Band History

Gord Armstrong...Guitar & vocals, Gord was born in Perth, Ontario in the Ottawa Valley and at the age of six moved west with his family to Calgary where he now resides. Coming from a very musical family there was always music around the house while growing up. A self-taught player since the age of fourteen, the guitar has become a lifelong passion. Over the years he has played in many groups of varying musical styles and spent two years playing on the road. In the mid 80’s he was drawn to acoustic music and … the drive and instrumentals of bluegrass. "The great thing about playing acoustic music is that - it's always about the music and the wonderful people you meet."

Jack Loree... Resophonic (dobro) guitar, banjo & vocals, Jack has been playing various styles of music on various instruments since junior high school in Westlock, Alberta. Prior to his introduction to bluegrass in 1998, he had performed in a number of folk groups, rock and country bands, and even a six-piece swing band - on instruments ranging from saxophone and keyboards to guitar and hydro bass. Since his bluegrass baptism, Jack has been obsessing over dobro and, more recently, 5-string banjo. Listen closely to his playing style on the bluegrass instruments, and you'll hear influences from his diverse musical past. Jack is not a natural tenor, but you'll often hear him "taking one for the team" on the high bluegrass harmonies.

Bill Figeczki...Bass & vocals, Bill was born in Brooks, Alberta and moved to Calgary for his post-secondary education. At the age of nine he was provided with music lessons on the accordion and a few years later he inherited his uncle's guitar. In high school Bill formed a three-piece country/rock/blues group called Stronger Than Dirt, which necessitated his move to the bass guitar. His interest in Bluegrass music began in the late '70's when he attended a Bill Monroe concert with a co-worker who played banjo. This spawned the bluegrass group Random Canyon with performances at the Calgary Folk Festival and the very first Blueberry Bluegrass Music Festival. Bill's musical group experience includes stints with bands Rocky Road, Hot House Bluegrass Band, and Rock Bottom Bluegrass Band - performing at clubs, concerts and festivals throughout Alberta, British Columbia and Washington.

Lorne Foster...Mandolin & vocals, Lorne grew up in Lundar, Manitoba and now lives in Olds, Alberta. Lorne learned guitar at an early age - playing old time music with his father (an old time fiddler). After leaving home, he played guitar in dance bands in Drayton Valley and Red Deer. Then one day in 1996, Lorne was “test driving” a mandolin in a Calgary music store – a customer said, "you should buy that" - so he did! Since that day, the mandolin has been a constant companion (next to wife "Lue") ever since. If he's not with - Lue, he can be found with Amanda-Lynn (whoops - that should be a-Mandolin). He credits the BCBW Sorrento music camp and John Reischman with getting him on a path of great mandolin "stuff".