| Brief Blurb: | Ask Mary are a Brisbane based band bringing together five diverse musicians, playing and singing their way through a blend of old-time bluegrass classics through alt-Country to smokin’ instrumentals.
Band members are
Ian Dodd on vocals and Mandolin - Ian has played with 'Hilltop Holdout Bluegrass Band' gaining national TV exposure with 'Showcase' (where they played with a 50 piece orchestra in Melbourne), on The Reg Lindsay weekly TV show, and on ABC TV. The band also featured on local radio, and at the Tamworth Country music awards.
Ian played in an original trio 'The Kingswoods', later with with Sue Wighton in 'The Unsung Heroes' and later with Karen & Jacko Jackson, Matt Herne and Mark Webber in the bluegrass group 'Groundspeed'.
Mark Webber on vocals and Double bass - Mark has been involved in the acoustic /country music scene since he became the bassist for possibly one of the first bluegrass bands in Australia ‘Hilltop Holdout’
Mark was asked to stand-in at the last minute and had a week to learn the numbers before the band had to perform on a national TV show, which was his first ‘knee knocking’ time on stage with a band.
30 years later bluegrass music is still in his blood and has allowed him the opportunity to perform with many of the best players around.
Matt Herne on 5 string banjo and backing vocals - Matt has been in a number of bluegrass/country bands in Australia (various iterations of Groundspeed) and Alberta Canada (Steve Coffey and the Lokals) and has also played Andean folk music (including in Chili Concussion, Arauco Libre and Bob and the Armadillos).
Jenni Bell on fiddle, flute, whistle and backing vocals - Jenni was born in Melbourne and studied violin at the Victorian College of the Arts.
A bit of a musical chameleon, Jenni turns her hand to various musical styles including Irish, Bluegrass, Australiana, Brazilian Choro and Contemporary/Rock.
A songwriter/composer, she has written numerous songs as well as a number of instrumental pieces.Matt Herne on 5 string banjo, Ian Doddon Mandolin, Mark Webber double bass. GS carries in its back pocket some rich traditions in music—Bluegrass, Alt-Country, Celtic, Jazz and blues.
MaryB on vocals and guitar - Mary has a deep, rich voice and during her long and varied career has sung anything from traditional folksongs to bluegrass and contemporary material, and everything in between. She will have just returned from her trip to UK ... if you want to know more just Ask Mary!
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