Tie Dye Hillbilly Dance Party

On guitar and lead vocals is Williamstown native and former Mt. Greylock middle school science teacher Robert Chesbro. Chesbro is a student of the folk and jam band scenes, ushered into the bluegrass world via the Old and in the Way portal. As a former resident of the Berkshires, Chesbro has performed at River Fest and the Acoustic Brew, and was featured on Porch Music, a neighborhood television program for local artists. Chesbro has accompanied local teacher/coach and songwriter Bob Thistle at Café Lena in Saratoga Springs, and has worked on side projects with North Adams’ own Jim Markham and Mt. Greylock teacher Patrick Blackman; the Hillbillies even feature one of Blackman’s original songs, Northbound Train. Chesbro currently teaches Physical Science in Central New Jersey near Princeton, and has played guitar and banjo in The Levee Drivers, The Backyard, and Bridge Street Bluegrass Band. Chesbro has clocked studio time on banjo with Amos Lee steel guitar player Andy Keenan on The Good’s album The Good One, and few people know that Chesbro is the son of a local seamstress, and magician attorney. Dave Haneman has been involved in music all his life and finds joy in the creative "chi" found when musicians and audience connect. With roots in bluegrass, celtic, folk, jazz and blues, Dave’s talent defies the clichés often associated with the upright bass. Dave has also contributed to the music of Haute Dawg, The Back Porch Swing, Prospect Crossing, Sarah Donner, The KVD Project, Richard Jarboe and the OK Jammers, Riverside Bluegrass, The Freaker’s French Fry Ensemble, and more. His soulful and fluid style forms the freshly dynamic undercurrent of the Hillbilly sound. Dave is also an accomplished production engineer. Few people know that Dave’s bass also doubles as a deep sea diving bell during summer months. With his classically-trained approach to the bluegrass fiddle, Larry Wohl adds a melodic color not frequently heard in the genre. A student of music since childhood, Larry blends high-energy licks with melodic and harmonic subtlety in a seamless fashion, while projecting a dynamic stage presence. He especially prefers the key of B. Larry is a veteran of Bridge Street Blue Grass band, the Princeton-based Jackalopes, and has accompanied local New Jersey folk artists like Richard Jarboe and the OK Jammers. Practicing law on the side, a judge once asked Wohl during a sentencing if he intended to make use of his fiddle, to which Larry replied, “I don’t think it will do any good.” Legal prowess notwithstanding, few people know that Larry’s fiddle has strange powers. The secret weapon of the Tie Dye Hillbilly Dance Party sound is Bob Sutor’s banjo. A wily veteran of the bluegrass universe, Bob’s tastefully syncopated Scruggs- and melodic-style licks blaze the forward path of the Hillbilly experience. Also contributing baritone and lead vocals, Bob alone is a force to be reckoned with, and his dynamic contribution to the ensemble is unrivaled. Bob is also currently a member of Borderline, and has played in countless bluegrass and country bands, including with Mark Cosgrove of the David Bromberg band. He has been known to resuscitate unconscious victims of his banjo solos with a mere flick of the thumb pick. Few people know that the coating on Bob’s banjo is a nickel-bismuth alloy fashioned from the hull of the Titanic. Traditional, newgrass and jam-band inspired bluegrass TieDyeHillbillyDanceParty@gmail.com ...the name speaks for itself! Move your feets.