Is a northwest group founded in 2004 that specializes in a traditional bluegrass music. It’s members are veterans of many top Washington bluegrass bands including the Dunton Sisters; Ohop Valley Boys; Ron Spears & Within Tradition; Skyline Drifters; and The Fossils to name a few.

Guitarist and Anacortes resident Barry Brower has been at the core of many fine groups in addition to The Fossils. He also formed the Friends of Sally Johnson in the 1980s. Barry is a bluegrass writer and historian, and was a longtime emcee of KBCS Bluegrass Ramble.

Jen Dunton is familiar to many Skagit Valley residents from her years of performing at the Rockfish Grill with the Dunton Sisters. She switches from guitar to bass in Pearly Blue but that sweet voice remains. The legendary Ralph Stanley said of her and sister Bev Dunton, "Those girls sure can sing!"  She has performed with the likes of Tony and Larry Rice and interviewed with major recording labels in Nashville.

Rich Jones has been a long-time stalwart on the Washington bluegrass scene. Raised in Darrington, the son of a talented musician from North Carolina, Rich has been playing banjo since he was a teenager. He is a multi-instrumentalist adept at guitar and mandolin as well as banjo. Rich has been a member of Ron Spears and Within Tradition and the Ohop Valley Boys.

Called a "national class mandolin and fiddle player" by the Portland Oregonian, mandolinist Pete Martin lives in Seattle. In addition to fiddle, Pete plays mandolin, guitar, and tenor guitar and has performed and recorded with many Northwest artists including the Skyline Drifters. In 1994, he was Adult Fiddle Champion at the National Oldtime Fiddlers Contest in Weiser, Idaho. Pete supports himself teaching music, is a regular columnist for Mandolin Magazine, and has authored seven instructional books on mandolin and fiddle playing.

Fiddler Mike Schway is a resident of Bellingham and somewhat new to the bluegrass scene, having concentrated primarily on oldtime music for many years.  However, he completely understands the raw elements of bluegrass and patterns himself after some of the classic Flatt & Scruggs fiddlers from the 1950s.  What we really like about this arrangement is that Mike brings a lot of that "oldtime" feel and danceability to his playing, plus having a huge repertoire of fiddle tunes that are just right for dance situations, or for audiences that want that sort of thing.  We're extremely happy to present Mike to the bluegrass world!

What They're Saying: 

"Best wishes and much success.  Ya got a great band there!" -- Larry Kuhn, California Bluegrass Association

"You're the real deal!" -- Keith Bowers, Whidbey Island Bluegrass Festival

"You guys did a super job (at Maltby bluegrass concert) on Saturday night.  Yours and Jen’s harmony is so smooth & feels so good.  I really enjoyed the (Flatt and Scruggs) feeling that Mike (Schway) brought along.  You really have a very good group to work with, and I am hoping to hear you all over the place this year."  -- Loren Postma, Backburner Bluegrass Band

"Wow!!!! That was awesome! (Comment on "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i94I6TdGQQ) -- "Larry2043"

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