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The Wronglers (Warren Hellman, Nate Levine, B Martin, K Martin, Colleen Browne and Chris Hellman) made their stage debut at the world famous Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in 2006, and quite literally had so much fun on stage that they couldn’t help but accept when The Attic in Santa Cruz offered them a gig that December. Since then they have been invited to play all sorts of things from festivals (Good Old-Fashioned, Far West, SF Bluegrass & Oldtime, SF Folk Festival, High Mountain Hay Fever Festival in Colorado) to private events, from opening for Robert Earl Keen and Dale Anne Bradley to The Great Chicken Coop Revival.
Several members of the band are students of Grammy nominee and folk music mainstay Jody Stecher; Jody is considered one the leading traditional folk artists in America and has inspired and taught this group of musicians many of the musical values he has come to be known and admired for. Together, they collaborate and combine their bluegrass, folk, and old-time techniques, producing an intelligent, intimate sound with an abundance of twang.
Of course The Wronglers like to bring their many talented friends along for the ride. One of the popular mainstays is Ron Thomason of the Dry Branch Fire Squad, who has been performing on mandolin, banjo and guitar for over 30 years and has remained the driving force behind that influential group since its inception.
And don't forget the supremely talented Heidi Clare of Reeltime Travelers, known for her infectious onstage dancing and love of pre-record era Southern Appalachian string band sound.
Also of note is the fact that Warren Hellman of The Wronglers is the founder of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in Golden Gate Park each year – his love of bluegrass and old-time music permeates every aspect of his life, and his excitement at playing on stage for an audience brings him a huge sense of involvement and satisfaction.
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