Folk Grass Fusion Marin

Houston Jones is a San Francisco Bay Area based high-octane Americana quintet. Formed in 2001, the band performs a strong original repertoire that ranges from bluegrass and folk to blues and gospel. Houston Jones features Travis Jones (lead vocal, rhythm guitar), Glenn Houston (lead acoustic and electric guitar), Henry Salvia (keyboard and accordion), Chris Kee (standup bass, cello and acoustic guitar), and Peter Tucker (drums and percussion).

Susie Glaze and the Hilonesome Band  Award-winning recording artist and critically-acclaimed Bluegrass powerhouse vocalist, Susie Glaze has been called by Bluegrass Unlimited “an important voice on the California Bluegrass scene.” A native Tennessean, Susie was the winner of the 1999 Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Contest for Traditional Singing and her Hilonesome Band was named in Folkworks Top 10 2008 Acoustic Bands in Southern California. Presenting the best in Newgrass Americana Folk Fusion, they were Winners of the Just Plain Folks 2006 Music Awards for Best Roots Album, and Folkworks Pick for Best Bluegrass Album of 2005 for “Blue Eyed Darlin’.” KCSN writes: “Susie Glaze does something with a song that only great singers can do…she grabs hold of a song’s deepest emotion and purpose and wraps it tightly around your soul….” Susie’s Hilonesome Band showcases the songwriting of lead guitarist Rob Carlson and features Steve Rankin on mandolin, Fred Sanders on bass and Mark Indictor on fiddle. Their “Live at the Freight & Salvage” was released in 2011 and features their guest the great Bill Evans on banjo.

Like all families, Family Lines has history. And what a history it is. As a professional actress Susan Nielsen shared the stage with Bob Hope, Merv Griffin, Bill Cosby, and other national stars before shifting gears and getting back to her musical roots as a vocalist and composer. Tim McDonald has been honing his singing and guitar picking skills since he was just a kid. He played lead in several Bay area groups, including Axis and The King’s Men, before going it alone as a solo artist. And string master Ken Frankel has been part of the California music scene since the 60s, performing with music notables such as Jerry Garcia, Richard Green, Rick Shubb, Sandy Rothman, Robert Hunber, and Tom Constanten. Put ’em together and what have you got? A trio that performs outstanding original music as well as folk, blues, and roots favorites. This acoustic family features rich vocal harmonies that blend somewhere beyond the DNA. Family Lines delivers lively and riveting performances that’ll get you out of your seats and make you feel like–well, like family.