On the 24th of March 2012 the TWILIGHT AT TURTLE BEND celebration will host Grammy Award winning Peter Rowan and his internationally acclaimed Bluegrass band. Direct from the USA, The Peter Rowan Bluegrass band have been described as the finest and best credentialed bluegrass band ever to tour Australia. Four brilliant musicians performing work from their recently celebrated recording, ‘Legacy’ will provide a highlight to an extraordinary night’s entertainment.
With an ethos of providing exposure and opportunities for new talent, Twilight at Turtle Bend is proud to announce the addition of newcomers, Jack Gramski and Jamie Pye to the 2012 line up. Having received numerous accolades for their work, both artists promise to add their own brand of raw and exiting music to the event.
Proudly supported by the Golden Plains Shire and local businesses, the event will provide a rare opportunity for Bluegrass and Folk music fans to be entertained in a uniquely beautiful setting. Situated in the heart of Teesdale, Turtle Bend with its iconic ‘turtle’ pavilion is testament to the township’s ongoing commitment to community, the environment and the arts. The annual celebration has become a showcase of local and international artists and will once again host the magical lantern parade, a highlight of the night’s proceedings.
Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band
The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band consists of outstanding musicians with over 100 years of combined recording and performance experience. Joining guitarist Peter Rowan are Michael Witcher, Dobro; Mike Munford, banjo; and Paul Knight, bass. The ensemble has graced the stages of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Grey Fox, Merlefest, Rothbury Australia’s National Folk Festival and numerous other festivals domestically and abroad, entertaining audiences with original and traditional songs executed in vibrant harmony.
In September 2010, the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band released their debut album for Nashville’s Compass Records- Legacy; the new album, featuring traditional and original compositions, was produced by Compass owner/recording artist Alison Brown and includes Ricky Skaggs, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings and Del McCoury and received a Grammy nomination in 2010.
Peter Rowan – Guitar, Vocals
GRAMMY-award winner and six-time GRAMMY nominee, Peter Rowan is a bluegrass singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades. From his early years playing under the tutelage of bluegrass patriarch Bill Monroe, Peter’s stint in Old & In the Way with Jerry Garcia and his subsequent breakout as both a solo performer and bandleader, Rowan has built a devoted, international fan base through his continuous stream of original recordings, collaborative projects, and constant touring.
Mike Munford – Banjo
Since Mike Munford began touring with rising bluegrass star Frank Solivan and his band “Dirty Kitchen”, listeners around the country are finding out what fans and pickers in the Washington-Baltimore area have known for years. This is one amazing banjo player. Previous to working with D.C. based Solivan, Mike played banjo with the Mark Newton Band and recorded two albums with them. Among the artists Mike has worked with as a freelancer are Tony Rice, Tony Trischka (Mike was one of the few banjo players that Trischka tapped for his “Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular” tours), Dede Wyland, Lynn Morris, Larry Rice, Valerie Smith, and Frank Wakefield. He has backed up Peter Rowan many times since the 1980s, and played on Rowan’s Grammy-nominated “Bluegrass Boy” album in 1996.
Paul Knight – Bass, Vocals
Paul Knight has been playing with Peter Rowan in various configurations for over 15 years. His driving acoustic bass has been part of recordings and live performances with a wide range of musicians including Jim Lauderdale, Laurie Lewis, and Crooked Jades. Paul is host to his own music series, Paul Knight & Friends, in his hometown of Pt. Reyes Station, CA. Several projects & bands have emerged from these shows including The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band.
Michael Witcher – Dobro, Vocals
Growing up the youngest of five in a musical and artistic family in the suburbs of Los Angeles, Michael found his voice playing the Dobro at the age of fourteen. In less than a year, he was playing with his father Dennis, and brother Gabe in their Bluegrass band, “The Witcher Brothers”. Michael has recorded or toured with Dwight Yoakam, Fernando Ortega, Laurie Lewis, Tyler Hilton, John Paul Jones, Sara Watkins, The Gibson Brothers, Dolly Parton, Joan Osborn, Willie Watson (Old Crow Medicine Show), and Chris Jones among others. Known for his rich tone and lyrical phrasing, Michael is also a highly sought after instructor.
Management- A Train Entertainment, alevers@a-train.com; 510 893-4705
