 From the saloons of Telluride to the some of the most sought after venues in America, Bill Nershi has delighted countless fans as a guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and founding member of the String Cheese Incident. A seasoned veteran of flat-picking and a variety of acoustic styles, Nershi adds a unique, colorful perspective to virtually any musical situation he encounters, and his enthusiasm and playful spirit encourage an interactive, participatory experience for musicians and fans alike. His most recent forays into dobro, bass, and lap steel playing, as well as his accomplished songwriting contributions with Honkytonk Homeslice & the Emmitt-Nershi Band, prove that his musical horizons will only continue to expand.>> VIDEO: Bill Nershi, Arlo Guthrie, and others at Madison Square Garden, NY >> VIDEO: String Cheese Incident on Austin City Limits  The Bee Eaters boasts four of the most accomplished, creative young talents of the new generation, tracing roots back to the musical traditions of Bluegrass, Old-time, Celtic, Jazz and Pop. The quartet combines the strong, striking music of hammered dulcimer virtuoso Simon Chrisman and banjo phenomenon Wes Corbett with the inimitable sound of brother-sister fiddle duo Tristan and Tashina Clarridge. Tristan, an inventive cellist and 5-time Grand National Fiddle Champion, tours with Crooked Still and Darol Anger's Republic of Strings and has performed with Mike Marshall, Bruce Molsky, and Cape Breton fiddle phenomenon Natalie MacMaster. His sister Tashina, the 2005 Grand National Fiddle Champion, has toured with Mark O'Connor and Tony Trischka and has performed at Carnegie Hall as part of MacArthur Fellow/Grammy-winning bassist Edgar Meyer's Young Artists program. Since starting banjo at age 16, 22-year-old Wesley Corbett has toured internationally with North Carolina's bluegrass sensation The Biscuit Burners and appeared with the David Grisman Quintet, Matt Glaser, and numerous other groups; he also currently tours with Joy Kills Sorrow. Wesley's longtime musical collaborator, hammered dulcimer wizard Simon Chrisman, has performed with Darol Anger and Mike Marshall, opened for Bill Frisell, and at 16 was a scholarship guest artist at the Augusta Heritage Festival in West Virginia. His sophisticated rhythmic sense and ingenious tonal flexibility, on an instrument usually considered limited, has created a buzz among musicians all over the world. The result of the foursome's collaboration is an elegant fusion of tradition and innovation. The Bee Eaters are a powerful creative force at the forefront of the emerging New Acoustic music scene. Their brand new self-titled release, produced by Darol Anger, is now available.>> VIDEO: Stoneground (Live in Victoria, BC) >> VIDEO: 2/6/10 The Tree Climber w/ Scott Law (Live at The Woods, Portland, OR)  Sharon Gilchrist got her start in a five-year stint with the Texas-based Blue Night Express, a bluegrass band that included Martie and Emily Erwin. In their next configuration they became the Dixie Chicks. After touring another year with them, Sharon headed for Nashville where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Mandolin Performance from Belmont University while moonlighting with a number of Nashville-based acts on upright bass and mandolin. In 2005, she joined Peter Rowan & Tony Rice. Her vocal harmonies and mandolin picking adorn their acclaimed 2007 Rounder release, “Quartet.” Sharon has also toured with the all-girl old time band, Uncle Earl, and currently teaches mandolin at the College of Santa Fe.>> Mandolin Cafe interview with Sharon >> VIDEO: Rowan/Rice Quartet Live in North Carolina  Scott Law embodies the ideal of the American Guitar Master; a brilliant and versatile instrumentalist, Law has connected onstage with many contemporary masters of American music, among them Phil Lesh & Friends, Darol Anger, String Cheese Incident, Melvin Seals, Railroad Earth and many others. Scott is a founding member of The Cascadia Project. Scott’s alternately chiming and grinding melodic concept bears favorable comparison with everyone from the early Telecaster masters to Stevie Ray Vaughan to Jerry Garcia, creating a style that bears his unique stamp yet freely ranges over the entire history of rock, jazz and bluegrass guitar. Scott sings timeless songs that connect easily with listeners, propelled by his rare rhythmic concision and deep groove. Law has just released a new solo album, "Living Room" in February 2009 and debuted a second studio