Music Style Old Time

Musical Influences Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers, The New Lost City Ramblers, Freighthoppers, John Hartford, Mance Lipscomb....etc.

Similar Artists freighthoppers, new lost city ramblers, red clay ramblers,

Artist History High on the Hog formed rather spontaneously in early July, 2001, resulting from the coming together of four dedicated musicians with a mutual love and respect for old-time music. All four members have played together previously in various incarnations and side projects. Not until recently did they find themselves settling in the same township with the same vision. That vision being the creation of a stringband with a focus on traditional American fiddle tunes and other early, rural country music predating the onset of bluegrass in the 1940’s. Their inspiration is fueled by the recorded works of such artists as Uncle Dave Macon, Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers, the Grinnel Giggers, Frank Blevins and his North Carolina Tarheel Rattlers, Tommy Jarrell, & The Hammons Family just to name a few. Curt Alsobrook - banjo, guitar, & vocals - Curt was born and raised in South County, Missouri. In St. Louis, he was a member of the Counterfeit Caboose (an innovative stringband project involving some of the areas finest acoustic musicians). He also studied the clawhammer banjo with local music legend, Steve Mote and performed as a banjo/fiddle duet with fellow hog, Ryan. There are few frailers out there with such taste and adherence to melody as Curt. Angie Hansleben - guitar, spoons, & vocals - Born and raised in St. Charles County, Missouri, Angie started her musical career as the percussionist with the “The River City Buskers” of St. Louis, MO. She held the rhythm together on washboard, spoons, & a small drum kit. Offstage, however; she was learning to play the guitar and discovering a love for the music of Norman Blake and John Hartford. Her creative and powerful rhythm guitar work is the backbone of the band’s sound. Brian Roman - fiddle, mandolin, & vocals - Brian hails from the town of Okemos, Ingham County, Michigan. Brian was the guitarist (flatpicker extraordinaire) with East Lansing’s “Live Bait Bluegrass Band” and worked for Elderly Instruments before an interest in American studies led him to the Boulder area. Brian has become quite the fiddler in recent years due in large part to his intense love of the instrument and the music. When not at the University of Colorado, he is practicing and researching…he does not sleep. Ryan Spearman - fiddle, banjo, mandolin, & vocals - Ryan was raised in St. Charles County, Missouri. He’s been a professional performer, solo and otherwise, for nine years. In St. Louis, Ryan performed with the River City Buskers on guitar, vocal, mandolin, & fiddle. He also teaches guitar, banjo and mandolin, hosts open jams, and has recorded as a session musician on several CDs. High on the Hog has performed at the following clubs and events: Trilogy wine bar and lounge Boulder, CO Redfish restaurant and brewery Boulder, CO Penny Lane coffehouse Boulder, CO Boulder Hometown Fair Boulder, CO Littleton Historical Museum Old Time Barn Dance Littleton, CO Acoustic Coffeehouse Nederland, CO Pioneer Inn Nederland, CO Poudre Canyon Stringfest at Mishawaka Fort Collins, CO The Fox Theatre Boulder, CO The Pig Out Sugarloaf, CO I and I Caf� Nederland, Co The Mercantile Caf� Jamestown, CO

Group Members The members of High on the Hog, both individually and collectively, harbor a wealth of talent, experience, and credits including the sharing of stages with such greats as Tony Furtado, Mike Marshall, Darol Anger, Yonder Mtn Stringband, & Keller Williams. Curt Alsobrook - banjo, guitar, & vocals - Curt was born and raised in South County, Missouri. In St. Louis, he was a member of the Counterfeit Caboose (an innovative stringband project involving some of the areas finest acoustic musicians). He also studied the clawhammer banjo with local music legend, Steve Mote and performed as a banjo/fiddle duet with fellow hog, Ryan. There are few frailers out there with such taste and adherence to melody as Curt. Angie Hansleben - guitar, spoons, & vocals - Born and raised in St. Charles County, Missouri, Angie started her musical career as the percussionist with the “The River City Buskers” of St. Louis, MO. She held the rhythm together on washboard, spoons, & a small drum kit. Offstage, however; she was learning to play the guitar and discovering a love for the music of Norman Blake and John Hartford. Her creative and powerful rhythm guitar work is the backbone of the band’s sound. Brian Roman - fiddle, mandolin, & vocals - Brian hails from the town of Okemos, Ingham County, Michigan. Brian was the guitarist (flatpicker extraordinaire) with East Lansing’s “Live Bait Bluegrass Band” and worked for Elderly Instruments before an interest in American studies led him to the Boulder area. Brian has become quite the fiddler in recent years due in large part to his intense love of the instrument and the music. When not at the University of Colorado, he is practicing and researching…he does not sleep. Ryan Spearman - fiddle, banjo, mandolin, & vocals - Ryan was raised in St. Charles County, Missouri. He’s been a professional performer, solo and otherwise, for nine years. In St. Louis, Ryan performed with the River City Buskers on guitar, vocal, mandolin, & fiddle. He also teaches guitar, banjo and mandolin, hosts open jams, and has recorded as a session musician on several CDs.

Instruments Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Fiddle

Albums Coming Soon

Location Nederland, Colorado - USA

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