Lizzie James and the Greystone Rail mixes traditional bluegrass with modern newgrass and songs that were probably not intended for bluegrass ... but they put their own spin on them anyway. They have a lot of fun at their shows and so does the audience.
Keith Barrette switched from piano to guitar at the tender age of 12, after his beard kept getting caught between the keys. After a few years in terrible rock bands with names like 'Sylvan Steel,' he's (mostly) managed to wring the Eddie Van Halen licks out of his fingers and settle down with an old Martin guitar.
The members of Greystone Rail have been making music together since the early sixties when they were all employees of the Gransom Ironworks in Centerdale, RI. As indebted as they were o the Gransom Company Store, their only affordable form of entertainment was picking and singing popular Bluegrass and Country music. Mostly they dreamed of someday leaving Centerdale on the only train that passed through the remote town, the Greystone Line.
Fortune fell upon them when, one night while slagging potash up behind Jenkin’s Pub, they stumbled across a flyer looking for bands to play at the yearly St. Swithin's Onion Breakfast and Talent Show. The boys collected their winnings, quit their jobs and have been traveling together ever since. Their high energy sets always make for a show that’s more fun than a spoonful o’ bees.
Sal Sauco (mando/guitar) is both an avid student, user and pusher of bluegrass. Since his very first jam he has been addicted and he feeds his habit regularly. Formerly with the Lightning Brothers, he has also played with the Bill Thibodeau Band, Island Farm Bluegrass and Swampgrass. Sal is the Southern New England expert on Neanderthal poetry and his kids are sure he is insane.
Steve Caraccia has been playing bass since Elvis Presley was in short pants. His signature on-stage aerobics lend an energy to performances that must be seen to be believed.​
Larry Neu is on loan to us from the Postal Workers Benevolent Society where he’s been working as a bagel inspector for the past twenty years. His love for the banjo developed while recovering from a freak koala bear bite he received while camping near his home in West Virginia. Only banjo music could stop him from constantly reciting Aztec poetry at the top of his lungs until the wound healed. He’s played with a number of prominent New England bluegrass bands when he wasn’t managing the Lonesome River Band. He never eats on an empty stomach.
Tom Pritchard has been trying to get out of school for the past twenty-two years - contrary to court orders. His OCD is evidenced by his need to have extra strings on almost everything he plays ... just in case. We've seen him eat an entire live turkey without stopping to pluck it. No ... really.