Featuring professional bluegrass music and so much more . . .
VLB Trio: David West, banjo, Peter Feldmann (mandolin, guitar), and Tom Lee (bass). Backstage at the Music Academy of the West
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Peter Feldmann and the Very Lonesome Boys bring years of professional experience to the stage wherever they perform, providing lively acoustic music to a wide variety of events: weddings, corporate retreats, music festivals, barbeques, calf-ropings, wine tastings, and college concerts. They have been a favorite for fund raising activities, auctions, art and
automobile shows, etc.
Their outstanding music is performed on all-acoustic instruments -- and can be presented with or without amplification derpending on clients' needs, and the setting of the planned event.
These veteran musicians bring a wealth of talent, knowledge, and material to their audiences, featuring mandolins, guitars, banjo, fiddle (optional), and upright bass. Besides bluegrass standards, they add early country songs, hot instrumentals, ancient ballads, cowboy songs, and much more. Their sound varies from the bright sound of twin banjos, or banjo/mandlolin duets, to the rich overtones of double guitar and mandolin-guitar classics. The VLB perform as a trio, but can be expanded to larger groups, specifically tailored to our clients' needs.
From a concert at Santa Barbara's Lobero Theater, L-R: Byron Berline, Blaine Sprouse, Peter, Tom Lee,
David West, and Mayne Smith. Click Here for video.
About the performers:
A singer and multi-instrumentalist
with many years' performing experience throughout California and the West, Peter Feldmann has been presenting bluegrass, folk, string band, and related musics
since the early 1960's, and is known as the founder of the Santa Barbara
Old Time Fiddler's Convention, and the original Bluebird Café in
Santa Barbara, a music club highly influential on the Southern California
Music scene. Peter's tribute CD to Uncle Dave Macon, Grey
Cat On The Tennessee Farm, was named to the nation's Top Ten
Bluegrass albums of 2005 by the Chicago Tribune. Peter was given the Music Legend Award by the Topanga Banjo/Fiddle organization in 2008.
The Very Lonesome Trio's distinctive sound is firmly grounded by the solid bass lines of Tom Lee, veteran of the Cache Valley Drifters and The Bluegrass Cardinals.Tom's music ranges far and wide, from traditional jazz to country, Hawiian, and bluegrass standards. As a skilled bassist, Tom has toured with the Drifters, the Bluegrass Cardinals, and many other musical groups. His vocal harmonies add richness to the group's duo and trio arrangements. Tom is the former director of the Song Tree Music Series, a popular concert forum for several years, which brought a wide variety of great music to Goleta, CA.
David West has produced over sixty albums (many in the Pickin' On series) as a staff producer for CMH Records in Los Angeles, and many more as a freelance producer through his Play Ball! Musical Services and Studio "Z" based in Santa Barbara, CA. A multi-instrumentalist, his playing has appeared on hundreds of albums, TV shows and commercials, plus many film sound tracks. His early career was spent on the road with the Cache Valley Drifters (founding member) and as an accompanist to songwriter Kate Wolf. While the last fifteen years have been devoted primarily to studio productions, he still occasionally tours, backing up some of his favorite musicians, including Peter Lewis (Moby Grape), Chris Hillman (Byrds), musician/musicologist Peter Feldmann and Nashville/California songwriter Kate Wallace.
Very Lonesome Song Samples
Shenandoah Breakdown - A Bill Monroe composition from a live performance with Peter David, and Tom, with Blaine Sprouise on fiddle.
The Brazos River - 19th Century folk song about the rivers of Texas. Peter, lead vocals; David & Tom harmony.
VIDEO / Paddy On The Turnpike - Fine traditional fiddle tune recorded live at Soho in Santa Barbara CA 15 years ago.
