The Town Howlers
The Town Howlers play traditional bluegrass music and are influenced by the great singers and pickers from the golden era of bluegrass, such as Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers, Vern Williams, and Jimmy Martin. With flashy picking, tight harmony singing, and original as well as traditional songs, the Town Howlers show a deference to traditional bluegrass while also adding their own style and sound.
The Town Howlers play traditional bluegrass music and are influenced by the great singers and pickers from the golden era of bluegrass, such as Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers, Vern Williams, and Jimmy Martin. With flashy picking, tight harmony singing, and original as well as traditional songs, the Town Howlers show a deference to traditional bluegrass while also adding their own style and sound.
John McKelvy - Guitar & Vocals:
John McKelvy, originally from north central Florida, made his debut to bluegrass fans in the early 2000s as the high lonesome singer, guitarist and songwriter for the gothic bluegrass pioneers, The Earl Brothers. After leaving the band in 2007, he began focusing on old-time music with his band Black Crown Stringband (2008-2014). McKelvy has performed all over the U.S., Canada and the U.K., opening for such stars as Sam Bush, Junior Brown, Jim Lauderdale and Peter Rowan, among others.
John McKelvy, originally from north central Florida, made his debut to bluegrass fans in the early 2000s as the high lonesome singer, guitarist and songwriter for the gothic bluegrass pioneers, The Earl Brothers. After leaving the band in 2007, he began focusing on old-time music with his band Black Crown Stringband (2008-2014). McKelvy has performed all over the U.S., Canada and the U.K., opening for such stars as Sam Bush, Junior Brown, Jim Lauderdale and Peter Rowan, among others.
Michael Small - Banjo & Vocals:
Michael Small developed an appreciation for American roots music as young man growing up in Maryland. When he was 16 years old, a friend left his banjo at his house and he has been playing ever since. He also enjoys playing old time banjo and fiddle as well as bluegrass music.
Michael Small developed an appreciation for American roots music as young man growing up in Maryland. When he was 16 years old, a friend left his banjo at his house and he has been playing ever since. He also enjoys playing old time banjo and fiddle as well as bluegrass music.
Rowan McCallister - Mandolin & Vocals:
Growing up with his parents’ sizable collection of folk and country records, Rowan gained a serious appreciation of traditionally based music in high school, first playing guitar but soon moving on to mandolin and banjo. Rowan models his mandolin playing on the style of Bill Monroe, favoring bluesy tone and rhythm. He has been honing his craft playing in the East Bay bluegrass scene, and until its recent closing had been hosting the historic 5th String bluegrass jam in Berkeley. Rowan is available for mandolin, guitar, and clawhammer banjo lessons in the East Bay.
Growing up with his parents’ sizable collection of folk and country records, Rowan gained a serious appreciation of traditionally based music in high school, first playing guitar but soon moving on to mandolin and banjo. Rowan models his mandolin playing on the style of Bill Monroe, favoring bluesy tone and rhythm. He has been honing his craft playing in the East Bay bluegrass scene, and until its recent closing had been hosting the historic 5th String bluegrass jam in Berkeley. Rowan is available for mandolin, guitar, and clawhammer banjo lessons in the East Bay.
Matt Crimp - Fiddle & Vocals:
Born in Dillingham, Alaska, and raised in Anchorage, Matt Crimp grew up fiddling as part of the thriving Alaska folk music scene. He won the Alaska State Fair Fiddle Contest at age 13, and proceeded to record two full-length albums with his first band, The Emeralds. Matt currently resides in Berkeley, California, where he is an active performer and jammer in the acoustic music scene. From 2012-2013, he performed with American Nomad, and currently plays with the Mountain Fire Band and the Town Howlers as well as solo shows.
Born in Dillingham, Alaska, and raised in Anchorage, Matt Crimp grew up fiddling as part of the thriving Alaska folk music scene. He won the Alaska State Fair Fiddle Contest at age 13, and proceeded to record two full-length albums with his first band, The Emeralds. Matt currently resides in Berkeley, California, where he is an active performer and jammer in the acoustic music scene. From 2012-2013, he performed with American Nomad, and currently plays with the Mountain Fire Band and the Town Howlers as well as solo shows.
James Touzel - Upright Bass:
James “lil jimmy” Touzel is a freelance bassist, clarinetist, songwriter, and vocalist living in San Francisco, California. For the past 10 years, he has been a mainstay in the Bay Area’s traditional American music scene, specializing in bluegrass, country, western swing, dixieland, jazz, and rockabilly. In addition to numerous music and film recordings on the upright bass fiddle, electric bass guitar, and clarinet, “lil jimmy” has toured coast-to-coast at home in the US, as well as performances in Canada, Holland, France, Belgium, Costa Rica, and Russia. He has performed live on stage with noted groups such as the Earl Brothers, the Stylistics, Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, Danielle Howle, the Brothers Comatose, Jackie Gore, and the Tams.