eTown Presents Greg Schochet & Little America – Record Release Show
30 years into a performing and recording career in Colorado, Greg Schochet is continuing to hone his craft and fine tune a distinctive musical voice. Long a first call guitar and mandolin player and veteran of many successful bands, he is releasing his second solo recording this May. Wyoming In the Windshield was recorded with Greg’s fine group, Little America, and represents a creative leap forward for the 5-piece Western Swing and country band.
Greg has written a set of songs with rich personal meaning and considerable nuance. The title reflects Greg’s many trips to his family’s home in southern Idaho, particularly while helping to care for a declining mother during the pandemic, and decades of touring in western states. But there are also nods to the rich history of wordplay and whimsy in Western music, like I’m Not a Cowboy, But I Play One on Guitar, some tongue in cheek honky-tonk pathos, and lots of fiery picking.
Little America features Greg on acoustic and archtop guitars, Bret Billings on pedal steel and harmonica, Jeremy Mohney on saxophone, Conner Hollingsworth on upright bass and Damon Smith on drums. These guys are some of the most accomplished players and singers on the Front Range, and the band’s sound harkens back to Colorado’s 70s and 80s country swing heyday.
Greg is a full-time performer, teacher and producer in Boulder, Colorado. Equally adept on guitar and mandolin, he is fluent in all manner of acoustic and electric styles, specializing in bluegrass, swing and country. He was the lead guitarist for Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams for 16 years, Colorado’s beloved and venerable honky-tonk and western swing band. He now fronts Greg Schochet & Little America, a 5-piece western swing band. Greg is an integral part of Colorado’s thriving roots music scene, and is a sought after instructor, session player, producer and collaborator.
He has performed at such wonderful venues as Prairie Home Companion, Red Rocks, Strawberry Music Festival, Sisters Folk Festival, Rockygrass, New Orleans Jazz Fest, as well as countless performing arts centers, clubs, bars, rodeos and flatbed trucks.
Greg is winner of the 2021 Rockygrass Flatpick guitar contest.
A veteran of many teaching camps, Greg has also been guitar and mandolin teacher at Woodsongs Music, Colorado’s premier acoustic music store, for some 20 years. His teaching practice centers around preparing students to thrive in ensemble settings, whether it be a campground jam or a working band.
He has taught at some of some of the premier camps in the west: Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, Targhee Music Camp, Walker Creek Music Camp, California Coast Music Camp, Montana Fiddle Camp and Colorado Roots Music Camp.
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3474598-0
