Bio
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The Gritpickers Old Time String Band weaves hot fiddle-and-banjo tunes with songs that feature terrific two- and three-part harmonies. Sets are peppered with stories and humor that adds a grin to the toes already tapping. They play for weddings, dances, block parties, restaurant shows, community events, garage door openers, and other hallmark cultural events.
What is a Gritpicker? The Gritpickers are Don Jacques on fiddle and guitar, Rob Daves on banjo and Gene Willms on guitar. They thrill concert audiences, dancers and wedding parties alike with old time string band music.
Playing for square dances is one love, and the band includes tunes from the 1700s to the 1900s. You'll find traditional waltzes, polkas and perhaps a schottisch or two in their repertoire -- mainly from traditional Midwest and Southern fiddlers. They released their first CD, Harmony Grits, in 2011, and their second, Camp Meeting, in 2018.
Minnesota native Don Jacques picked up the guitar and fiddle late in life and admits to a short, evil dalliance with bluegrass before falling in love with traditional old-time music. Rob hails from North Carolina where he grew up listening to traditional music on radio and TV in the 1950s. Gene is a trained luthier from Minnetonka, Minnesota, who enjoys the old parlor ballads -- especially when harmonies are involved.
Listen to the music on CDBaby.com/TheGritpickers. Visit The Gritpickers on Facebook. The CDs are available on CDBaby.com, iTunes, and by contacting them at gritpickers@gmail.com.
The Gritpickers Old Time String Band weaves hot fiddle-and-banjo tunes with songs that feature terrific two- and three-part harmonies. Sets are peppered with stories and humor that adds a grin to the toes already tapping. They play for weddings, dances, block parties, restaurant shows, community events, garage door openers, and other hallmark cultural events.
What is a Gritpicker? The Gritpickers are Don Jacques on fiddle and guitar, Rob Daves on banjo and Gene Willms on guitar. They thrill concert audiences, dancers and wedding parties alike with old time string band music.
Playing for square dances is one love, and the band includes tunes from the 1700s to the 1900s. You'll find traditional waltzes, polkas and perhaps a schottisch or two in their repertoire -- mainly from traditional Midwest and Southern fiddlers. They released their first CD, Harmony Grits, in 2011, and their second, Camp Meeting, in 2018.
Minnesota native Don Jacques picked up the guitar and fiddle late in life and admits to a short, evil dalliance with bluegrass before falling in love with traditional old-time music. Rob hails from North Carolina where he grew up listening to traditional music on radio and TV in the 1950s. Gene is a trained luthier from Minnetonka, Minnesota, who enjoys the old parlor ballads -- especially when harmonies are involved.
Listen to the music on CDBaby.com/TheGritpickers. Visit The Gritpickers on Facebook. The CDs are available on CDBaby.com, iTunes, and by contacting them at gritpickers@gmail.com.
