The Kickin Grass Band: On the Short Rows

 Ain't Got Nothing
 Cloverleaf
 Change Your Mind

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Backroads
Left This Town
Morning Train
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The Kickin Grass Band: Sponsored by GHS Strings
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kickin grassUp-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.

The Kickin Grass Band • PO Box 37039 • Raleigh, NC 27627
www.kickingrass.com

Bluegrass Band Booking by Larry Weaver Entertainment