|
 


Band Sponsor
|

Up-and-coming
bluegrass group, The Kickin Grass Band, have set themselves a cut above
the rest with their tight vocal harmony, driving instrumentation
and effusive energy on and off the stage.
The band prides itself on reaching all types of bluegrass
and non-bluegrass audiences, incorporating standard bluegrass tunes,
rock & country classics and a number of "can't get 'em out of
yer head" originals into their entertaining sets.
Forming in 2000 to provide accompaniment for the Chapel-Hill
based Apple Chill Cloggers, the current lineup started performing
locally, regionally and internationally in 2002. The Kickin Grass
Band took the category of Best Band Name in the Independent Weekly's 2003
"Best Of" Issue, and in the same year they beat the odds and won the title
of Best Band In Raleigh in a multi-genre competition hosted by the
Guitar Center and the Hibernian Pub. They promptly took their $2000
prize money and recorded their first album, Backroads,
recorded by Tom Landgon at West Station Records and produced by Steve Dilling
of IIIrd Tyme Out.
Riding the wave of an ear-catching debut release, extensive
southeast touring and the addition of a talented new banjo player, The Kickin
Grass Band teamed up with Jerry Brown of the Rubber Room in Chapel Hill,
NC to produce their delightful sophomore album, On The Short Rows. Fresh,
original songwriting is a hallmark of the band's unique sound, and On The
Short Rows explores the full range, from the tap-your-foot instrumental
"Cloverleaf" to the ballad "Ain't Got Nothin."
With rich vocals, skilled fiddle and a banjo that lives
in the perfect space between Scruggs and Fleck, The Kickin Grass Band brings
traditional music to the forefront of modern bluegrass and a new generation
of music fans.
The Kickin Grass Band melds traditional, old-time and progressive
into some mighty fine bluegrass, bringing together five talented
musicians: |

Lynda Wittig |
Lynda
has been singing since the age of 5. She picked up the guitar
during her college years and has been writing songs ever since.
Prior to The Kickin Grass Band Lynda performed with country roadhouse
band, The Kydells, an original acoustic duo, Innocent Lisa, and
the North Carolina Master Chorale. Lynda's powerful vocals,
strong rhythm guitar and skillful songwriting bring new dimensions
to The Kickin Grass Band. |

Jamie Dawson |
A
Harnett County native, Jamie received his first mandolin at age
8 from his father, bass player for Bluegrass 78, and the boy's been
playing bluegrass ever since. His low-end vocals & high-energy
mandolin drive both the traditional and contemporary sounds of The
Kickin Grass Band. |

Matt Hooper |
Hailing from Harnett County, North Carolina, Matt started playing
classical violin long before he called it the fiddle. He played
with country band Dakota Rain & performed at the Cape Fear Regional
Theater before brining his smokin' fiddle licks and well-trained
musical ear to The Kickin Grass Band. |

Patrick Walsh |
Patrick
began his musical career by studying the piano. He was the
lead vocalist and keyboard player in the country cover band Summer
Wind before taking up the bass and singing bluegrass. He is
an award-winning vocalist, singing lead, baritone and tenor harmonies
for the band, and his hard-driving bass playing is the foundation
of The Kickin Grass Band bluegrass. |

Ben
Walters |
Ben
Walters from Birmingham, Alabama is the banjo player for Kickin
Grass. Ben is a UNC-Chapel Hill graduate where he studied linguistics
and music. In addition to his fine banjo playing, Ben brings diverse
musicianship, enthusiasm, and a love of grammar to the The Kickin
Grass Band mix. |
|