The Nelson Family Bluegrass 519-750-4114
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Nelson-Family-Bluegrass-1578818009029574/
The Nelson Family Bluegrass is a family band from Southern Ontario, Canada, gaining in popularity over the past few years through their performance of Traditional & Contemporary Bluegrass, Americana & Bluegrass Gospel music. Featuring Charles Nelson; he’ll steal your heart with some of the most melodic melodies from your favorite Bluegrass songs. His mother’s voice will calm your soul. Band members include: Susan Nelson (guitar & vocals), Gary Glenn (bass), Charles Nelson (mandolin, guitar & vocals) & Larry Johnston ( banjo). Their CD “The Little Boy with the Mandolin” received the National 2018 Traditional CD of the Year award from the U.S.A. Rural Roots Music Commission. Through their unique stage presence, humor & audience interaction, the Nelson Family Bluegrass offers an entertaining show for the whole family!
Reviews
This incredible 'rural' group is from Canada. It's remarkable to me that they have the early 'impact' of rural music so close to their own hearts. Another thing I really like about this lovely family band is that they are playing bluegrass music, but there is no 'race' to see who can do it the fastest, which is happening in many of the eastern bands in America. RECORD REVIEW BY BOB EVERHART, President, National Traditional Country Music Association for Country Music News International 2018
Susan’s voice is like a soothing salve to a troubled soul, quiet, cool & pure...Mike Kirley ...Bluegrass Canada 2017
Steel Rails https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulTFJQpCu9k
Blue Virginia Blue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTrkEOlsRo4
Cherokee Shuffle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsk0hSfJjgY
This Little Light of Mine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZEk_8Y3ncY
Secret Agent Man https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFaEKy5bie0
White Lightning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kbyX4Q5beA
Past Shows:
The Nelson Family Bluegrass Jamboree 2023
2022: River Valley Bluegrass Weekend, Tottenham Bluegrass Festival, Purple Hill Bluegrass Reunion, Thorndale
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Nelson-Family-Bluegrass-1578818009029574/
The Nelson Family Bluegrass is a family band from Southern Ontario, Canada, gaining in popularity over the past few years through their performance of Traditional & Contemporary Bluegrass, Americana & Bluegrass Gospel music. Featuring Charles Nelson; he’ll steal your heart with some of the most melodic melodies from your favorite Bluegrass songs. His mother’s voice will calm your soul. Band members include: Susan Nelson (guitar & vocals), Gary Glenn (bass), Charles Nelson (mandolin, guitar & vocals) & Larry Johnston ( banjo). Their CD “The Little Boy with the Mandolin” received the National 2018 Traditional CD of the Year award from the U.S.A. Rural Roots Music Commission. Through their unique stage presence, humor & audience interaction, the Nelson Family Bluegrass offers an entertaining show for the whole family!
Reviews
This incredible 'rural' group is from Canada. It's remarkable to me that they have the early 'impact' of rural music so close to their own hearts. Another thing I really like about this lovely family band is that they are playing bluegrass music, but there is no 'race' to see who can do it the fastest, which is happening in many of the eastern bands in America. RECORD REVIEW BY BOB EVERHART, President, National Traditional Country Music Association for Country Music News International 2018
Susan’s voice is like a soothing salve to a troubled soul, quiet, cool & pure...Mike Kirley ...Bluegrass Canada 2017
Steel Rails https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulTFJQpCu9k
Blue Virginia Blue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTrkEOlsRo4
Cherokee Shuffle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsk0hSfJjgY
This Little Light of Mine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZEk_8Y3ncY
Secret Agent Man https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFaEKy5bie0
White Lightning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kbyX4Q5beA
Past Shows:
The Nelson Family Bluegrass Jamboree 2023
2022: River Valley Bluegrass Weekend, Tottenham Bluegrass Festival, Purple Hill Bluegrass Reunion, Thorndale
THUNDERSMOKE
They’re a little bit country, they’re a little bit rock n roll, and they’re a whole lot of fun! Introducing southern Ontario’s latest jamgrass outfit,Thundersmoke!
With members from as far east as Scarborough and as far west as London, they’ll settle on Stratford as their base of operations, not only because their band leader, bassist and primary songwriter, Blair and his wife Kristy aka Muddy (vocals and occasional clawhammer banjo) call it home, but mostly because we can all agree… Stratford is awesome.
BLAIR BABCOCK (bass, vocals) and KRISTY MUDDLE (vocals, banjo)are not only partners in life, love, parenthood and business, they also make awesome music together. They were the heart and soul of jamgrass legends the Blurry Pickers who wrote and recorded two full length records featuring mostly their own material. It was through playing the festival circuit in that project they crossed paths with…
TODD GILLIES (guitar, vocals)
Todd hails from Hamilton Ontario and is a founding member of The Fat Cats, a legendary jam fusion outfit who have been playing all over Canada since 1990. He also spent a few years playing with The Blurry Pickers.Not only is he a fantastic guitar player, Todd is also a tremendous songwriter whose compositions translate effortlessly from psychedelic rock, to folk, country, bringing his signature sound to Thundersmoke’s unique bluegrass-influenced acoustic old-timey blend.
