Website: http://www.slowpitchjam.com/highriselonesome.html
SUE MALCOLM - vocals, guitar, clawhammer banjo
Sue sings lead and harmony in a warm, natural style. She has performed bluegrass, country, old-time, western swing and children's music for many years, and was a founding member of Vancouver's Pacific Bluegrass and Heritage Society in 1980. Sue teaches singing and guitar at the BC Bluegrass Workshop, Georgia Strait Guitar Workshop and the Moveable Music School. She created the Slow Pitch Jam, a unique method of teaching bluegrass jamming to beginners, and has presented workshops at festivals in BC, Alberta, Washington and Oregon.
VIC SMYTH - vocals, mandolin, rhythm guitar
Vic started out in the early eighties playing folk music in bars and coffeehouses in Nova Scotia. He brings great energy to his mandolin playing and lead and harmony vocals. His crystal clear baritone shines on solos and blends seamlessly on harmonies. Vic and Sue's duets are a highlight of Highrise Lonesome's sound.
DON FRASER - vocals, resophonic guitar, lead guitar
'The Maestro' added his inventive dobro stylings to Highrise Lonesome's lineup in the fall of 2007. Don's abilities run the gamut from bluegrass and country to swing standards and gypsy jazz. As part of the duo 'Swingamajig', with son Michael, Don has performed at jazz festivals around North America and Europe. Don has won numerous awards including first place at the Western Canada Guitar Championship. He is well respected in Western Canada as a teacher, performer and arranger, and is a regular instructor at the Georgia Strait Guitar Workshop, Moveable Music School and BC Bluegrass Workshop.
JAY BUCKWOLD - five string banjo
Jay has been an active member of the Vancouver Bluegrass community since 1986. Jay has added his banjo skills to a variety of West Coast bluegrass bands including Rhythm Roundup, False Creek, Crescent Ranch, Lonesome Pine, Curley Maple and the New Nash Ramblers. Jay is the founder and director of the amazing British Columbia Bluegrass Workshop (www.musicworkshops.ca).
STU MacDONALD - vocals, upright bass
Stu is well known in the Vancouver music scene as a member of such bands as Crawfish Fiesta, Helen Gone and The Beverly Brothers. Making good use of his razor-sharp wit, Stu has made it his mission to revive the role of the bassist-comedian so popular with early bluegrass and country bands.
| The members of Highrise Lonesome are city dwellers steeped in the classic sounds of bluegrass. Although they may make brief detours off into the side streets of old-time and roots music, they always return to the bluegrass superhighway. Sparkling vocals are a major part of the sound, with the harmonies of Sue Malcolm and Vic Smyth as the centrepiece. The band features classic-sounding originals and innovative covers, showcasing instrumental prowess with innovative arrangements. It's a bluegrass road trip. Enjoy the ride! |