Getting a band together

Talking Rock GA

Description

Hello, all. I'm a guitarist/autoharpist/piano player/singer-songwriter looking to put together a project. It would fall somewhere within the bluegrass/folk/country area, and I'd be looking for the traditional ensemble. Banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar/bass. A strong singer would be good, as I'm really only up to singing simple things and providing backup harmony nowadays. I'd be playing mostly autoharp or guitar and we'd be doing more covers than originals, but yes, there are lots of originals. Good ones. I'm 52 and semi-retired. I'm married with grown kids. I've been a player and songwriter for 35 years. My original bag is classical guitar, and I've played the traditional classical repertoire in performance many, many times. I've been very strong in folk (70s folk; Lightfoot, Croce, McLean, etc.) but I'm interested now in the more traditional country, bluegrass, and old-time traditions. I'm conservatory-trained, read music, can write and follow charts, can play by ear, can sight-transpose in most keys, and can improvise, though ripping guitar leads are really not my bag. I'd like to play more autoharp now. I've got plenty of time to practice and rehearse and to go looking for the gigs when the time comes. I'm a committed and experienced musician, not a dilettante, and I'm committed to working up a proper ensemble quickly. I don't use any drugs and I don't mix alcohol with musical work. I have a house in Talking Rock that we can use as a rehearsal space, and I'm willing to invest in equipment for the right group. It doesn't matter whether you'll male or female or old or young, or whether you play an instrument and don't sing or if you sing but don't play an instrument. I want to put an act together with serious people who want to get out there and perform. Bluegrass/country is new to me but I'm coming along quickly. If you've got those licks under hand already, I'll pick them up quickly, I promise. If you're a strong steel string guitarist with some blues going on, we might fit there too. If you're a very lyrical fiddler, we're going to find sweet spots straight away, and if you've got it together on banjo, we might have a lot of fun. I'm willing to share some recordings (old and new) with interested folks. I don't have a lot, but it might be enough to give you an idea. Let's email first and talk it over. Chris