- Beavercreek, OR
- Acoustic Band
- $250 - $3000
Alison C. said
“He did a great job! ”
The Big North Duo
Overview
The Big North Duo performs classic swing, blues, country and original songs on the upright bass and mandolin. Christian and Paul have been playing together since 2004 at weddings, parties (formal and decidedly informal,) wineries, restaurants, roadhouse bars, and formal concert venues - they always find a way to fit the situation and remain true to their artistic vision.
Reviews
9 reviews
Helen V.
June 25, 2022The perfect music for our party
The Big North were professional and easy to work with. Their music was quirky, fun, relaxing, and had a ol’ time carnival feel. They absolutely helped create the chill picnic party vibe we were going for. Absolutely book this duo for any of your music needs.
Hired as: Acoustic Band
Larry G.
June 19, 2022Everybody Loved Them
The Big North Duo performed at a big party we had. Great energy, good music, very professional and got people dancing.
Hired as: Acoustic Band, Swing Band
Larry G.
June 18, 2022Everybody Loved Them
The Big North Duo performed at a big party we had. Great energy, good music, very professional and got people dancing.
Hired as: Acoustic Band, Swing Band
Christine N.
October 27, 2021Perfect Mood Lifting Duo
The Big North Duo are professional, talented and fun. They brought their unique style to our retirement community’s fall festival and performed a great variety of songs, most with vocals, all of which suited the occasion and allowed for conversation in the neighboring space. I highly recommend the duo and will find (or make) an opportunity to book them in the future.
Hired as: Acoustic Band
The Big North Duo
Thanks for the chance to play Christine, we had a great time!
Joel T.
September 28, 2019Incredible wedding acoustics!
We hired The Big North Duo for our fall wedding. With rain early in the morning at our venue we ended up having to change plans, including where the band was going to play. They were extremely flexible, and everyone really enjoyed their music! Plus, they quickly and quietly set up and tore down, and were very easy to communicate with. They were perfect for our wedding!
Hired as: Acoustic Band
The Big North Duo
Thanks Joel, despite the weather it was a lovely wedding in a beautiful setting. Thanks for letting us play for you!
Booking information
Price range: $200 and up.
Languages: English
Gig length: 45 - 300 minutes
What to expect
The Big North Duo delivers a quality musical performance in a demeanor suited to the setting - we can be chatty and engaging, or fade into the background and provide atmosphere.
About
When The Big North Duo plays toes tap, audiences smile and everyone gets a break from the workaday world. Often swinging, sometimes mournful, always from the heart. Christian McKee (vocals, mandolin, mandola) and Paul Prato (bass) began playing together in 2004, and have played together in a variety of bands ever since. After logging hundreds of hours on the bandstand, Paul and Christian are as comfortable in free flights of musical fancy as they are delivering a tightly arranged song. Though they are an uncommon combination for a duo, the mandolin and bass are quite well suited, each instrument leaving a great deal of sonic space for the other, each player free to explore all aspects of his instrument’s voice.
Additional booking notes
We require a dry performance space. For the majority of performances our clients prefer moderate amplification and in those cases we require access to electrical power, and will provide all sound equipment. If the client prefers we are happy to perform purely acoustically provided the setting is generally quiet and conducive to it. Got a special circumstance? We can probably work around or through it, just let us know in advance.
Services offered
Past booked events
June 2025
28
Saturday
Wedding Reception
4:30pm - 8:30pm
•
Washougal, WA
August 2022
19
Friday
Cocktail Party
6:00pm - 10:00pm
•
Hood River, OR
June 2022
17
Friday
Birthday Party
7:00pm - 10:00pm
•
Camp Sherman, OR
04
Saturday
Wedding Reception
4:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Corbett, OR
October 2021
22
Friday
Retirement Community Event
2:30pm - 4:00pm
•
Portland, OR
September 2019
28
Saturday
Wedding Reception
5:00pm - 6:30pm
•
Estacada, OR
June 2019
09
Sunday
Birthday Party
7:30pm - 9:30pm
•
Portland, OR
August 2018
12
Sunday
Funeral/Memorial Service
1:00pm - 2:30pm
•
Portland, OR
June 2017
29
Thursday
Live at Waltz Brewing - Forest Grove
7:00pm - 9:00pm
18
Sunday
Wedding Reception
2:00pm - 11:00pm
•
Odell, OR
03
Saturday
Wedding Reception
3:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Portland, OR
01
Thursday
Live at Barrel 47 - Carlton
6:30pm - 9:30pm
April 2017
08
Saturday
Live at The Hoppy Brewer - Gresham
7:00pm - 9:00pm
06
Thursday
Live at Barrel 47 - Carlton
6:30pm - 9:30pm
March 2017
30
Thursday
Live at Waltz Brewing - Forest Grove
7:00pm - 9:00pm
24
Friday
Live at New Seasons - Woodstock
6:00pm - 8:00pm
December 2016
18
Sunday
Holiday Party (Christmas)
5:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Portland, OR
Team
Christian McKee
Vocals, mandolin, mandola
Paul Prato
Bass
Set list
This list is subject to change:
Act Naturally
A Kiss To Build a Dream On
Ain't Misbehavin'
All Blues
All of Me
All Shook Up
Ashokan Farewell
Ballad For Trio
Beaumont Rag
Between The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Billy In The Low Ground
Black Orpheus
Blackberry Blossom
Blue and Lonesome
Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
Blue Moon
Blue Skies
Bossa Dorado
Bubbles In My Beer
Concrete and Fiction
Crazy
Dawg's Waltz
Don't Be Ashamed of Your Age
Don't Fence Me In
Don't Get Around Much Anymore
Factory Moon
Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover
Fly Me To The Moon
Gee, Baby Ain't I Good To You
Georgia On My Mind
Going to California
Goodbye To Gearhardt
Gotta Get Drunk
Heard Someone Say They Want Me
Hell's Kitchen Sings
I Can't Give You Anything But Love
I'm Gonna Sit Right Down
If I Only Had A Brain
I Lost It
It Don't Mean A Thing
It Had To Be You
It's All Your Fault
Kiss of Fire
La Vie En Rose
Lawn Boy
Les Feuilles Mortes
Let It Snow
Lonesome Whistle
Louis Collins
Macadoo's Waltz
Miss Molly
Mombassa
Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
Nuages
Rainy Day Blues
Red Haired Boy
Rocking Chair
Russian Lullaby
Simple Truth
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
She Ain't Got It Like My Baby
Somewhere Over The Rainbow
St. Anne's Reel
Stealin'
Summer Wind
Summertime
Sunday's Waltz
Sweet Georgia Brown
Swing 42
Tears
That's Amore
Thrill is Gone
Tico Tico
Treadwell
Trouble In Mind
True, You Don't Love Me
Two Wheeled Twister
Turvy
What The Neighbors Say
Whiskey Before Breakfast
You're So Square (Baby I Don't Care)
Influences and inspiration
Django Reinhardt, Willie Nelson and the many great swing, blues and country musicians of the 20th century.
Setup requirements
A dry performance space with protection from extreme temperatures.
Access to electricity if the client has opted for an amplified performance.
Report The Big North Duo
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