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About Us

The Band formed in late 2005, out of a weekly jam session around the old coal stove in the loft of the Lively's barn. "We knew right away that we wanted to stay with the style of old school, driving bluegrass, such as Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers, Jimmy Martin and regional favorite Richard Hefner and The Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys.

The first few shows were played with only four members (John, Bert, Howard, and former member Glen Reed) with Howard and Glen trading off guitar duty. Brian joined the band in March of 2006 and really made the group whole. The live show is best described as a high energy, foot stomping, old school bluegrass good time. We hope to get in the studio soon to cut a CD, but until then come on out to a live show for a guaranteed good time.

John Lively - Banjo / Lead Vocals (Email)
John picked up the banjo in 1999, after years of following that bluegrass sound all over the Appalachians. Playing in this band only strengthens his desire to keep bluegrass close to his roots; so not to lose our heritage of the music. Nowadays, you hardly ever see John without that 'ol banjo.
John was born and raised in western Greenbrier County, West Virginia, where he still farms today. He lives with his wife Heather, who also sings lead vocals with the band, and their daughter Reegan Ann. John's goal is to keep bluegrass old by playing it to a younger crowd.

Heather Lively - Lead Vocals (Email)
Heather tries to keep John straight and found out the only way to do that is to sing on stage with the band. Come to find out, she is also the best singer of the bunch. Heather has a powerful, high lonesome sound that some of the greatest would die for.
She was brought to Greenbrier County from Shady Spring, West Virginia where she was born and raised. If you don't hear her singing, you may see her clogging to the bluegrass music she has loved her entire life. Heather is married to John and they have a daughter, Reegan Ann.

Howard Estep - Mandolin / Lead Vocals (Email)
Howard started playing music in 2000 when he first picked up a mandolin. His love for bluegrass music began when he first saw and heard Bill Monroe & Ralph Stanley on PBS and playing at the Skyline Bluegrass Festival in Ronceverte, West Virginia. An accomplished mandolin and guitar player, Howard now spends most of his free time pickin' bluegrass music.
Howard has been employed by the City of Lewisburg since 1989 and lives in Asbury, West Virginia with his wife Ginger and his 3 sons Zach, Derek and Justin. Howard also has a daughter in Richmond, Virginia. She recently made him a Grandfather.

Bert Baker - Dog House Bass / Vocals (Email)
Bert has been a fan of bluegrass music for many years, but he did not start playing until October 2005. After several months with John nagging and leaning on him to buy a bass and start playing, he finally gave in. He says, "I've learned a lot and have a lot more to learn. In fact, I believe that, with music, the learning process never ends".
Bert was born and raised in Ronceverte, West Virginia beside the beautiful Greenbrier River. He still makes his home in Ronceverte with his wife Jessica and two children, Molli and Jake.

Brian Bell - Lead Guitar / Vocals (Email)
Brian started playing music in 1996 during his freshman year at Marshall University. After his 1st year of school, he transferred to West Virginia University and played music for the next 8 years while finishing his bachelor and master degrees. During that time, he played music with many people, learning and adopting a taste for folk and bluegrass music.

In 2004, he moved back home to Beckley, West Virginia to work as an operations manager for The Rivermen, a local whitewater outfitter. A river guide for 13 years, he still guides river trips whenever he isn't playing music. He now works as an epidemiologist for the Beckley-Raleigh County Health Department. Brian now lives in Bradley, West Virginia with his wife Karen and dogs Breeze & Murray.