Astrograss
Bluegrass Band in Brooklyn, NY
Why hire Astrograss?
Astrograss performs high-energy bluegrass (traditional and progressive) and new acoustic music, featuring dazzling instrumental prowess and slick vocal harmonies. The band regularly performs at weddings, birthday parties, BBQs, pig roasts, and other kind of private events. The band has been performing since 2003, and has built up a repertoire of over 300 songs, including pop/rock songs from the '70s, '80s, '90s and beyond. (All done its own unique 'astrograss' style) The band also performs its own original material for children at weekend afternoon concerts at major venues and festivals throughout the NYC area. The band has released 2 full length CDs, 1 for adults and 1 for children.
AMAZING BAND FOR YOUR EVENT. CERTAINLY WAS FOR MINE.
These guys are tops. Literally top notch. The song catalogue they know and can summon at will is amazing. We were afraid we might be able to stump this band, to which they cooly replied that we could request several songs which they would learn at relatively short notice, for the event. Their energy is wonderful, and contagious. They all looked fantastic too. My wife and I booked them for our wedding reception on Shelter Island and of all the circus of amazing things wrought for that event, people kept coming back to how great the band was. Can't recommend them highly enough. Professional, Spirited, Brilliant, and anything else you want in a Bluegrass band and more. I have nothing to criticize these folks for. They are bulletproof -- if you need an INCREDIBLE band to play your event or venue, Look no further than Astrograss. Disabuse yourself of the notion that you will find a better band even at double the price. I hired them. I have NO REGRETS. They were TERRIFIC.
Hired by: Vincent C.
- Expertise
- Communication
- Professionalism
- Priced Fairly
- Adaptability
Event Date: August 4th, 2012
Event: Wedding Reception in The Hamptons, New York
Services provided: Bluegrass Band, Celtic Music, Cover Band, Folk Band, Party Band, Wedding Band
Amazing artists!!
We hired Astrograss for our wedding reception in April of this year. We found them on this website and my future husband spent many months researching many artists to perform at our reception. We went with Astrograss because they had such a wide range of music they already played plus they were willing to learn and play up to 10 songs they didn't have on their list. This was amazing. They arrived on time, were very polite and even waited very patiently while the forever long toasts were going on. They played everything we asked them to play flawlessly and even played tunes in the same genre without our asking.
They did an exeptional job for our wedding and we were very pleased with the whole experience. They even sent us a CD ahead of time with their work so we could feel comfident in their abilities. We would recommend them for any event that needs an exceptionally talented band!!
Well done guys!
Hired by: Heather B.
- Expertise
- Communication
- Professionalism
- Priced Fairly
- Adaptability
Event Date: April 1st, 2012
Event: Wedding Reception in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Services provided: Acoustic Band, Bluegrass Band, Cover Band, Folk Band, Wedding Band
About
Astrograss, formed in 2003, performs high-energy bluegrass music for all occasions. Since its inception, Astrograss has moved to the forefront of New York's lively acoustic music and bluegrass scene. The band has also been recognized on a national level, performing at the legendary Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival for 2 years in a row. ('07 and '08). The band's self-titled debut album, released in February 2005, showcases its unique sound: earthy, bluegrass-inspired yet decidedly un-twangy. Astrograss is equally passionate in its vocal harmonies and surging improvisations. In concert, Astrograss wows audiences with an eclectic yet solidly rooted mix of original material, choice covers ranging from Jimmy Webb to Guns n' Roses, and foot-stompin', "yee-haw"-inspiring fiddle hoedowns.
Astrograss has performed in New York venues such as BB King's Blues Club, The Mercury Lounge, The Living Room and the Rodeo Bar, in addition to regular gigs at New York's home of bluegrass, the Parkside Lounge. In June 2004, the band undertook a tour of the Midwest, culminating with two sets at the highly esteemed Appalachian Uprising bluegrass festival in Ohio. 2005 found the band collaborating with ex-Zappa mallet player Ed Mann on various gigs, resulting in rich new sounds. Most recently, the band has begun a highly successful series of childrens' music performances at theaters and parks throughout the NYC area. In early 2008, Astrograss released a kids album entitled "Let Me Stay Up All Night", featuring 16 original tracks of high-energy bluegrass, Celtic and folk music for kids of all ages. The band performed its kids-friendly set at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in upstate NY in both 2007 and 2008. The band has also performed its family music set at sold out concerts at venues such as Joe's Pub (NYC), Symphony Space (NYC), World Cafe Live (Philly), Madison Square Park (NYC) and the Knitting Factory (NYC).
The band also takes on about 4-6 private events per month, ranging from weddings to private parties to school events and kid's birthday parties.
At weddings, the bands let the wedding couple pick out 6-8 specific song requests that they learn specifically for that wedding. Any song, any genre, no problem. For the rest of the performance, the band generally does a mix of uptempo bluegrass, the couple's requests, and past requests from the band's published songlist, which ranges from 80's pop tunes to standard wedding fare to Celtic music to classic rock/soul tunes. (all done in the high-energy 'newgrass' style.) You can view our songlist website at http://www.astrograssmusic.com/songlist
Favorites include songs by Wilco, Old 97's, Grateful Dead, Flaming Lips, Madonna, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and The Pixies.
You can also read more about the Astrograss wedding experience at our wedding-specific website:
http://www.astrograssmusic.com/wedding
Astrograss is available as a 4, 5 or 6 piece ensemble, including any of the following instruments: Banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar and bass. (and optional lead female vocalist).
Personnel
Jordan Shapiro: bandleader/vocalist/guitarist
Jonah Bruno: banjo player
Tim Kiah: vocalist/bass player
Dennis Lichtman: mandolin / fiddle
Sarah Alden: fiddle/vocals
Influences
Flatt & Scruggs, John Hartford, Stanley Brothers, Tim O'Brien, Shel Silverstein, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Bruce Molsky, Dan Zanes, Bela Fleck, David Grier, Edgar Meyer, Beach Boys
What to Expect
Typical Gig Duration: 45 - 240 minutes
Stage/Setup Requirements:
a stage
electricity
Additional Notes:
We need a flat, smooth, hard surface to perform on. Preferably a pre-existing stage. We can't perform in the rain, or right on the beach. If we are performing outside, we must be under a tent, canopy or some sort of tarp to protect us and our instruments from the rain. We need electrical power for our PA system (if we are providing it). 1 electrical outlet is fine. Ample lighting is required. (stage lights or house lights)
Set/Song/Sequence List:
Rock/Pop Cover Songs
(performed 'Astrograss' style)
Baby, Now That I've Found You (Allison Krauss/The Foundations)
Beauty of My Dreams (Del McCoury/Phish)
Beautiful Girl (INXS)
Bertha (Grateful Dead)
Big Brown Eyes (Old 97's)
Blue Suede Shoes (Elvis)
Box of Rain (Grateful Dead)
Bright Side of the Road (Van Morrison)
California Stars (Wilco/Billy Bragg)
Carry Me Ohio (Sun Kil Moon)
Chimbley Sweep (Decemberists)
Chinese Translation (M. Ward)
Close To Me (The Cure)
Come On Eileen (Dixie's Midnight Runners)
Danny's Song (Loggins & Messina)
Doreen (Frank Zappa)
Do You Realize? (Flaming Lips)
El Paso (Marty Robbins)
Enjoy the Silence (Depeche Mode)
Everyone (Van Morrison)
First Day of My Life (Bright Eyes)
Floating (Sun Kil Moon)
Fly (Nick Drake)
Freedom '90 (George Michael)
Friend of the Devil (Dead)
Get Me Through December (Alison Krauss)
Golden (My Morning Jacket)
Happy Together (Turtles)
Harvest Moon (Neil Young)
Here Comes Your Man (The Pixies)
Hesitating Beauty (Wilco/Billy Bragg)
Hey Joe (Jimi Hendrix)
Hey Ya (OutKast)
I Can't Get U Out of My Head (K. Minogue)
I Hope I Don't Fall in Love With You (Tom Waits)
I'm Looking Through You (Beatles)
I've Just Seen A Face (Beatles)
I Want To Hold Your Hand (Beatles)
Imagine (John Lennon)
In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)
Isn't She Lovely (Stevie Wonder)
Just One Thing (My Morning Jacket)
Kiss (Prince)
Lady In Red (Chris DeBurgh)
Last Tide (Sun Kil Moon)
Lay Lady Lay (Bob Dylan)
Live To Tell (Madonna)
Long Time Gone (Dixie Chicks)
Love Train (The O'Jays)
Lovin' In Your Baby's Eyes (Taj Mahal)
Material Girl (Madonna)
May This Be Love (Jimi Hendrix)
Me and Bobby McGee (Janis Joplin)
Mercury Blues (David Lindley)
Moondance (Van Morrison)
Mushaboom (Feist)
My Sweet One (Phish)
New Madrid (Uncle Tupelo)
New Morning (Bob Dylan)
No Expectations (Rolling Stones)
Ooh La La (The Faces)
Our House (CSNY)
Paper Thin Walls (Modest Mouse)
Picture Book (The Kinks)
Proud Mary
Rag Mama Rag (The Band)
Rain (Beatles)
Raspberry Beret (Prince)
The Reason (Weakerthans)
Sample in a Jar (Phish)
Scarlet Begonias (Grateful Dead)
Shaking the Tree (Peter Gabriel)
Sharleena (Frank Zappa)
Shelter (Ray LaMontagne)
Silent In the Morning (Phish)
So Lonely (The Police)
Soul Meets Body (Death Cab For Cutie)
Sunshine On My Shoulders (John Denver)
Sugaree (Grateful Dead)
Sweethearts (Camper Van Beethoven)
Swimming Song (Loudon Wainwright III)
Sweet Child of Mine (Guns 'n Roses)
Sweet Jane (Velvet Underground)
Sweet Thing (Van Morrison)
Sweetness (Dan Bern)
Teen Angst/What The World Needs Now (Cracker)
They Love Each Other (Jerry Garcia)
This Must Be the Place (Talking Heads)
Thriller (Michael Jackson)
Viva Las Vegas (Elvis)
Waiting on a Friend (Rolling Stones)
What a Wonderful World
What the World Needs Now is Love
When the Stars Go Blue (Ryan Adams)
When I Win the Lottery (Camper Van Beethoven)
White Wedding (Billy Idol)
White Trash Wedding (Dixie Chicks)
With Or Without You (U2)
Wild Horses (Rolling Stones)
Yellow (Coldplay)
You Are the Sunshine of My Life
You Can Close Your Eyes (James Taylor)
Newgrass Instrumentals:
Always/Never (Alan Grubner)
Big Country (Bela Fleck)
Chasin' Talon (Tim O'Brien)
Cinema Paradiso (Ennio Morricone)
Eye of the Hurricane (David Grier)
Leaves Fall (Chris Thile)
Land's End (Tim O'Brien)
The Landing (Bela Fleck)
Short Trip Home (Edgar Meyer)
Ode to a Butterfly (Nickel Creek)
Overgrown Waltz (Bela Fleck)
Slopes (Bela Fleck)
Song for a Winter's Night (Edgar Meyer)
Spanish Point (Bela Fleck)
When Joy Kills Sorrow (Bela Fleck)
Bluegrass Standards Songs and Fiddle Tunes
Ballad of Jed Clampett
Ashokan Farewell
Big Mon
Blue Moon of Kentucky
Blue Ridge Cabin Home
Cherokee Shuffle
Clinch Mountain Backstep
Colleen Malone
Crazy Creek
Cripple Creek
Doin' My Time
Eight More Miles To Louisville
Faded Love
Folsom Prison Blues
Freeborn Man
Ginseng Sullivan
Goodnight Irene
High On a Mountain
Hobo Song
How Mountain Girls Can Love
I'm Going Back to Old Kentucky
John Hardy
Kentucky Waltz
Little Maggie
Lonesome Fiddle Blues
Love Please Come Home
Man of Constant Sorrow
Midnight Moonlight
Molly and Tenbrooks
My Old Kentucky Home
Nellie Kane
Nine Pound Hammer
Old Joe Clark
Pig in a Pen
Ring of Fire
Rocky Top
Rosa Lee McFall
Shady Grove
Sitting On Top of the World
Sweet Heaven When I Die
Tennessee Stud
The Old Home Place
Uncle Pen
Whiskey In the Jar
Whiskey Before Breakfast
You Don't Know My Mind
Classical String Quartets:
Corelli - Violin Sonata Op. 5, #9
(Allegro, poco moderato)
Handel - Concerto Grosso Op. 6, #12
(Aria - Larghetto e piano)
Mozart - Serenade #13 for Strings, K. 525
("Eine Kleine Nachtmusik")
Respighi - Ancient Airs and Dances
(Suite III, #1 - Ignoto: Italiana)
Performance Schedule
Past Booked Dates:
03-22-2009 — BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange, Brooklyn, NY @ 2pm
02-15-2009 — Connetquot Library, Bohemia, NY from 2 - 3:30pm
01-09-2009 — John Hartford tribute night @ Jalopy Theatre, Brooklyn, NY 9:30 - 1am
01-04-2009 — Superfine restaurant, Brooklyn, NY from 12-3pm
11-16-2008 — Bower Poetry Club, New York, NY @ 12PM, $10
CDs For Sale
Astrograss
Let Me Stay Up All Night
The Colored Pencil Factory
Experience
2006: 30 gigs
2007: 40 gigs
2008: 40 gigs
View Complete Calendar
http://www.astrograssmusic.com/gigs
Available for Your
Anniversary Party, Bar/Bat Mitzvah Party, Bar/Lounge, Birthday Party, Club/Nightclub, Concert Venue, Corporate Event, Dinner Dance, Festival, Hotel, Launch Party, Private Party, Restaurant, Studio Session, Wedding Ceremony, Wedding Reception
Here are testimonials Astrograss has chosen to post.
