Wow!! Welcome The Bayside Rounders, a new assembly of some of the hottest bluegrass pickers in the Bay Area! Here’s who you’ll get to see and hear on Wednesday, December 17th, when these awesome musicians bring their charm and talent to the Otter Opry stage at Monterey United Methodist Church.
Jesse Appelman on mandolin leads the West Coast Stringband Project, which features his singing and original compositions, and he has performed with Laurie Lewis, Kathy Kallick, Keith Little and Scott Nygaard. Hailing from the heartland of Indiana, and former member of Audie Blaylock and Redline, banjo player Evan Ward embodies the tone and timing of the banjo masters and offers heartfelt vocals. Inspired by Bill Monroe, who his father took him to see at age thirteen in his native Ohio, Mike Wilhoyte honed his bluegrass skills over the next 45 years to become a force on rhythm and lead guitar and as a lead singer.
Los Angeles native Mike Witcher cut his teeth with his family band and has gone on to become one of the most sought-after dobro players for both session work and touring with artists such as Peter Rowan, Dolly Parton, Dwight Yoakam and Laurie Lewis. Leading the band and holding down the bottom is legendary upright bass player Mark Schatz, who has toured and recorded with a Who’s Who of the bluegrass world including Tony Rice, Bela Fleck, Nickel Creek, Tim O’Brien and Claire Lynch. He always livens up a show with some Southern Appalachian clog dancing!
This promises to be one of the best shows ever, and you can make the evening even more special with a delicious ham dinner before the show ($15 in advance, $20 after December 13th). Online sales will end at 11am the day of the performance.
7pm. Monterey United Methodist Church, 1 Soledad Drive, Monterey. $35/show (CBA members $30; 15 and under free). www.otteropry.org