The Old Bay String Band is based near Annapolis, Maryland. Performances begin in the Fall of 2006 with an emphasis on the Baltimore, MD/Eastern Shore/Washington DC region. Drawn together by similar interests including a passion for acoustic music and a love for the Chesapeake Bay, band members are Shawn Kimbro, Dave Wolf, Joe Zauner, and Alexander Mitchell:
Shawn Kimbro - Leaving Knoxville's busiest bluegrass band for a new life near Annapolis, Maryland, Shawn Kimbro brings a taste of Tennessee to the Chesapeake Bay. Passionately delivering his homespun Appalachian originals with an authentic mountain dialect, his music drips with the mellow flavors of sour-mash whiskey and Smoky Mountain honey. Shawn began his performance career at back-woods barn dances in East Tennessee as the front man for his family band, Mountain Soul. Known for superior musicianship and blazing bluegrass flavored with rock and classic country, Mountain Soul became one of Knoxville's best-known acoustic bands playing regularly to standing-room-only crowds in the region's finest venues and favorite watering-holes. Now with the Old Bay String Band, he delivers a unique blend of blazing bluegrass, tear-jerkin' country, and home-grown original tunes all set against a backdrop of livin', lovin', drinkin', and killin'.
Dave Wolf – A Baltimore, Maryland native, now living in Howard County, Dave brings a varied musical background to the flavorful stew that is bluegrass Old Bay style. Dave has studied and played cello, piano, fiddle, bass, and guitar in styles ranging from classical to jazz to honky tonk. He was introduced to bluegrass and string band music by way of the Grateful Dead and counts Tony Rice and Doc Watson as strong influences. Dave is coming back into the acoustic music scene after taking a break for a decade when his children were growing up, and is now pickin’ and singin’ every chance he gets. Look for the occasional Dead or Dylan tune from Dave along with background vocals, harmonies and stompin’ fiddle tunes. He also plays bass with Mike Garris and Area 51, a popular Baltimore jamgrass band. When not playing music, Dave can sometimes be found drowning bait in the Choptank River.
Joe Zauner - Hardcore Bluegrass fans know Joe Zauner for his behind-the-scenes gig as stage manager at the annual International Bluegrass Music Awards (IBMA) Showcase. After they hear him play the banjo, they know he's even more at home performing in front of the curtain. Joe has played with some of the best in the business including Missy Raines, Eddie & Martha Adcock, and Buck White just to name a few. Joe jokes that he was born in the "hills" of Washington DC, and "edjumacated" in "Appalachian Studies" at Georgetown, University. That may be, but he's managed to turn all that into a successful law career in downtown Baltimore. Joe is well-known on the local bluegrass scene for his work with popular bands Slim Pickens, and Stars & Bars in the 1970s and 80s. He continues to make frequent guest appearances with the Satyr Hill Band, Mike Garris & Area 51, and Mitch Harrell & South River Express. In addition to driving banjo, he plays mandolin and flat pick guitar citing among his influences Doc Watson, Ben Eldridge, and John Hickman.
Alexander Mitchell - A Berklee graduate, Alexander Mitchell is an acoustic multi-instrumentalist who plays fiddle, mandolin, guitar and also sings. Alexander started playing fiddle in 1978 after hearing bluegrass music. Since then he has been cultivating such diverse styles as appalachian, bluegrass, celtic, klezmer, traditional roots dance music, ballroom, hot swing and jazz. Over 25 years and countless gigs, Alex is a musical chameleon with an eclectic compilation of traditional and modern unplugged roots music ranging from sizzling mountain music to refined tangos, hot swing to ragtime. He has done a national tour with the Missouri Repertory Theatre. He appeared in Ted Turner's movie "Gettysburg" and performed on the soundtrack. He spent some time on the road with Townes VanZandt. He has played the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center, Lisner Auditorium for the "Revels", the Birchmere and hundreds of other performances for restaurants, dances, wine tastings, weddings, small company picnics and corporate affairs. Alexander teaches fiddle and mandolin at Boe's Strings on N. Market St., in Frederick, MD. Alexander is also available to hire as a solo musician for private events of all sorts. To contact him for either purchase of his exciting CD "Chameleon," or to inquire about availability for performance, please visit his website alexandermitchell.net, or e-mail him at fiddlemuse@yahoo.com.
