Bio
The Sylvan Dell Stragglers bring ‘progressive curiosity’ to Pennsylvania bluegrass
Feel-good roots music with an Improvisational spirit
A gregarious sense of adventure defines The Sylvan Dell Stragglers within the bluegrass music scene.
The newgrass band is about to release its first EP of original material, a self-titled project, expected this summer.
Formed during late night pickin' sessions in the Sylvan Dell, an idyllic hollow of lush riverside forest land in northern PA, The Sylvan Dell Stragglers have built a following of friends, family, and fans who show up to support the band's sense of spirit and community.
“We play traditional bluegrass instruments and songs, but with a progressive curiosity,” said Chris Carithers, guitarist and vocalist. “We like to put our signature on the material by stretching it out and experimenting. We infuse a little funk, jazz, Celtic and psychedelia into these folk and bluegrass songs.”
The four members, Carithers, Tom Derone, Levi Stover and Seth Nolan have all been involved in the Williamsport music scene for years.
“Levi started having these big meet-ups at his house in the Sylvan Dell, and people would play around a bonfire late into the next morning. It got more serious when we brought this downtown by playing a regular house band gig,” said Nolan, mandolin player. “We had an accidental chance to jam with Chris at one of those gigs, and his interest in what we were doing and the sound he added was exciting.”
Although the band plays around with different genres, they stay true to bluegrass.
“No matter how far we evolve throughout a night, we still play like we did at those parties in the Dell. We might add drums or effects pedals and we like to branch out into more jam-centric moments with improvising, but we stay true to our roots in bluegrass,” said Stover, bassist.
The Sylvan Dell Stragglers upcoming 5 song EP, recorded at Temple Of Sound Studios in Montoursville, PA, debuts this summer.
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