Band Member Bios

Linda describes herself as a bluegrass veteran, as she has played for 44  years. She was attracted to the Scruggs style banjo at age 11.  In 1980 she bought a banjo and began her musical journey.  

She has played in several noteworthy  bluegrass bands, including:  

* Better Times (Port Alberni) 

* Island Blue Rose (Qualicum Beach) 

* Grassmates (Port Alberni)

* Raisin' Cain (Qualicum Beach)

* Crazy Hearts (Kelowna), and

* The Dilly RoseBuds.

*BackPorch Banjo  to present

She has an additional recording with Grassmates. 

Major influences include Earl Scruggs, J D Crowe, Ralph Stanley, Pete Wernick, Chris Stevens &  Jeff Scroggins.

Growing up in Denver, CO, Claire started playing classical violin at a very young age, but grew up but listening to her father Steve’s Bluegrass and Old Time albums not knowing what this music was all about. After he failed to convince her to take banjo lessons (it was too dorky), years later in her 20’s Claire would come into Fiddle and clawhammer style Banjo on her own after a stint living in Asheville, North Carolina attending the Old Time Jams there. She was hooked.

Claire has been obsessed with playing Old Time and Bluegrass fiddle ever since and was involved in the Pacific Bluegrass and Old Time Society in Vancouver for years, enjoying jams at the Anza Club and various gatherings along the West Coast. After a recent move to Port Alberni, Claire enjoys playing with Back Porch Banjo, The Black Rabbit Rounders of Port Alberni, and Western Family Stringband out of Cumberland, BC, and performing at the Filberg Festival, Woodstove Music and Arts Festival and the Cowichan Bluegrass Festival. She hopes her playing will inspire others to delve into the fantastic world of Bluegrass and Old Time music. 

A founding member of BPB, Kazimea left the band for a few years, and is very pleased to have circled back to rejoin the crew! This time around, Kazimea is playing the steady heartbeat of the rhythm guitar and is happy to sing lead, harmonize, and even pop up on mandolin now and then.

Kazimea learned guitar as a teen, then was drawn to the mandolin in her 30s. For a few years she lived in the neighborhood of the Slow Pitch Jams at the old Orange Hall in Victoria, and that welcoming program opened the door into bluegrass and the challenge and joy of improvising melodies. The Oh, Sister album was a major early influence as well. 

Musical influences include Gillian Welch, Molly Tuttle, Sarah Jarosz, Pharis and Jason Romero, the Lonesome Ace Stringband. Kazimea has also played with Island Blue Rose (mandolin, vocals), the polka band Garlic & Moonshine (guitar, vocals), and the duet Blue Calico with Jennifer Spruit (guitar, banjo, and mandolin). She also currently leads Reverberation, a community song circle in Courtenay. 

Dave came to Bluegrass Music later in his life, and to the upright bass even later than that. This has definitely not kept him from enjoying the bluegrass community and all it has to offer. He loves to participate in the various jams that pop up around town and enjoys holding down the 'bottom end’ of things in the band while singing lead and harmony parts. 

His  influences include Chris Stapleton, both from his SteelDrivers days and today’s solo efforts, and  Alison Kraus w/Union Station, listening for long time member Barry Bales on the standup bass. And since he was late in his life figuring out bluegrass was the way to go he often discovers ‘classics’ that are new to him....so basically anything old is new to him!  

Ted Granger (AKA) Pevoe Slix has been a musician since high school

days, playing multiple instruments over the last 65 years. Harmonica,

ukulele, guitar, fiddle, mandolin,and bass have all had their turn.

Folk, country, blues and rock all had their day as well. This is the

11th band in which he has been a member, over his musical life,

although he still plays several times a week in song circles and open

mic situations.

Today bluegrass and mandolin are Ted's band interests, singing lead

and harmonies and chucking out the rhythm. Ted started shortly after

the formation of BPB back in 2012 playing fiddle and singing some

harmony. There have been many changes in the members over that period and Ted retired in 2022 because of heart problems, but those were cured, and he rejoined the band in 2023 to take up his old spot. Ted's philosophy is "Play until you die" and he is not dead yet.

Mimi loves the drive & energy of bluegrass music with its multiple roles for the fiddle player from rhythm to chords to melody.  Having played violin since she was twelve, bluegrass offers a new musical direction to explore.

She also enjoys playing old time, Celtic, swing & blues. Singing in harmony with others is another special way to have fun. Mimi likes the fact that music can be shared across cultures and soothes the soul.

Ramona grew up in a musical family and has played guitar & sang  for most of her life.  She was attracted to bluegrass music a few  years ago and has learned many new songs & tunes in a very short time.  Her major influences are Brian Sutton & Tony Rice.

Ramona has been a driving force behind the band with her loud guitar, rhythmic chops, and lead vocals & harmonies.  Mo makes her home in Powell River now so she's not as active with the band as previous years but she still fills in from time to time, and is a dear friend to us all.