Biography
Take a string band and swap out the fiddle player for a groovy drummer and you’re well on your way to understanding the sound of Oakhurst. The band spikes traditional bluegrass with rock & roll and a kamikaze rhythmic sensibility. That danceable concoction along with banjo vs. mandolin shootouts, three part harmonies, and citybilly swagger keeps the band in high demand. Oakhurst’s unpretentious, go-for-it interpretation of a genre that’s often handled too reverently, sparks interest in bluegrass by folks who don’t know Doc Watson from Doc Holliday.
Oakhurst’s road hardened sound has taken them far beyond the boundaries of Colorado. The rockin’ bluegrass quintet has played everything from major festivals to City sponsored events… from floating festivals in the Caribbean to private parties on mountain tops… from bluegrass festivals in the Appalachians to Chateaus in the Champagne region of France… In fact, the band has gotten around so much they have been joined on stage by Zac Brown, Shawn Mullins, Marc Broussard, Ed Robertson (BNL), Kym Warner (Greencards), Pete Wernick (Hot Rize), Vince Herman (Leftover Salmon) & Andy Falco (Infamous String Dusters) to name a few.
The band's latest album, Jump in the Get Down, received airplay on over 200 radio stations nationwide. The spins not only earned the quintet spots on the Americana, Bluegrass and Jamband charts, but an even larger national following. That hybridized, hard-to-categorize sound has also gotten Oakhurst nominated by Denver’s Westword Magazine 5 years straight as the best band in 4 different categories. Oakhurst captured the “Best Bluegrass Band” honor against stiff competition & earned the independent artist of the year award by Mile High Music Store as well.
Oakhurst’s broad appeal and nebulus stlye has earned them spots on lineups with very diverse national talent. The fact they have shared bills with with the likes of John Mayer, John Hiatt, The Flaming Lips, The Avett Brothers, Brett Dennon, Emmylou Harris, Barenaked Ladies, Patti Griffin, Yard Dogs Roadshow, Bela Fleck, Gaelic Storm, G. Love, Yonder Mountain String Band, Umphrey’s Mcgee, The Radiators, Indigo Girls, Lyle Lovett, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Johnny Lang, Bang Camaro, & Guster is good testimony that the band can entertain virtually anywhere and to anyone.
Instrumentation
A.P. Hill - Lead Vocal, Acoustic Guitar
Zach Daniels - Banjo, Electric Banjo & Vocal
Max Paley, Mandolin
Johnny James Qualley - Double Bass, Electric Bass
Chris Budin - Drums, Vocal
Discography
Loose and Prosperous, independent release, 2001
Greenhorn, Big Bender Records, 2004
Dual Mono, Big Bender Records, 2005
Jump in the Get Down, Big Bender Records, 2008
Oakhurst is currently working on it's next project in Nashville with Producer Joe Pisapia.
Links
| http://www.porchmusic.com |
| Oakhurst on Myspace |