ITHACA NY — Ernie Evans and the Florida State Bluegrass Band for a House Concert followed by a music jam at The Canaan Institute (Mike and Raylene’s workshop) on Wed August 10th 2011 starting at 7:00 pm Donation for the band $15- RSVP: please email Mike Ludgate to reserve your seats and for directions michael@canaaninstitute.org Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=175358642532597

Radio Personality, Singer and Multi Instrumentalist, Ernie Evans is now on tour in 2011 and beyond. Evans, currently on tour with his own group, “The Florida State Bluegrass Band” is making waves throughout the bluegrass world. As a multi instrumentalist, Evans is very picky about who accompanies him on stage making sure his music is interpreted the way it was meant. He has hand selected some of the finest musicians in the southeastern United States that meet and exceed his expectations.

Expect to be entertained by this high energy group of professional performers. Treat your audience to unique renditions of traditional and contemporary bluegrass tunes as they get the experience they came for. If you’re looking for a band to compliment your line up, sound like no other and keep customers looking forward to your next event, choose Ernie Evans and the Florida State Bluegrass Band.

Sound clips here. They do a lot of old style southern gospel vocal harmonies in addition to excellent instrumentals: http://floridastatebluegrassband.com/index_files/ernieevansandthefloridastatebluegrassbandpresskit.htm

About the band members …

Ernie Evans — (Guitarist, Vocalist, Arranger, Band Leader ) Ernie’s lengthy resume includes touring internationally most recently as a member of Grammy Nominee, Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike, 5-Time Grammy Nominee Vassar Clements, and even with Motown legends “The Platters”. His music has taken him all over the world throughout his career, and when he is not on stage he can be found broadcasting in St. Augustine, FL at WFCF 88.5FM, as well as on World Wide Bluegrass with his co-host, wife, and band mate Debi Evans, on their own shows, airing weekly. Debi has been there through the entire journey learning the trade and building the company from the ground up that they both own and manage called “Evans Media Source”. When it comes to the identity of an artist/musician a specific instrument is tied to an artist name and title branding them for recognition throughout their career. In the case of Ernie Evans, that’s not so easy to do. Evans can play many instruments and sing lead and harmony vocals at a high level giving music what ever it needs when ever it needs it. Couple this with the ability to play many styles of music from Jazz, Pop, Country and more. This skill level has made a major contribution to his ability to lead and orchestrate the now nationally touring band “Florida State Bluegrass Band”. His lengthy resume includes playing most recently as a member of Grammy Nominee Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike, 5 Time Grammy Nominee Vassar Clements Band, Southern Lite and Motown legends “The Platters”. His music has taken him all over the world throughout his career and he is not on stage he can be found broadcasting in St. Augustine, FL at WFCF 88.5FM and also on World Wide Bluegrass with his co-host, Wife and band mate Debi Evans on their own shows airing weekly.

Debi Evans — (Bassist, Vocalist) Debi has been a music lover all of her life. She grew up singing and is a fan of many styles of music. Her bass playing has developed very fast and has been recognized by many notable musicians. Her love for music can be heard in her playing and singing, not to mention seeing it in her presence on stage. Debi balances the vocal harmonies and adds a new dimension to The Florida State Bluegrass Band with her sweet lead voice. She is dedicated to practicing and takes performances seriously, while having a blast at the same time.

Lamont Goff — (Mandolin, Vocalist) Lamont grew up in a family that loved bluegrass. Both of his parents sang and played guitar, and his grandfather played guitar and mandolin. One of his earliest memories is playing with toy cars at a bluegrass festival at River Ranch Acres, FL when was 5 or 6 years old. He started playing banjo, guitar, and mandolin when he was 12 or. He loved traditional bluegrass, which he would listen to every Thursday night on the local radio station in Pennsylvania. His parents would have jam sessions at their house, and invite the local pickers to come over about once a month. They would go play out and play at churches, and the local VFW. At 16 he heard Tony Rice’s Manzanita album, music from the New Grass Revival, and David Grisman’s “Dawg” music and soon mandolin became his primary instrument. Lamont has played in a number of bluegrass and folk bands, including US1, Florida Bluegrass Express, Hand Picked, and Lis and Lon Williamson. He was excited to be invited to join the Florida State Bluegrass band early in 2011, and looks forward to making music with this powerful bluegrass band. He also loves Celtic music, and plays mandolin and guitar with “Under the Radar”, a Celtic/Americana trio in Orlando, FL.

Isaac Taylor — (Banjo, Vocalist) Isaac is the youngest band member. He was born a fourth generation Florida boy, in Kissimmee, raised in Vero Beach and home schooled his entire educational career, Isaac graduated from high school in 2009 where he was studying Music Theory at Indian River State College as a Dual Enrolled Student. Music has always been his passion. He started helping his father lead singing in church when he was just four years old. His first love is acapella hymn singing, especially Sacred Harp music, with all of its beautiful harmonies. After watching the movie, Oh, Brother Where Art Thou? , he became inspired to learn more about Bluegrass music. Ralph Stanley, in particular, sparked his interest in the banjo. In 2004, just after Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, he gladly left behind four years of piano for a new adventure on the five string banjo. With a few teachers showing him the basics early on, he soon discovered that he could learn songs by ear. Isaac plays his banjo every spare minute of the day. If he is not playing, he is researching something about banjos or Bluegrass. His younger siblings are often lulled to sleep at night by its charms.

http://floridastatebluegrassband.com/
http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/email/newsletter/1410956145
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Florida-State-Bluegrass-Band/134453319937509
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1278711506
http://evansbluegrassjournal.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/ernieevans

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