Grand Rapids Native Returns to Michigan With California Bluegrass

The David Thom Band, a bluegrass outfit from Sonoma, California, will be touring through central and western Michigan at the end of July and into early August. Thom, former guitarist and front man for the David Grisman Experience, has led his own band since 1996. This will be their second time visiting Michigan. For two of the appearances, the band will include world-famous mandolinist and singer Don Rigsby.

Thom’s new CD, That Old Familiar released on Swollen Records in 2012, was produced by Grammy Award-winner Laurie Lewis, who said, Working with David was a true pleasure. He has a finely-tuned sense of what he is going for in his music, limitless energy to pursue that goal, and great singing and playing chops as well.

Thom was born in Birmnigham, MI and was raised in East Grand Rapids, leaving the area in 1989 to pursue his musical dreams.

Traditional and original acoustic band from Northern California, the band includes Paul Shelasky, Andy Shaw, Brian Judd, Jeff King and front man/guitarist David Thom. They started playing together 16 years ago. David Thom, lead vocals and guitar, is passionate about the traditional sound yet everything about his show is fresh. Thom never songs or plays the same thing twice, embodying the concept of playing in the moment. His vocal range is staggering, from the deepest bass to the highest falsetto. All of that, combined with a rhythm guitar power often described as ‘like Jimmy Martin’, and lead playing so based in melody that there really is no one to compare him to.

The hard driving 5-string banjo of Andy Shaw, the tone of Brian Judd’s mandolin, the aged and knowing fiddle of Paul Shelasky and the rock solid foundation of Jeff King’s bass round out the band. Jeff is also an accomplished lead and harmony singer, while everyone contributes to the vocal mix.

The David Thom Band has played at the Strawberry Music Festival, the Father’s Day Festival at Grass Valley, The Great American Music Hall, The Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival and a long list of smaller festivals and venues across the country.

For more information visit www.TheDTB.com