The Bluegrass Band “Borderline”
A Bucks County PA-based band for over 25 years, Borderline plays a type of bluegrass that is not quite categorized as “newgrass”, yet not restrained by traditional boundaries.
Three-part harmonies and hot, hard-driving instrumentals enhance their style. Borderline is composed of Bob Sutor on banjo, guitar and vocals, Terry Sutor on bass and vocals, Ron Greenstein on guitar and vocals and Travis Wetzel on mandolin, fiddle and vocals.
Bob Sutor is an award winning banjo player who has been mastering his craft for over 30 years. In addition to performing with Borderline, Bob has recorded banjo with other artists whose music styles include reggae to rock.
Terry Sutor’s voice has power for that high lonesome sound in traditional bluegrass, as well as lilting softness for ballads or gospel.
Ron Greenstein is a guitarist and vocalist of high caliber who has traveled and performed with such music greats as Tom Paxton and the Lewis Brothers.
Travis Wetzel is an extraordinary fiddle and mandolin player who has recorded with the legendary Jesse McReynolds and regularly plays at the Grand Old Opry. His most recent album was nominated for a Grammy.
Borderline has performed throughout the East Coast, performing at a multitude of bluegrass festivals, concert settings, park venues, and clubs. They recently have played shows with Jerry Douglas, Blue Highway and The John Cowan Band. |
Lost Ramblers
In 1978, the Lost Ramblers were formed. Ever since, they've been making music in the Eastern Mountains of Pennsylvania and western New Jersey, often venturing all over the northeastern U.S.
The band specializes in bluegrass and old timey music but also offers an eclectic mix of Celtic, Jazz, polka and even klezmer tunes.
The Lost Ramblers were formed by John Updike and Neil Morris in 1978 at a festival in Shade Gap,
Pennsylvania. John, from Wooster, Ohio plays the 5-String banjo. He had been playing in various bands and duos all over Ohio when he decided to move to Pennsylvania.
It was there he met Neil and their musical styles meshed. They started the band, never expecting to still be performing together nearly thirty years later.
Neil Morris was born and raised in the town of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, which happens to be the home of the Martin Guitar Company.
After a stint in in The Marine Corps in Vietnam, he returned to Nazareth, took up guitar and even worked in the Martin factory for a while. Soon he became active in the regional bluegrass association's jam sessions and festivals and played in a variety of bluegrass bands during the height of bluegrass popularity in the early '70's.
Anthony Hannigan (mandolin, guitar, banjo, fiddle, vocals) is the 1999 National Mandolin Champion and has been involved with music from the age of four. He has recorded and performed with major artists for years. Co-Mando named Anthony as one of the top mandolin players in the world and rated his mandolin workshop as one of the best in the country. He is accomplished on the banjo, fiddle, and guitar as well as the mandolin and has been recognized as a talented songwriter worldwide. Anthony co-founded The Hickory Project, which showcased at the prestigious IBMA Convention in both 2002 and 2004. He also has been an instructor at the renowned RockyGrass Academy and Augusta Heritage Center.
Anthony’s influences range from Vassar Clements, Van Halen, Thelonious Monk, Joe Pass, Steve Moorse, Prince, Bill Monroe, Charlie Parker, Kenny Baker and even James Brown. Whether it is creating tunes, or performing with the band, Anthony will leave an impression lasting long after the performance is over. Jillian Brosnan (flute, low and high whistles, vocals, upright bass) chose to play the flute because her parents wouldn’t allow her to practice the trumpet or drums in the house.
Almost twenty years later, she thanks her parents for helping her make the right choice. Classically trained at George Mason University, Jillian was recognized as one of the best young flutists in Virginia four years in a row by the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association. Jillian’s influences, however, are much broader than her classical training. She grew up singing along with Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, and other jazz greats.
She also formed a strong connection to Celtic music after discovering the pennywhistle. She has been involved with many recording projects and has been performing professionally for years. Jillian’s wide-ranging vocal ability, rock-solid bass rhythm and expert flute and whistle playing make for an outstanding performance.
Rennick Morris has been playing bass fiddle with the band for most of the last two years. He is the son of Neil. His influences are those of his father's, traditional-flavored bluegrass but also the improvisitational sounds of the modern Jam-Band scene.
The Lost Ramblers' influences come from the bluegrass world as well as a hard-driving traditional style that was especially popular thirty or forty years ago. Of course, many other sounds have entered the band's repertoire--too many to mention. They remain a hard-core, good time musical force and have managed to keep their sound fresh after all these years.
During the Rambler's time, many fine musicians have joined the group, learned to play in their special ensemble style and then moved on to other successes. The Lost Ramblers can be found playing at nearly every kind of event or function, in configurations of three, four or five pieces--or more.
They're as comfortable playing as a strolling band, completely acoustically, as they are in a formal concert arrangement with a full sound system. Wherever the Ramblers are playing, a good time is being had--and they're always looking for new ways to have fun! |