release, “Love & Repair” with Strings For Industry during summer. Scott collaborates frequently with pioneering violin master Darol Anger (who plays electric 5-string fiddle in S4i) and whose adventurous musicality is universally admired. Law released an album with String Cheese Incident's Bill Nershi and his wife, Jilian eponymously titled "Honkytonk Homeslice" in 2005 and worked with Jerry Garcia Band's B-3 organ legend, Melvin Seals from 2001 to 2003. Law was also a member of the award winning Seattle instrumental world-music group, Hanuman who put out two recordings between 1999 and 2001 and sold over 8000 copies independently.Law has scored and performed music for film and television, including an original song for the CBS primetime feature "Viva Laughlin" in 2007 and scores for 2 full-length documentaries by The Columbia Land Trust and Tom's Of Maine. He is a dedicated and experienced music educator, having taught at various workshops, schools, festivals and private sessions throughout his career. As a young child, Scott grew up hearing the likes of Louis Armstrong, Chet Atkins, Django Reinhardt, Johnny Cash, Big Mama Thornton, the gospel of Mahalia Jackson and many others from his father's vast collection of LP's. Despite being enamored with the guitar from his earliest memory, Scott found his way first as a drummer playing along with Beatles records in fourth grade and "jamming" with friends. He came around to the six-string as a teenager (age of 15) and then settled in for the music-making long haul, trying styles of all stripes in a host of groups, many with horrible names. Two years of music theory study at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle and an increasingly active gig schedule began to open up a career that has led to him touring and performing all over the world and working with many legendary artists for nearly three decades while steadily developing his own original repertoire. >> VIDEO: Republic of Strings covering Hard Times Come Again No More >> VIDEO: 2/6/10 Cascadia Music Series at The Woods (various)  Elephant Revival - Young in age and conception, Elephant Revival carries a fresh sense of creativity and inspiration that is felt by people of every generation. The neo-acoustic quintet is on the cutting edge of an emerging new genre that is known as ‘Transcendental Folk. The band consists of Bonnie Paine (vocals, washboard, djembe, musical saw), Sage Cook (electric banjo/guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin, viola, vocals), Dango Rose (double-bass, mandolin, banjo, vocals), Daniel Rodriguez (acoustic guitar, electric banjo/guitar vocals) and Bridget Law (fiddle and vocals). Individually and collectively the band members have performed with some of the most prolific performers of our time including Bela Fleck, John Paul Jones, Michael Franti, Little Feat, Yonder Mountain String Band, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic Leftover Salmon et al...In performance, Elephant Revival reveals hidden treasures deep within a vast repertoire of original material and a few carefully selected traditionals. In one show, the quintet can be seen delving into Scottish/Celtic fiddle tunes, original folk pieces, traditional ballads, psychedelic country, indie rock, powerful reggae grooves, 40s/50s jazz standards and an occasional hip-hop beat amongst other styles. Elaborating on Elephant Revival's live shows, independent film director Mike Eberle explains, "When I hear Elephant Revival I am struck by my inability to define it. I am forced to confront the music as it is, connecting to it with a virgin spirit of mind. Consequently it feels like I am experiencing music and all its joys for the very first time." In January 09, ‘Elephant Revival’ appeared in "Colorado Music Buzz" as the 1 played local artist on Colorado public radio stations. A steady climb of radio airplay is being seen across the nation on NPR, satellite and online radio stations. As Boulder Weekly entertainment writer Dave Kirby enthuses, "The album brims with poised folk ballads, modern Celtic fiddle dirges, hints of blues and Appalachia... coaxing the spirit but slyly avoiding climbing fully into each form's body." Marquee Magazine journalist Jefferey Keith further elaborates, "Following the lead, but not the footsteps, of groups like Leftover Salmon and Yonder Mountain String Band, the five-piece Elephant Revival has created a unique and appealing modern acoustic sound simultaneously soaked in all manner of tradition. |
