Hello to all! In the summer of 2003, things began to gradually take shape as Jay and Lukas decided they wanted to form a bluegrass band. I believe the original name of the band was Hoad's Tornado and the lineup was quite a bit different. Sean came into the picture when their fiddle player couldn't make the very first show and they invitied him to sit in. It was a wonderful night of music and after a few more months and personnel shifts, we ended up as a four piece with bassist Derek Kratzer holding down the rhythm. Soon after that, we took off on a short tour of the East Coast and then headed to Ireland to back up Chicago songwriter Rachel Ries. What a trip! After we got back, we were playing lots of local venues and began recording an album of original tunes that we released in the summer of 2004. Following our CD release party, we headed off on a month long tour of the east coast, playing venues as far north as Burlington Vermont, where we opened for the Hot Buttered Rum String Band, to Boston and New York City and down to North Carolina and Virginia. Despite some van troubles, we made it home relatively unscathed and were very happy with our travels.
Chris Campbell from Mishawaka, IN began playing bass with us in January '06 as Derek and Suzie, his new bride, began to prepare for their new life in Colorado! We had a good run with Chris, including a 16 day tour of Ireland and another run up and down the East Coast. Chris left us in July '06 and signed up for the San Francisco Police Academy. After playing as a three piece for a couple of months Brian Cook from South Bend, IN called us up to see if we could play for his 30th birthday beer and ribs party with all of his blues buddies. We said "Sure!" and had a great time pickin' with and hanging with some great folks. And Brian became our next victim.
We recorded Lonesome Gone in 2007 and have done several more East Coast tours, played the Chicago Country Music Festival, The Ark, The Old Town School of Folk Music, Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion, Appalachian Uprising, and several more notable venues and festivals. In December 2009, Jay Lapp left the band. Since that time, we have released a live 2-disc album, have continued playing as a three piece and for some shows have also added Rich Walter from Bloomington, IN (banjo, mandolin, guitar) and Craig Stinson from Lafayette, IN (fiddle, guitar).
Check out the website for our upcoming schedule and we hope to see everyone at a show sometime soon!
GMP
www.goldminepickers.com
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