About Redgrass
Don’t listen to this band. You’ll be sitting on a dusty porch in the Appalachian Mountains after one song. With whiskey on your breath and a prayer on your lips they will fill your dreams with searing tempos, sinful harmonies, and an angelic charm you’ll want to take home to mother.
In 2007 these three young rogues were corralled into the studio to record On That Good Road, their ferocious debut album of original material. On That Good Road was nominated for best local release of 2007 by the Georgia Strait’s Tony Montague.
Drawing on a wide range of bluegrass and old-time traditions, Redgrass puts the high lonesome sound through its paces, from rusty waltzes to blazing banjo breaks and all stops in between. This trio’s unbridled musical curiosity and penchant for good old-fashioned fun have given them a reputation as an act not to be missed.
From the tiniest saloon to a large festival stage, these three charismatic gentlemen can’t help but connect with their audience. Telling stories, singing sad songs and playfully showing off their virtuosity, they make fast friends wherever they perform.
Ok, maybe you should risk a quick listen.
Kris Boyd: Mandolin, Guitar, Voice
Kris Boyd’s musical journey started at the Winnipeg Folk Fest at the age of four, where he declared “I want to play the banjo!”. For some twenty odd years after, he found himself pulled in many directions, playing guitar and bass in punk, blues, reggae and folk bands. After a move to Vancouver ten years ago, he started a successful career as a sound engineer whose clients now include Randy Bachman and Vancouver New Music. Somehow a rain-soaked mandolin found its way into his home, and rekindled his childhood love of bluegrass music. Kris has devoted himself to the mandolin in recent years, and is currently pursuing a diploma in jazz performance at Vancouver Community College, studying with Jesse Zubot.
Sean Cronin: Standup Bass, Voice
Sean Cronin is a bassist who lives in Vancouver, whose varying interests and intuitive musicianship have found him playing with many of the city's best musicians. Originally from Invermere, B.C., he began playing bass at twelve. Throughout high school, his influences came to be uncommonly diverse, from punk rock to jazz and funk to the finger-pickin’ country of his father, John Cronin. Since moving to Vancouver, he has played in the bands of Mike Allen, Amanda Tossof, Denzal Sinclaire, Bruno Hubert, Ben Rogers, The Breakmen, and now, Redgrass. His lack of red hair does not detract from his ability to play the doghouse with the soul of a redheaded stepchild.
Steve Charles: Banjo, Guitar, Voice
Steven Charles, a Vancouver local, graduated with a degree in Jazz Guitar in 1999. As a performer, he specializes in Brazilian music, composing and playing Cavaquinho for the local group Corcovado and re-inventing the Choro tradition with Sapeca. Since taencountering Bluegrass and Old-time music in 2005, Steve has quickly established himself in the scene, and is a member of both Redgrass and Viper Central. As a multi-instrumentalist, he has performed with many theatre companies. In his arsenal are nylon and steel string guitar, electric and upright bass, piano, banjo, mandolin, cavaquinho and various percussion instruments. Recent shows include the Vancouver Jazz Festival in 2006 with Brazilian groups Corcovado and Brejera; Ink! The musical by Tryptych theatre; and several Boca del Lupo shows including Vasily the Luckless, (Jessie nomination for music). He has also composed extensively for jazz and world music ensembles. In the spring of 2007, he produced a compilation CD of the emerging bluegrass and old-time bands in Vancouver, entitled Whiskey Hollow Bound.
Meet the Band:
