The Band

String band music has long been a staple of the American musical scene. Early groups like Charlie Poole and His North Carolina Ramblers and Gid Tanner and His Skillet Lickers blended together old tunes and songs with contemporary pieces into a unique an wonderful sound that delighted the ears of the listeners. 

In this tradition, The Runaway String Band brings together four long-time Williamsburg-area musicians whose mix of traditional and contemporary bluegrass, old time, and swing music builds on the spirit of the old time sting bands. With lush vocal harmonies and hot instrumentals, the band provides audiences with a taste of traditional and popular American music with a New Acoustic feel.

Doug Austin, formerly with the acclaimed bluegrass ensemble Virginia Rail, plays the mandolin for the ensemble, and adds strong lead and harmony vocals.  Five-string banjoist Dave Paddock sings both harmony and lead, and creates many of the Runaway String Band's vocal arrangements. He brings years of experience in a variety of vocal ensembles to the task. Rounding out the group are Barry and Lynn Trott. Both are long time performers of 17th and 18th century music in Williamsburg. Barry plays both guitar and mandolin, and as the Runaway String Band's primary lead vocalist, Barry is responsible for much of the band's repertoire. Lynn holds the distinction of being the only viola de gamba player in all of bluegrass music. Her virtuosity with this baroque instrument leave even the most seasoned bluegrass listeners wondering if the gamba wasn't Bill Monroe's first choice to hold down the bass. Together as the Runaway String Band, this quartet delights audiences with its tight harmonies, driving rhythms, and unique arrangements of bluegrass, old-time and swing music.

The RSB has performed at numerous local and regional festivals, gatherings, and establishments, including the Williamsburg Regional Library's Dewey Decibel Concert Series, The Occasion for the Arts, the Jamestown Folk Festival, Rhythm of the Rails Festival, York County Public Library Concert Series, Carter Mountain Apple Festival, Tidewater Friends of Folk Music Concert Series, Pipes and Pints Pub, the Gan Anim Coffeehouse series and Aroma's Fine Coffees and Teas.

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