Above Photo:
Frank Bouchard , Ben Marshall, Charlie Santos, Pete Gallant, Bud Smith, John Almeida
We are a group of experienced acoustic bluegrass performers who have come together from different backgrounds to play bluegrass mostly in the Southern New England region (Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts).
Charlie Santos (Tiverton, RI) plays rhythm guitar bass and banjo. Charlie, along with Fiddlin' John Almeida (Little Compton, RI) who adds rhythm guitar and Dobro when he's not fiddling around with Crossfire Bluegrass Band, have played with the Frenchtown Barn Dance Band, out of North Kingstown Rhode Island before forming the Bluegrass Invitation Review. Pete Gallant (Fairhaven, MA) plays mandolin and sings tenor lead vocals in that high and lonesome style associated with bluegrass. Pete is associated with several successful bluegrass bands, most currently Empty Pockets. Bud Smith (Westport, MA and Key West, FL) our Bass player, has been a regular at a wide variety of venues from Francis Farm in Rehoboth, Ma to (recently) Sloppy Joe's in Key West., Florida. (Yes, Ernest Hemmingway's favorite bar.)...Frank Bouchard has played Celtic and popular tunes at various venues as a member of a duet called the O'Liam Brothers. He brings energy and experience to the band and a strong lead guitar picking style, as well as lead vocals and harmonies. He is also a mean banjo player and mandolinist..). Finally we have Ben Marshall who also plays for Crossfire with Fiddler John. In addition to playing a solid Scruggs banjo style, Ben also plays mandolin, doghouse bass and flatpicks a guitar like most of us wish we could...We see quite a future in store for this young man.
Naturally, we all trade vocals, harmonies and solo breaks in traditional bluegrass style. We switch instruments, too which keeps our sound interesting....On a final note, whenever we can, we like to invite our Bluegrass pals up to do a few numbers with us if they happen to be in the audience, hence the name "Invitation Revue," because our performances often take on a varied flavor with our music blended in with the music of our friends. Sort of like a musical variety show.
As stated, each of us has played in different groups and situations in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and beyond. In many ways it can be said that the members of our band have helped put Bluegrass in its proper light as a great way to celebrate any happy occasion with family and friends, which brings us to a commercial:
At this time we are booking parties, barbecues, restaurants, taverns, square dances and festivals throughout the New England region.
To paraphrase a movie star:: "We're not cheap but we can be had!"......... Michael Douglas in Romancing The Stone
