Origins of HoneyGrass Blue Grass Band
Karen and Ellie met at a women's song circle at the River Valley Bluegrass Festival in August 2005. They enjoyed each other's contribution to the circle, so they got together afterwards and started sharing their musical interests. Ellie and Marie had been playing mostly country music together for 14 years. The three women sang together in harmony for the first time in September 2005. After the very first song, they stood silently for a moment and looked at each other with surprise. Each knew that something special was happening.
It was almost a year of wonderful kitchen table jams before they sang in public, and they had done a few Community Center fundraiser's and Nursing Home shows when someone heard them and asked Tony de Boer, the promoter of the Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards if they would be able to see “the girls” perform at the awards show. So, with only a week's notice Tony asked the girls, then called Sweetgrass, if they would be interested in showcasing at the awards show. Not to miss an opportunity like that, they decided that if they were going to pull themselves off as a bluegrass band, they'd better find a banjo player – quick! they found Ray at a legion jam session in North Bay, Ont. (He thought at first that they were joking about the awards show!) The camaraderie that the girls share with Ray onstage is entertaining! They give him a hard time, being the only male member of the band.
It was almost a year of wonderful kitchen table jams before they sang in public, and they had done a few Community Center fundraiser's and Nursing Home shows when someone heard them and asked Tony de Boer, the promoter of the Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards if they would be able to see “the girls” perform at the awards show. So, with only a week's notice Tony asked the girls, then called Sweetgrass, if they would be interested in showcasing at the awards show. Not to miss an opportunity like that, they decided that if they were going to pull themselves off as a bluegrass band, they'd better find a banjo player – quick! they found Ray at a legion jam session in North Bay, Ont. (He thought at first that they were joking about the awards show!) The camaraderie that the girls share with Ray onstage is entertaining! They give him a hard time, being the only male member of the band.
The awards show was a great opportunity to get noticed by DJs, promoters, and even the Good Brothers. In the last couple of years, HoneyGrass has opened for a number of great Bluegrass artists including Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper featuring Audie Blaylock, Alicia Nugent, the Doerfel Family, the Abrams Brothers, Junior Sisk and Rambler's Choice and the Wildwood Valley Boys. They showcased in Nashville at the IBMA in October 2007 and in November, they were honoured to receive the "Most Promising Band" of the year award at the 2007 Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards. In 2008, the band was nominated in three categories at the Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards for "Vocal Group", "Female vocalist" (Eleanor Bell) and "Recording of the year" for their debut CD "She's Running Wild" which was released in June 2008. This CD features 5 original songs, four of which are written by HoneyGrass' own Eleanor Bell and one song by renown Nashville songwriter Ms. Louisa Branscomb. Mr. Emory Lester is also featured in this recording. HoneyGrass has also been asked to record one original song on each of the 2008 and 2009 "North to Ontario" compilation CD recordings. These projects involve a number of bluegrass bands and artists from Ontario and is wonderful for promoting the great Ontario bluegrass around the world.
Karen and Ellie continue writing great bluegrass tunes. The band has another 5 songs that they are working on toward their next recording project which will hopefully begin in the next year or so. A possible Eastern Canada tour is in the planning.... so stay tuned and check back often to their website for updates.
Karen and Ellie continue writing great bluegrass tunes. The band has another 5 songs that they are working on toward their next recording project which will hopefully begin in the next year or so. A possible Eastern Canada tour is in the planning.... so stay tuned and check back often to their website for updates.
HONEYGRASS
CD`S ARE NOW AVAILABLE
CLICK HERE TO ORDER & HEAR
HONEYGRASS
CD`S ARE NOW AVAILABLE
CLICK HERE TO ORDER & HEAR
