Shayne Watkins, lead electric and acoustic guitar, mandolin, dobro, vocals
Alane Watkins, acoustic rhythm guitar, vocals, harmony vocals, Doug Park, bass
Influences
Merle Haggard,
Marty Robbins,
Patty Loveless,
Terry Clark,
John Prine,
Pure Prairie League, Marshall Tucker Band, Jimmy Buffet, Hoyt Axton, John Denver, Ronstadt, Vince Gill, Nickel Creek, Mark Knopfler, Kate Wolf, Nanci Griffith and so many more.
Shayne and Alane Watkins became BEARGRASS in 2000. In the Spring of 2009, Doug Park from Palouse joined them on the upright bass. Occasionally, the group is joined by Shayne’s parents, Delvin and Julie who played music for 20 years around the Lewis-Clark Valley as the Mountain Men and Julie. with a devoted following at county fair dances and local clubs. In 2001, Alane Ennis joined the band and they changed the name to BEARGRASS when Shayne and Alane were married. BEARGRASS recorded their first CD in 2003 entitled "Storm Moon" which includes 11 original tunes crafted by Shayne and Alane. Their second CD “Three Chords and A Capo” was released in 2007 and includes 11 original tunes and two cover tunes including “Bernard the Mule”.
Alane recorded her first CD in 1997 "Old Avon Road" after being offered a chance to record when she was performing in the Spokane Songwriter's Showcase. She began her musical career playing in the honky-tonks of Central Oregon and around Bozeman, Montana. She has competed in numerous singer-songwriter contests and performed with Country Express from Seattle, WA to Winslow, Arizona. She lends the folk flavor to the band with songs by Kate Wolf, Nancy Griffith and John Prine. She sings everything from Patsy Cline to Terri Clark and Emmylou Harris. If you ask her, she can even do a Charlie Pride song.
Shayne's grandfather played music, his father and mother play music and people say they remember him as a baby sleeping in a guitar case while his parents played music. It is definitely in his blood. Mike Conroy of the Montana Rockies Bluegrass Association says Shayne is one of the best flat-pickers around. But that is just one of his instruments. Shayne plays electric lead for the country songs, acoustic guitar for his bluegrass tunes and when he really wants to "hot-pick", he puts on the mandolin. On the band's 2003 CD "Storm Moon", Shayne also plays bass and dobro. And many of his fans know he plays the fiddle as well, so you never know what instrument he will pick up next. He also sings and writes music. You'll hear some George Straight, Alan Jackson and of course, Merle Haggard and George Jones when Shayne is at the mike.
These talented performers have played such venues as the Lewiston Round-up, Latah County Fair, Sandpoint Draft Horse Show, KRLC Summer Bluegrass Concert, University of Idaho's International Goldschmidt Conference, Kooskia Days, Whitebird Rodeo, Bicycle Idaho, and Grangeville Border Days Kick-off. Whether you like traditional country, new country, folk or bluegrass, you are sure to hear something to please your ears.
Hi Alane and Shayne. Just keeping in touch. The tunes on your page are sounding good. Keep 'em coming. Bare Wires wishes you and yours a great Christmas season. Fleece navied odd.
Thank you so much for your comments! We had a great time at Dahmen Barn and would love to play there again anytime. We'll be at Sage Bakery on Sat., November 15th at 7:00 p.m. if you want to catch us again!
Shayne....lookin' good on the Potlatch Website!!! Reminds me of the show "Axmen" Say...I need some mandolin...maybe a sunday afternoon in late September?
Oh my, I can't beleive what a HUGE difference it is when BOTH of you sing! You guys sound really good together and you did an AMMMAZING job at the wedding, thank you SOOOOO much for coming all the way down to play for us! (my favorite song you guys played was Garth Brooks "Friends in low places" Shayne sounded JUST like him!) I can't thank you enough!
Hi guys! Thanks for your comments on the new CD--right back atcha! You can get it at http://www. wanigan. net/ , any of our upcoming concerts, and soon it will be available on iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, and hopefully soon at Hastings and the Christian Gift Center in Lewiston (we're working on those last two).
We haven't quit gotten to any special songs we want played for sure yet? We've been thinking God Bless the Broken Road for our fisrt slow dance? I'm SOOO nervous everything isn't gonna be just the way I want it to be :S Can't wait to see ya!
Well hello stranger. I can't believe it has been almost a year since I have talked to you. Would you ever guess that you would be singing at my baby girls wedding!!! I don't think it has still sunk in!!! WOW What a year... both good and bad. Most of it bad but glad you found me on here. Take care Love MK
