Were you at our May 13, 2010 show featuring the Blue Canyon Boys? Their guitarist Jason Hicks was unable to make the show but they were fortunate enough to find an able replacement in Greg Blake. The Blue Canyon Boys tore it up that night and were called back for two encores. Greg was an equal partner in the firey bluegrass played that night and after it was all said and done, my first thought was that we need to get Greg back here along with whatever band he plays with. That band is Mountain Holler and we are pleased to welcome them to the Black Rose stage on Friday, February 10.
Mountain Holler was formed when Greg and fiddler Jay Genender were called to fill in for a band that cancelled at a venue in Bailey, CO. Tom Carr joined them on bass that night and the band was born. Their performance was so good, those attending the show wanted to know when they were coming back. One of the people witnessing the show even asked, "... how long have you guys been playing together?" And the band answered, "about an hour"!
Greg was born in West Virginia and, from there, acquired his love for bluegrass. He eventually ended up in Kansas City where he joined up with The Bluegrass Missourians, a band he would play in for nearly 15 years. He is a Kansas State Flatpicking champion and, at one point in his career, was selected Blue- grass Guitar Performer of the Year 5 years in a row by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA). Greg and the family moved to Conifer, CO in February, 2007 taking a position as one of the pastors at Elk Creek Community Church.
Jay Genender grew up in the front range of the Colorado and played violin in local school orchestras through high school. He later discovered bluegrass and you can often find him at late night festival jams. Jay teaches music professionally at the Swallow Hill Music Center in Denver, Colorado as well as gives private music lessons in piano, guitar, violin and mandolin techniques from his studio.
Originally from California, bassist Tom Carr grew up in the Chicago suburbs. Tom moved to Colorado in 2002 and a year chestra during high school. After high school Emily moved to Durango, Colorado where she attended college, taught fiddle and mandolin at Canyon Music, and played mandolin with Wild Mountain, a popular local band. She moved back to the front range to finish her music degree at Metro State in Denver. You might find Emily at any number of statewide music festival jams or at the David Grisman/Mike Marshall Mandolin Symposium in Santa Cruz, CA, an event she attended for the 3rd consecutive time this year.
If you like bluegrass, this is a show you don't want to miss.
Show Details
Showtime is Friday, February 10th at 7:00p.m. Doors open at 5:30. Cost: general public $7.00, Students $5.00, BRAS Members $4.00, Children 12 - under are Free.
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