The Grasskickers hail out of Fresno, California and are a proud part of the continuing bluegrass traditions and music in the 21st century. Formed on the back of a near 25 year musical bond between its founders, Bob Garcia and Ron “Bearrrr” Murray, the roots of the GrassKickers run deep into the fertile valley that they call home.
The Grasskickers sow the seeds of traditional bluegrass music and share it with all that are willing to listen and they consider themselves Fresno’s original bluegrass band.
Although the lineup has changed slightly throughout the years, the mission has remained the same, to play high driving bluegrass with an emphasis on tight vocal harmonies and unique arrangements that highlight and emphasize the high lonesome sound of the music itself.
The Band (Taken from bios on the band’s webpage)
Bob Garcia – Mandolin and Vocals. Bob, a native of Fresno, is a MRI Technologist at a busy hospital by day and bluegrass man by night. He is married to a wonderful and supportive wife, Connie, and proud father of two children. Bob plays a number of instruments but excels on the mandolin where he executes precision breaks with taste and creativity. Bob is also the lead singer on a number of songs that form the foundation of the Grasskickers repertoire.
Ron “Bearrrr” Murray – Ukulele Bass and Vocals. Bearrrr is truly the heart and soul of the Grasskickers. Bearrrr works for the railroad and is the singing brakeman of the San Joaquin. Holding every song down with his unique ukulele bass, Bearrrr is also an extremely talented singer in his own right whose harmony vocals blend perfectly in pitch and time with almost any song the Grasskickers offer up. In addition, Bearrrr is a talented songwriter and has written original songs that honor the bluegrass traditions and help keep the Grasskickers unique in their musical offerings to their appreciative audiences. Bearrrr is also the lead singer of a number of Grasskickers songs allowing his versatility to truly shine through in every performance.
Dan Stein – Guitar and Vocals. Dan grew up in Pittsfield, Maine and now practices law in Fresno. His past 16 years of playing bluegrass music have brought him from Maine to North Carolina, to Vermont, to the Bay Area in California and finally planting himself here in the Central Valley. Dan began playing with the Grasskickers after an audition, unbeknownst to him, in a field picking session at the local Kings River Bluegrass Festival with Bob back in the fall of 2009. Dan plays guitar and sings both harmony and lead vocals on a number of songs for the Grasskickers and he is thankful for the opportunity to continue to share in making great bluegrass music with the band. Dan is a songwriter as well and has written original songs for the GrassKickers and even for top national touring band, Town Mountain.
Tom Naiman – Banjo and Vocals. Tom is a multi-talented singer and instrumentalist who is also a native of Fresno. He has brought the Grasskickers to another level in terms of the range of their music. Tom is well known for being the banjo player of the successful bluegrass group, Dalton Mountain, whose members, although now disbanded, have spread into other bluegrass bands and continue to shape the future of bluegrass music. Tom has brought the “blues” in bluegrass to the forefront of the Grasskickers set lists. Whether he is singing Merle Haggard’s “Workin Man’s Blues” or Danny Paisley’s “Raising Cain in Texas”, he draws out the marrow of the bluegrass bone in every song he sings and play.
Jack Kinney – Fiddle. Jack is our newest and youngest Grasskicker. He is a seasoned player of many instruments. While the fiddle is still his first, he has recently started playing the banjo and shredding the mandolin. His dad, Kent Kinney, has occasionally played with the Grasskickers on guitar and his positive influence on young Jack is obvious. In addition to playing Valley Oak Band and joining Central Valley Boys on stage, Jack has evolved into a musical force. We are fortunate to have him grace us with his musical talents and be part of his own bluegrass journey which is just beginning for this confident and amazing musician.
Catch the Grasskickers in performance at the Susanville Bluegrass Festival; June 26th from 4:00 to 4:50p.m. and June 28th from 1:00 to 1:50p.m.
Great 48 Showcase Showdown in Bakersfield with Grasskickers singing Merle Haggard classic, Lonesome Fugitive
Other performances at this week’s festival include; Hossetts, Karl Shiflett and Big Country, Red Dog Ash, the Get Down Boys, James Ream and the Barnstormers, Ron Spears and Within Tradition, Larry Gillis and West Coast Swampgrass, and Lonesome Otis.
Admission to the Festival is $20 per day or you can purchase a three-day pass at the gate for $55.
Friday
- 12:00 pm ~ 12:50 pm Lonesome Otis
- 1:00 pm ~ 1:50 pm Hossetts
- 2:00 pm ~ 2:50 pm Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show
- 3:00 pm ~ 3:50 pm Music Camp
- 4:00 pm ~ 4:50 pm Grass Kickers
- 5:00 pm ~ 6:15 pm Workshops / Dinner Break
- 6:30 pm ~ 7:30 pm Red Dog Ash
- 7:40 pm ~ 9:00 pm Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show
Saturday
- 12:00 pm ~ 12:50 pm Hossetts
- 1:00 pm ~ 1:50 pm Lonesome Otis
- 2:00 pm ~ 2:50 pm Get Down Boys
- 3:00 pm ~ 3:50 pm Red Dog Ash
- 4:00 pm ~ 4:50 pm James Reams & The Barnstormers
- 5:00 pm ~ 6:00 pm Workshops / Dinner Break
- 6:00 pm ~ 6:50 pm Ron Spears & Within Tradition
- 7:00 pm ~ 7:50 pm Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show
- 8:00 pm~ 9:00 pm Larry Gillis & West Coast Swampgrass
Sunday
- 10:00 am ~ 10:50 am Ron Spears & Within Tradition (Gospel)
- 11:00 am ~ 11:50 am James Reams & The Barnstormers
- 12:00 pm ~ 12:50 pm Red Dog Ash
- 1:00 pm ~ 1:50 pm GrassKickers
- 2:00 pm ~ 2:50 pm Get Down Boys
- 3:00 pm ~ 4:00 pm Larry Gillis & West Coast Swampgrass
For more information about the big Susanville Bluegrass Festival you can call the Lassen County Fair office at 530.251.8900.