JAMES CUMMINS (mandolin, vocals)
James resides in London, Ontario where he writes, records and performs. His album of original instrumental mandolin tunes, Bloom, was critically acclaimed and is a must have for mandolin enthusiasts everywhere. His electric project, YAMS, showcases his versatility as he shows off his funky, blues and rock n roll guitar chops on the self penned songs. James has played in several other bands including The Blurry Pickers, Rhyme and Reason, and Myrtle Earl to name a few. His incredible mandolin skills and song choice instinct add just the right spark to Thundersmoke!
D’ARCY GOOD (fiddle, vocals)
D’Arcy lives in Scarborough Ontario where she spends most of her time writing. Her musical journey began at an early age as she was born to a musical family so she picked up on the power and beauty of singing harmonies with her family. She got a late start on fiddle, she finally became serious about learning to play in her early 30s when her cousin gifted her a fiddle. She performed on The Good Family Album and was a member of alt rock group Long Branch, Badly Bent Bluegrass, Cougrass, and…surprise…The Blurry Pickers. She is thrilled to be part of this exciting new phenomenon, Thundersmoke!
Bluegrass has been the focus and mission of Grass Tax since its inception in 1982. The band has brought its’ high energy show to audiences of all ages for nearly three decades, making it one of Canada’s oldest continuously performing bluegrass shows. Venues have included festivals, civic celebrations, gala performances as well as performances in many of the local taverns of Southern Ontario.
Grass Tax has a reputation for connecting with their audiences through improvisational humor, novelty tunes, adaptations of popular tunes and through response to audience requests. Bluegrass band contest winners , Grass Tax takes pride in showcasing tight harmonies and hot picking.
Grass Tax has recorded and participated in many musical projects throughout the years. This includes an album of less traditional, more progressive original bluegrass music under a pseudonym; The Banned Joes.
With the two core founding members, John Dorlas on banjo and Gary Bridgett on guitar and long-time bass wizard Denis Rondeau, the band is at home in large or small venues and can vary from 2 to 4 or more pieces in size. Eco-friendly, free range, and carbon neutral acoustic music, what more could you ask for?
Grass Tax has a reputation for connecting with their audiences through improvisational humor, novelty tunes, adaptations of popular tunes and through response to audience requests. Bluegrass band contest winners , Grass Tax takes pride in showcasing tight harmonies and hot picking.
Grass Tax has recorded and participated in many musical projects throughout the years. This includes an album of less traditional, more progressive original bluegrass music under a pseudonym; The Banned Joes.
With the two core founding members, John Dorlas on banjo and Gary Bridgett on guitar and long-time bass wizard Denis Rondeau, the band is at home in large or small venues and can vary from 2 to 4 or more pieces in size. Eco-friendly, free range, and carbon neutral acoustic music, what more could you ask for?
Chris has been playing Bluegrass for the past 15 plus years, mostly with The Riverbend Gentlemen out of Bruce County Ontario. He has had the opportunity to jam with many of the greats in Ontario.
Some of his favorite fellow bluegrass musicians to jam with are Norm Tellier on Mandolin, Larry Johnston on Banjo, Glenn George on Bass and last but not least Ron Beingessner on Dobro, they have recently gotten together and are known as Chris Whitney and The Bluegrass Allstars
He is honored to be able to share the stage at the Nelson Family Bluegrass Jamboree with these fine pickers and friends.
Some of his favorite fellow bluegrass musicians to jam with are Norm Tellier on Mandolin, Larry Johnston on Banjo, Glenn George on Bass and last but not least Ron Beingessner on Dobro, they have recently gotten together and are known as Chris Whitney and The Bluegrass Allstars
He is honored to be able to share the stage at the Nelson Family Bluegrass Jamboree with these fine pickers and friends.
WILLOWRIDGE BLUEGRASS 2024
Jim Hayward and Willowridge Bluegrass have been together for 20 years. Several faces have changed over the years but the great times of playing old time country and bluegrass music has always been the end result. Willowridge’s 3rd cd ( Willowridge Mountain Home) was nominated for the best bluegrass cd at the Central Canadian Bluegrass Award show in 2016. Willowridge released their 4thcd in 2018 called (favourites).
Jim Hayward and Willowridge have played many festivals,band shells and concerts across Ontario.
Contact info: Jim Hayward 905 431 7511
[email protected]
Dickson Raynard 705 928 4605
[email protected]
www.willowridgebluegrass.com
facebook: willowridgebluegrass
Jim Hayward and Willowridge Bluegrass have been together for 20 years. Several faces have changed over the years but the great times of playing old time country and bluegrass music has always been the end result. Willowridge’s 3rd cd ( Willowridge Mountain Home) was nominated for the best bluegrass cd at the Central Canadian Bluegrass Award show in 2016. Willowridge released their 4thcd in 2018 called (favourites).
Jim Hayward and Willowridge have played many festivals,band shells and concerts across Ontario.
Contact info: Jim Hayward 905 431 7511
[email protected]
Dickson Raynard 705 928 4605
[email protected]
www.willowridgebluegrass.com
facebook: willowridgebluegrass