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| Portland Invasion Saturday, February 13, 2010 Cafe du Nord |  |
 Jerks of Grass are a high-energy bluegrass quartet from Portland, Maine. Gathered around one microphone in the traditional style, over the past decade New England’s Jerks of Grass have become a formidable purveyor of their own brand of bluegrass music. With one foot in the traditional and the other in progressive roots music, Jerks of Grass have forged a sound all their own. The Jerks of Grass are Melissa Bragdon (fiddle,vocals,) Kris Day (upright & electric bass, guitar, & vocals), Carter Logan (5-string bangjo, dobro, guitar & vocals), Jason Phelps (guitar, mandolin, & vocals).
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 Whiskey Puppy plays boot-stomping, mule-slapping traditional bluegrass and old-time music. The Portland, Oregon trio brings energy, humor, and skillful musicianship to little-known songs and tunes searched out from the repertoires of the early Southern stringbands. Known for sweet three-part harmonies and their collection of chew toys, Whiskey Puppy has been performing since 2001. Whiskey Puppy features Rachel Gold (The Flat Mountain Girls) on guitar, Justin Auld (Redwood Highway) on banjo and fiddle, Travis ˜Tater" Harrison(Cocks in the Henhouse, Jackass Willie) on bass, and Nick Blechman on mandolin. | |
 The Mighty Ghosts Portland, Oregon's Mighty Ghosts approach
old-time music with knowledge and reverence, but still
recognize the modern filter through which they experience
it. Inspired by the experimental, original, and
inventive musicians of the early recording era, the
Ghosts add their own unique sound to the songster
tradition. The material chosen, and occasionally written,
by the Ghosts is broad and rich, with the songs easily
moving from jug band blues to Child ballads, from
stomping dance tunes to delicate dirges. Stark and close
vocal harmonies are the driving force of the Ghosts’
music while a diverse combination of instruments —
including ukuleles, mountain dulcimer, fiddle, tenor
banjo, guitar, standup bass and a myriad of percussion —
are used in arrangements that emphasize texture and
tone. Kati Claborn and Gus Smith started singing together in the bayside town of Bellingham, WA. In 2000, they began performing with dulcimer and baritone uke, and were soon joined by Aaron Shear, establishing the ukulele as the backbone of what became Mighty Ghosts of Heaven. Shortly before relocating to Portland, Oregon in 2005, Linnea Spitzer added her uncommon and adventurous fiddling to the Ghosts' sound. Most recently, they have been joined by Andy Sheie on percussion and Lucas Jones on bass. | |
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 Erik Clampitt's introduction to guitar began when he was 8 years old. Ms. Roy, his second grade teacher at his Catholic elementary school, began teaching Erik her catalog of protest and children songs. Years later, Erik would find himself immersed in the Portland indie/pop scene, but abandoned it for the "lesser evils in life," and returned to his acoustic roots. Erik co-founded Clampitt, Gaddis & Buck with Marley Gaddis and Sean “Buck” Burke in 2003, continuously touring the west coast and releasing two full-length albums and multiple EP’s. He later founded The Clampitt Family in 2007. Erik will be performing as a solo artist this year, showcasing new material and dipping into his extensive repertoire from former bands Clampitt, Gaddis & Buck, and the Clampitt Family. He'll be joined on stage by guest musicians from Mighty Ghosts, Whiskey Puppy, Clampitt, and Gaddis & Buck. | |
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