WISEACRE is ecstatically happy to welcome our newest member, STEPHANIE MONEO on mandolin. Steph is a lovely and talented mother of four musical prodigies, and she can totally play her ass off herself! She has a special affinity for swing music and she’s given us all the bug for it too. We’ve worked a few swing tunes into the mix. We’re looking forward to a fantastic year!
SHELLEY BROWN: BASS, VOCALS
DARRELL KEELER: BANJO, VOCALS
RON INGRAM: GUITAR, VOCALS
STEPHANIE MONEO: MANDOLIN, VOCALS
We’d also like to acknowledge our lineup of great stand-in MANDOLIN players, all of which have helped us to grow as a band : AARON MURRAY, DAVID ESSIG, IRA PELLETIER, JEFF ELLIS, AND TIM ECCLES. (Even though Tim hasn’t yet had to parachute in from the mainland, it’s good to know he’s out there ready and willing!) Thanx guys!
Influences
The many friends we’ve made in this fantastic music scene on Vancouver Island: The Clover Point Drifters, Four Chords of Wood, Bryon Clayton Thomas and Don, Outlaw Social. The many instructors we’ve had the pleasure to learn from at Bluegrass Workshops in Sorrento, BC and 108 Mile Ranch, BC.
We draw inspiration from many sources of Roots music; traditonal bluegrass: VERN WILLIAMS, CARTER FAMILY. Modern Bluegrass: DEL MCCOURY, CLAIRE LYNCH. Country and Roots Rock: STEVE EARLE, EMMIE LOU HARRIS. Country Blues: TAJ MAHAL, MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT.
WISEACRE is a bluegrass/roots band from the Cowichan Valley on Beautiful Vancouver Island, BC. WISEACRE came together one fateful day at the Cowichan Folk Guild open stage in 2006. All were recent transplants to the island, searching for other musicians of the bluegrass persuasion.
Ron, Darrell and Shelley began to promote bluegrass to the community in earnest, starting a jam at the Cobblestone Inn in Cobble Hill. They had the great fortune to be joined for a time by Jeff Ellis, an super talented young musician recently moved from Virginia who’d been living and breathing bluegrass music for his entire life. Jeff’s teaching, time, and influence were invaluable to the three older members of the group, and it was largely due to him that they were able to progress into a performing unit so quickly after forming.
The summer of 2007 was an exciting time for Wiseacre. They made their festival debut in the "new band" slot at the SOOKE RIVER BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL, where they were joined by Canadian Folk icon DAVID ESSIG on Mandolin. David also joined them at the ISLAND’S FOLK FEST where they were enthusiastically received, despite the worst downpour in festival history. They also made their first appearance at the COOMBS BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL, with the delightful and talented AARON MURRAY (Four Chords of Wood, Art Napoleon) on mandolin.
The members of WISEACRE continue to promote bluegrass in their community. Ron Ingram hosts a bluegrass circle jam geared to beginners and veterans alike at the PROVIDENCE FARM CHAPEL (Tzouhalem Rd. in Duncan) every Thursday night at 7:30, with concerts on the first thursday of every month. The Chapel is quite possibly the most acoustically perfect venue on the island.
Thank you for adding the Urban Monroes as a friend. As a token of our gratitude we'd like to give you this squirrel drinking a beer; A gift for the band that has everything.
It would be grand to see you up at 108 mile again. (I don't know if they're having me back teaching or not!) Hopefully we can get over to the island and make music in the near future.
The tune on your space sounds really good - I like the vibe.
Howdy there Darrell n Shelley Great to hear ya'll still pickin' and a grinnin'. One o these fine days we'll see us agin. Love n' stuff from yer ol pal Rachel
Looking forward to finally getting to meet you in person and soak up some of your fine bluegrass at the Sooke River Bluegrass Festival this weekend! Travel safely and we'll see you there!
Thanks for inviting us to share space with you… glad to add some more great talent to our “Artists Only site”. We’ve chosen to filter our friends to only musicians and musical affiliates for the benefit of our fans, visitors, and new adds who at any time have access to new music and musically informative material. Please encourage all your fellow pickers and music makers to create their own MySpace Music site so that we will have the privilege of taking a listen and sharing the sound.
-The Paige Camp
Well, hello to the "new" band for this year's Sooke River Bluegrass Festival! Congradulations from the new official photographer!
We're gonna have some FUN!
Well, you're a bit closer to your old mountain home that we are! Somerset is a couple of miles further but hey, see you there someday! Lovely voice, and hurrah for the bass.
Hi there! Thanks for the kind words... I'd love to meet you at the Duncan show.. By the way - I LOVE your music... I may have to get out to the Sooke Blue Grass Festival..
Wow! Thanks for the add! I love your sound and the "cemetery" photo! Will you be at Sooke this year (either performing or just hanging out?)? We'd love to swap a few tunes with you!
Thank you for adding me as a friend. Your music is warm, nostalgic and beautiful. You bring out what bluegrass was meant to bring out. I love your work.
