Kathy Boyd and Phoenix Rising

Just as the mythical Phoenix flew as high as it possibly could, burst into flame and then arose reborn from the ashes. . . the same phenomenon occurs with musicians and the bands they perform in. Phoenix Rising appears fresh and new as the result of it's members performing together in various combinations over the past 30 years.

This particular combination has now gathered together in full force; bringing together the best of bluegrass, cowboy, folk, country, Americana and some incredibly talented songwriting to bring you a sound that is clean, hard driving and uniquely their own. Specializing in weddings, conventions, private partiesand family oriented events, Phoenix Rising aims to provide the sound you are looking for and works hard to provide "extras" to make your event unforgettable! 

 

 

Ida Viper

Ida Viper, based in Portland, Oregon, draws on the roots of American music from bluegrass and swing to jazz tunes from the 20's and 30's. Mark Petteys (5-string banjo and guitar), Brian Oberlin (mandolin) and Russ Baker (standup bass) bring high-energy improvisational arrangements to their live performances.

 

Mark Petteys and Brian Oberlin formed Ida Viper during the summer of 2005 in Portland, Oregon. Their CD Some of These Days was released on May 13, 2006. Russ Baker began performing with Mark and Brian in January 2006. Peter Schwimmer (fiddle and banjo) has been a frequent contributor since the summer of 2006.

 

 

Lee Highway

Lee Highway brings together five accomplished and highly respected musicians from the Northwest Bluegrass community to produce a mix of tight, tuneful, harmony singing, backed up with exciting instrumentals. Based in Oregon, John Averill, Rich Hoglen, Sue Averill, Mike Eisler and Mike Stahlman bring decades of experience in playing and performing. Throw them all in the same pot and the combined magic takes you straight back to the golden era of bluegrass. Lee Highway is making that old sound spanking new, whether it’s burning rubber on a fast driving instrumental, drawing you in with their close harmony gospel singing, or setting your feet loose with a 50’s honky-tonk dance tune.

Prairie Flyer

Prairie Flyer is one of the Pacific Northwest ‘s premiere bluegrass bands and are celebrating their 10th anniversary in 2007.  Members Andre Vachon, Jim Faddis, Jason Stewart, Steve Blanchard and Dave Hackwith are all veterans of the bluegrass scene and have been pleasing audiences with their close harmonies and fine picking on the west coast and beyond.  In the past two years they have played at the largest festivals in Washington and Oregon, including the prestigious Wintergrass festival in Tacoma and River City in Portland in 2006, as well as Darrington.  2007 finds them as busy as ever with a Canadian tour planned for June, starting in Vancouver and finishing at the Prairie’s Edge festival in Manitoba.  Their latest CD, “Just an Old Dog” has been garnering praise from radio stations and was recently reviewed very favorably in the California Bluegrass Breakdown.  It features nine originals and a cover of Fred Eaglesmith’s “The Rocket”, which has become a signature tune of the band. Prairie Flyer draws material from widely divergent sources such as The Stanley Brothers, John Hiatt, Jackson Browne and Ry Cooder, blending all into an entertaining show.  Another earmark of a Prairie Flyer show is the on-stage banter between the members which is never canned and audiences usually howl with laughter at times during a performance.  These guys know how to have fun and bring everyone along for the ride!

 

Another quality that endears Prairie Flyer to the fans is their enthusiasm to play after the show in festival campgrounds and parking lots.  They can be found jamming with attendees to the wee hours of the morning.  They can also be found participating in workshops and band scrambles during festivals. Prairie Flyer is currently working on a new recording project which the band hopes to have available in late fall or early spring.  It will feature more original tunes and some live versions of crowd favorites.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hardshell Harmony

Hardshell Harmony is based out of The Dalles OR and brings simple traditional bluegrass music and harmony vocals throughout the Mid-Columbia area. Long time roots in bluegrass music help make this group fun to listen too and have a foot tappin good time with the hints of comedy mixed with tunes from the masters from long ago. This energetic group features Clint Miller on the fiddle, KC Kortge on the banjo, Mike Robarge on the lead guitar and Candie Robarge on the bass. Be sure too wander by and say howdy in the campground picking session!

 

 

 

 

 

Fiddlegrass

Hailing from Hood River, Oregon in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge come these five very talented instrumentalists who mix traditional fiddle tunes with traditional bluegrass and then add in a little of everything else including some corny down home humor to spice things up and create a new kind of bluegrass music they call FIDDLEGRASS!

 

 

 

Chickweed

Drawing on each member's strengths, Chickweed delivers choice traditional bluegrass tunes with new “old” originals.  The humorous and entertaining nature of their personalities is contagious.  Always friendly and quick with a smile, the ladies of Chickweed are raring to go! Abby Downs: plays guitar and her strong lead vocals put the blues in bluegrass. Finn Fox: her lightning fast mandolin playing gives Chickweed it’s signature sound.  Holly Wyman: maintains the low end with a rock-solid bass line that holds it all together. That completes the power trio of Chickweed.

 

For over a year now, Chickweed has been entertaining audiences all around the Pacific Northwest.  From Port Angeles, WA to San Francisco, CA, the ladies of Chickweed have been making their mark and earning their stripes in numerous venues.  Venues such as the Goldendale Bluegrass Festival, Northwest Folklife Festival, San Francisco Bluegrass and Old Time Festival, and Portland's only bluegrass festival their freshman year out, The River City Bluegrass Festival.

Whiskey Puppy

Whiskey Puppy plays boot-stomping, mule-slapping traditional bluegrass and old time music. The Portland, OR trio brings energy, humor, and skillful musicianship to little-known songs and tunes searched out from the repertoires of the early Southern string bands. Known for sweet three-part harmonies and their collection of chew toys, Whiskey Puppy has been performing since 2001, including their infamous 2005 “Kiss the Puppy” cross-country tour. They have appeared at bars and festivals all over the West Coast, and in 2004 won the “Not quite bluegrass”band contest at the Columbia Gorge Bluegrass Festival.

 

Whiskey Puppy features Rachel Gold (The Flat Mountain Girls) on guitar, Justin Auld (Redwood Highway) on banjo and fiddle, and Travis ‘Tater’ Harrison (Cocks in the Henhouse, Jackass Willie) on bass. Justin and Rachel are honored to be the first-Saturday hosts of KBOO’s (90.7 fm Portland) Music from the Truevine show.

 

Discography:

2001: Pork Dungeon (hair of the puppy)

2003: Love Storm (puppy style)

2005: Fate of Man (before the dawn of pants)

2008: Unleashed