Winners of the 2006 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition, Michigan's own Greensky Bluegrass is earning recognition nationwide as a growing force in acoustic roots music... GREENSKY BLUEGRASS is one of the most exciting bands in today’s music scene. Like a breath of fresh air, this five piece band plays traditional bluegrass instruments and uses them to create original songs and soundscapes that are unique and new, yet somehow feel comfortable and familiar. Though they have been likened to ‘70s era Americana acts like The Band, Greensky would prefer not to be compared to any other bands. “We really just try to make music as a group that sounds and feels right to us”, says mandolin player Paul Hoffman, later adding that “it is nice to know that other people really dig it, too.” “Greensky Bluegrass hits timeless targets with deadly accuracy while simultaneously veering off the tired and true highway.”-Jambase.com While “green sky” is the opposite of “blue grass“, the band insists that the name came about as more of a pun than a statement about their music. “Along with the tradition of bluegrass, we all have lots of different musical influences that we bring to the table”, says guitar player Dave Bruzza, “and we somehow wanted to reflect that in our name.” Upon witnessing the band’s live shows, this statement seems to make a little more sense. On any given night, in addition to the myriad of excellent original songs, one might hear traditional bluegrass songs with an exploratory rock and roll jam or selections from the Talking Heads, Jimi Hendrix, The Grateful Dead or Bob Marley turned bluegrass. “We are as likely to play a three minute song as we are a ten minute song on any given night”, says dobro player Anders Beck, “and I think that keeps it exciting for the audience”. Perhaps this is the reason that Greensky Bluegrass is as equally embraced by the jam-band community as it is the bluegrass/Americana community and the band’s fan base is growing so rapidly. “Of course, this is bluegrass. So manic chops mean a lot to Greensky Bluegrass. Yet they are also masterful storytellers. Mandolinist Paul Hoffman in particular pens some true rural balladry.” -Seattle Weekly Greensky Bluegrass is touring in support of their recently released fourth album, “Five Interstates”, which was produced by Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth. The album, their strongest to date, features twelve original tracks and one traditional bluegrass song (a nod to the deceased King of Bluegrass, Jimmy Martin) ,and showcases the band’s songwriting and playing talents in a way that is incredibly accessible to fans of many different types of music. Carbone notes on the package: “Five Interstates came together like five lives intertwined, the intersection of a lifetime frozen in precious time and preserved in a digital tableau. I’m blessed…We’re all blessed to be witness to a band ascending as true as an arrow shot to the sky.” Since winning the 2006 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Contest, Greensky has been touring constantly, playing over 170 shows a year, and all the hard work is certainly paying off. Recent highlights are too many to list, but include selling out venues in many parts of the country, sharing the stage with musical heroes, getting asked to play shows with the likes of Tony Rice and Peter Rowan, Sam Bush, Yonder Mountain String Band and Railroad Earth, and being asked to play the inaugural Rothbury Festival in their home state of Michigan. “It certainly felt like an affirmation that we are doing something right”, noted bass player Mike Devol. Greensky Bluegrass is Anders Beck (dobro), Michael Arlen Bont (banjo), Dave Bruzza (guitar), Mike Devol (upright bass) and Paul Hoffman (mandolin).

Dave Bruzza
Dave Bruzza plays guitar and sings songs in GSBG. A native of Kalamazoo, MI, Dave has always been musically influenced and began playing drums at an early age. His father’s interest in bluegrass and country music influenced Dave to pick up a guitar in his late teens and he took to the instrument rapidly and efficiently. Dave’s drumming history helped him to become a very strong rhythm guitar player and over years of dedicated practice, he has also become an innovative lead guitar player. While he would never admit it, Dave’s playing is integral to the unique sound that is GSBG.

When not on the road with GSBG, Dave still plays drums in the psychedelic-folk-rock band Airborne or Aquatic and plays acoustic, electric and steel guitar in many other Michigan based bands. Dave endorses Robinson guitars (www.robinsonguitars.com) and Schatten Designs pick-ups (www.schattendesigns.com).

Dave has a dog named Beans…. Yes, Beans.


Anders Beck
Anders Beck plays the dobro... or the resophonic guitar as some call it... or the "drop steel" as he calls it. In his relatively short time playing the instrument, Anders has built a reputation for being a unique, creative player that fits into any musical situation with a sound that is strong yet sweet; dirty yet somehow clean. To quote a recent Jambase article, "Anders Beck's moaning dobro got me where it hurts AND heals.".

Anders was a founding member of what may turn out to be one of the most notable farm teams in bluegrass, Broke Mountain. His playing and songwriting helped shoot the band quickly into the spotlight when they won the 2003 Rockygrass Band Contest only two months after forming the band. When the band members decided to pursue other outlets for their music in 2005, Anders was recruited by friend and songwriter extraordinaire, Benny "Burle" Galloway of Yonder Mountain String Band fame, to help create a band to showcase the man's phenomenal songs. The resulting band, The Wayword Sons (uniquely consisting of acoustic guitar, dobro, piano and bass) made one critically acclaimed album, toured coast to coast and played many of the country's major festivals.

In 2008, Anders officially joined Greensky Bluegrass as a result of many late night jam sessions and a clear musical chemistry that could not be denied. He views the band as a sort of culmination of his previous projects in that it involves killer bluegrass pickin' and stellar songwriting. His playing fits incredibly well into the bands melodic soundscape and seems as if it was always there.

While other collaborations are too many to list, Anders has notably played in solo projects with Vince Herman (Leftover Salmon) and Jeff Austin (YMSB), has played sets with The Drew Emmit Band and The Emmitt Nershi Band (Leftover Salmon and String Cheese Incident) and is often asked to sit in with bands ranging from Railroad Earth to New Monsoon.

Aside from music, Anders likes to backcountry ski in deep, deep powder and is currently starting to write his first novel.


Mike Devol
Bassist Michael Devol joined Greensky Bluegrass in 2004. Originally a classical cellist, Devol moved to Kalamazoo in 2000 to study with Bruce Uchimura at Western Michigan University. Upon meeting Hoffman, Bruzza, and Bont, his affections for bluegrass became evident. In July of 2004, when they sought a new bass player, the young cellist decided to make the switch and joined the band officially that September.

In his free time, Mike enjoys doing crossword puzzles, eating avocadoes, and riding his bike.


Mike Bont
Michael Arlen Bont plays banjo. Being one of the founding members of the band he helped shape the sound that has become GSBG. When he picked up the banjo for the first time in 1998 after playing jazz guitar for years, it was clear that he had found an outlet for his musicianship. When you hear him play, it is clear that Bont took the time to study Earl Scruggs, Bela Fleck and everything in between over the years. His playing is strong, driving and forceful, yet he also has his own melodic take on the instrument.

Beyond playing the banjo, Bont also builds banjos and does delicate inlay work for Robinson Guitars (www.robinsonguitars.com) and has gained the notoriety of being called “Captain Fun” by the band for his late night dance moves. Few ever get to see them, but those chosen few will never forget. He is also a karaoke legend.


Paul Hoffman
Paul Hoffman is a curry and black bean enthusiast.

Raised with daily dips in Lake Michigan's fresh water, Paul is most comfortable with the Great Lakes surrounding. Or by rivers. Or near seas. A guitarist turned mandolin player at the turn of the century, Paul draws influences from personal experiences, his musical contemporaries, and micro brewed IPA. Paul is also composing on a previously stolen Robinson Guitar, eating regularly at Food Dance, and likely listening to Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris, Steppin' In It, or Railroad Earth at this very moment. Currently Paul is playing a Newson mandolin from Manton, MI and using D'Addario strings with a Schertler transducer.