Madison House Inc.

Bio

The idea for the Emmitt-Nershi band has been in the works for years as Drew Emmitt and Bill Nershi created a strong friendship at shows and festivals that they would cross musical paths at.
The reality of Emmitt-Nershi came about in the fall of 2007 when both Drew and Bill found themselves with free time from their other projects. As the dynamic lead singer and mandolin player with the popular jamband Leftover Salmon and his own Drew Emmitt Band, Drew is a true renaissance man on musical instruments. Playing mandolin, acoustic and electric guitar, he's a string man to be reckoned with. He excels in unique energy driven mandolin licks and his influences include a pantheon of musical heroes including Lowell George, Steve Morse, Duane Allman, John Cowan, Bill Monroe, Sam Bush, Hot Rize and New Grass Revival. Drew Emmitt joined forces with Bill Nershi who has delighted countless fans as a guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and founding member of the String Cheese Inciden. A seasoned veteran of flat-picking and a variety of acoustic styles, Nershi adds a unique, colorful perspective to virtually any musical situation he encounters, and his enthusiasm and playful spirit encourage an interactive, participatory experience for musicians and fans alike. Both founders of popular “jambands” have traveled the world and played in front of hundreds of thousands of people with their respective bands, now they have time to pick, have fun and play bluegrass music together! They play along with Andy Thorn, a young banjoist who is fast emerging as one of a new generation of hot pickers. Andy has played in many different groups through the years. While studying music at the University of North Carolina, he played with the UNC Jazz Band as well as the Big Fat Gap bluegrass band. Andy spent the summers of 2003 and 04 in Colorado touring with the Broke Mountain Bluegrass Band, winning the Rockygrass banjo and band contests in 2003. 2005 was an exciting year for Andy, as touring with Larry Keel and Natural Bridge allowed him to play at some of the biggest festivals in the country. Andy has also shared the stage in the past with Jim Lauderdale at Bonnaroo, Darol Anger, Yonder Mountain String Band, Chris Thile and Tony
Trishcka. Rounding out the band is Tyler Grant, a young guitarist with high aspirations. A versatile musician, Tyler is an active and experienced performer and teacher of many musical styles. An award winning Flatpicker and guitarist, Tyler shows his true versitality with string instruments as he picks up the bass in the Emmitt Nershi band.

The Emmitt-Nershi Band kicked off their tour in October of 2007 at the Magnolia Music Festival in Live Oak FL. The tour then took them thru CO and the Midwest where they played to enthusiastic and packed audiences along the way. The touring has continued in the summer of 2008 where the band played to packed audience at festivals throughout the summer including Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Rothbury, High Sierra Music Festival, Northwest String Summitt, Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival, Yarmony Grass and more. After the festival packed summer the band is feeling better then ever and are planning to take the momentum into the studio to record their first album together as a group in December of 2008. Look for more as this band continues to grow in the upcoming years.