Band: The Virginia Ramblers
Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
“The instrumental work of the Virginia Ramblers is flawless, [and] these guys can sing Bluegrass.” — Bluegrass Unlimited magazine, 2006.
Critics have called The Virginia Ramblers a throwback to the golden age of 1950s Bluegrass. This traditional group performs highly polished versions of classic tunes as well as timeless original material. The Ramblers feature hard-driving guitar, mandolin, banjo, upright bass, and on select occasions, fiddle. The band’s close harmonies spring from 14 years’ experience singing together.
Charles Frazier (guitar and lead singer), Donnie Shifflett (bass), and Jeff Vogelgesang (mandolin) performed for many years with banjo player Alvin Breeden as The Virginia Cutups. The Cutups performed on A Prairie Home Companion, the Grass Valley Bluegrass Festival in California, and at festivals throughout the Mid-Atlantic. They shared stages with such bluegrass luminaries as Ralph Stanley, Ricky Skaggs, and Del McCoury. They are also veterans of many First Night Virginia celebrations.
When Breeden retired in 2005, the Cutups became the Virginia Ramblers and were joined by young banjo player (and luthier at Stelling BanjoWorks) Zack Deming. In April 2006, the band released a self-titled debut album on Hay Holler Records that Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine called “amazing.”
Email: honeybirdmusic@gmail.com