner-up in 2003. Greg’s band, the “Greg Morton Trio”, won the TAMMIES Award for Best Country & Western Band in 2003, and Best Bluegrass Band in 2004.
Today, Greg plays in various venues throughout southern Arizona. He also teaches workshops for the aspiring musicians in the region.
Jeff Scroggins & Colorado
Jeff Scroggins & Colorado is a high energy, high mountain “bluegrass explosion,” that features the amazing banjo playing of Jeff Scroggins. Jeff’s fiery style and lightning fast licks have earned him many fans worldwide, and have left many a first time listener in stunned disbelief! It also features the award winning mandolin playing of Jeff’s son Tristan Scroggins. Tristan is also an accomplished songwriter, and his and Jeff’s original instrumentals play a large role in the band’s unique and energetic sound.
The band also features incredible bluegrass vocals, led by the powerful voice of front man Greg Blake. Greg has twice been nominated for SPGGMA’s “Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year” award, and his phenomenal bluegrass guitar playing has earned him 9 nominations and an amazing 5 consecutive wins as SPBGMA’s Guitarist of the Year!
Annie Savage also brings to the group strong vocals and an aggressive fiddle style that is well suited to the band’s high energy approach, and she, along with bassist KC Groves round out the band’s stellar bluegrass vocal trio. KC’s tasteful and driving bass playing is the cornerstone of the band’s sound.
www.jeffscrogginsandcolorado.com
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