Nothin' Fancy

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East Coast Bluegrass Band redirects here.

Nothin' Fancy
Image by Jimmah's Eye May 31, 2007
Image by Jimmah's Eye
May 31, 2007
Background information
Origin Timberville, Virginia
Buena Vista, Virginia
Lexington, Virginia
Chantilly, Virginia
Genre(s) Folk
Country
Americana
Bluegrass
Years active 1994–present
Label(s) Pinecastle Records
Website Official Site
Members
Mike Andes
Mitchell Davis
Gary Farris
Chris Sexton
Tony Shorter

Nothin' Fancy was formed as a bluegrass band in Summer of 1985 with the purpose of competing in the East Coast Bluegrass Championship in Crimora, Virginia, initially calling themselves East Coast Bluegrass Band.

Contents

[edit] History

The East Coast Bluegrass Band had its roots firmly planted in the fertile Virginia musical traditions. After winning the contest that forced they were named for, it seemed counterproductive to change the name of the band, which continued to play together at local functions. 1986 brought good fortune to the group as they won the Virginia Folk Music Society State Bluegrass Band Championship.[1]

They paid their dues at lawn parties and bars in and around the Harrisonburg, VA area and released four self-produced albums. The members of the band began to try their hands at producing original material but remained true to the traditional sounds of the great bluegrass bands of the 1940s and '50s.[2]

For the group's next recorded effort, they knew that it was time to move to the next level. They contracted Tim Austin of Doobie Shea Studios to produce and record the project. After several months of honing and refining their material, the band started recording in February of 1996. Later that spring, lightning struck and destroyed the studio. With all their sessions gone, the band faced a tremendous setback. Tim promised that he would have a studio up and running as soon as possible and they were one of the first bands to record in the beautiful new studio.[3]

After four albums, thirteen years, and hundreds of performances, the band released their first nationally-distributed recording project, Life's Mysteries on Copper Creek Records.[4]

They have played such major venues as the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, the Lincoln Center in New York City, and the The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia.

In 2002 Nothin’ Fancy signed with Pinecastle Records, and quickly released their debut recording for the label entitled Once Upon A Road. This album earned them a showcase at the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Convention in October 2002 and a nomination for the IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year Award.

[edit] Awards and distinctions

  • Winner at the 1985 East Coast Bluegrass championship.
  • Winner at the 1986 Virginia Folk Music Society State Bluegrass Band Championship.
  • Their album Once Upon A Road earned them a showcase at the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Convention in October 2002
  • It also led to a nomination for the IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year Award.
  • Named "Entertaining Group Of The Year" at the 34th Annual National SPBGMA (Society For The Preservation Of Bluegrass Music In America) Awards, held February 3, 2008.
  • The band had been nominated several times in that category.
  • Also nominated through SPBGMA include Male Vocalist, Mandolin Player, and Individual Entertainer of the Year (all for Mike Andes).

[edit] Sound

The band mainly seeks to remain "true to the traditional sounds of the great bluegrass bands of the 1940s and '50s",[5] but have also performed and recorded many original songs by Mike Andes.

[edit] Festival

The band started their own festival in Buena Vista, Virginia, self-named simply as Nothin' Fancy Bluegrass Festival, which is now in its seventh year. Held each year at the Glen Maury Park in Buena Vista, Virginia, the festival has played host to some of the best bluegrass bands in the land. The 2008 festival, for example, will include such names as Rhonda Vincent, Michelle Nixon, Blue Mountain Sunrise, The Deer Creek Boys, Randy Waller & the Country Gentlemen, Blue Moon Rising, and the Gary Waldrep Band.

[edit] Recordings

[edit] Members

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Biography: East Coast Bluegrass Band" Sam Hill Entertainment.
  2. ^ "Biography: East Coast Bluegrass Band" Sam Hill Entertainment.
  3. ^ "Biography: East Coast Bluegrass Band" Sam Hill Entertainment.
  4. ^ "Biography: East Coast Bluegrass Band" Sam Hill Entertainment.
  5. ^ "Biography: East Coast Bluegrass Band" Sam Hill Entertainment.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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Bluegrass music
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