The Town Howlers

The Town Howlers perform all over California, playing traditional bluegrass music and originals.

John McKelvy - Guitar & Vocals:
John McKelvy, originally from north central Florida, made his debut to bluegrass fans in the early 2000s as the high lonesome singer, guitarist and songwriter for the gothic bluegrass pioneers, The Earl Brothers. After leaving the band in 2007, he began focusing on old-time music with his band Black Crown Stringband ((phone number hidden)4). McKelvy has performed all over the U.S., Canada and the U.K., opening for such stars as Sam Bush, Junior Brown, Jim Lauderdale and Peter Rowan, among others.

Michael Small - Banjo & Vocals:
Michael Small developed an appreciation for American roots music as young man growing up in Maryland. When he was 16 years old, a friend left his banjo at his house and he has been playing ever since. He is also an accomplished blues and ragtime guitar picker and is particularly fond of the stylings of Reverend Gary Davis and Mississippi John Hurt. When not playing with The Town Howlers, Michael can be seen picking old time banjo or fiddle with The Darling Clementine Old Time Music Group or playing guitar in various blues and soul bands in the Bay Area.

Rowan McCallister - Mandolin & Vocals:
Growing up with his parents’ sizable collection of folk and country records, Rowan gained a serious appreciation of traditionally based music in high school, first playing guitar but soon moving on to mandolin and banjo. Rowan models his mandolin playing on the style of Bill Monroe, favoring bluesy tone and rhythm. He has been honing his craft playing in the East Bay bluegrass scene, and until its recent closing had been hosting the historic 5th String bluegrass jam in Berkeley. Rowan is available for mandolin, guitar, and clawhammer banjo lessons in the East Bay.

Matt Crimp - Fiddle & Vocals:
Born in Dillingham, Alaska, and raised in Anchorage, Matt Crimp grew up fiddling as part of the thriving Alaska folk music scene. He won the Alaska State Fair Fiddle Contest at age 13, and proceeded to record two full-length albums with his first band, The Emeralds. Matt currently resides in Berkeley, California, where he is an active performer and jammer in the acoustic music scene. From (phone number hidden)3, he performed with American Nomad, and currently plays with the Mountain Fire Band and the Town Howlers as well as solo shows.

Mike Gubman - Upright Bass:
Mike Gubman grew up playing bluegrass guitar and was quickly demoted to bass. He's been playing with Bay Area bands since 2005 and has appeared at The Great American Music Hall, Slims, Cafe Du Nord, and The Father's Day Festival.