The band prides itself on reaching all types of bluegrass and non-bluegrass audiences, incorporating standard bluegrass tunes, rock & country classics and a number of "can't get 'em out of yer head" originals into their entertaining sets. 

Forming in 2000 to provide accompaniment for the Chapel-Hill based Apple Chill Cloggers, the current lineup started performing locally, regionally and internationally in 2002.  Kickin Grass took the category of Best Band Name in the Independent Weekly's 2003 "Best Of" Issue, and in the same year they beat the odds and won the title of Best Band In Raleigh in a multi-genre competition hosted by the Guitar Center and the Hibernian Pub.  They promptly took their $2000 prize money and recorded their first album, Backroads, recorded by Tom Landgon at West Station Records and produced by Steve Dilling of IIIrd Tyme Out.

Kickin Grass melds traditional, old-time and progressive into some mighty fine bluegrass, bringing together five talented musicians:
Lynda Wittig	Lynda has been singing since the age of 5.  She picked up the guitar during her college years and has been writing songs ever since.  Prior to Kickin Grass Lynda performed with country roadhouse band, The Kydells, an original acoustic duo, Innocent Lisa, and the North Carolina Master Chorale.  Lynda's powerful vocals, strong rhythm guitar and skillful songwriting bring new dimensions to Kickin Grass.
Jamie Dawson	A Harnett County native, Jamie received his first mandolin at age 8 from his father, bass player for Bluegrass 78, and the boy's been playing bluegrass ever since.  His low-end vocals & high-energy mandolin drive both the traditional and contemporary sounds of Kickin Grass.
Matt Hooper	Hailing from Harnett County, North Carolina, Matt started playing classical violin long before he called it the fiddle.  He played with country band Dakota Rain & performed at the Cape Fear Regional Theater before brining his smokin' fiddle licks and well-trained musical ear to Kickin Grass.
Patrick Walsh	Patrick began his musical career by studying the piano.  He was the lead vocalist and keyboard player in the country cover band Summer Wind before taking up the bass and singing bluegrass.  He is an award-winning vocalist, singing lead, baritone and tenor harmonies for the band, and his hard-driving bass playing is the foundation of Kickin Grass bluegrass.
Ben Walters	Ben Walters from Birmingham, Alabama is the new banjo player for Kickin Grass. Ben is a junior studying linguistics and music at UNC-Chapel Hill (if the linguistics career doesn't work out, he'll have something to fall back on). His musical pursuits include playing banjo with Chapel Hill band Run of the Mill and accompanying vocal students at UNC on the piano. In addition to his fine banjo playing, Ben brings diverse musicianship, enthusiasm, and a love of grammar to the Kickin Grass mix.

"The band picks with power and authority and the vocals are sung with passion and grace. And, best of all, along the way, the band has forged its own unique sound. The original tunes are just stellar." 
—  Dave Higgs, Bluegrass Breakdown, Nashville Public Radio

Please join us on August 5 for great time with this fabulous young band.

We are located in Crownsville, MD, a few miles northwest of Annapolis. Directions will be provided when you make your reservation.

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