Astrograss, formed in 2003, performs high-energy bluegrass music for all occasions. Since its inception, Astrograss has moved to the forefront of New York's lively acoustic music and bluegrass scene. The band has also been recognized on a national level, performing at the legendary Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival for 5 years in a row. ('07 through '12), and also at the prestigious South by Southwest Festival in March 2009. The band's self-titled debut album, released in February 2005, showcases its unique sound: earthy, bluegrass-inspired yet decidedly un-twangy. Astrograss is equally passionate in its vocal harmonies and surging improvisations. In concert, Astrograss wows audiences with an eclectic yet solidly rooted mix of original material, choice covers ranging from Beatles to Guns n' Roses, and foot-stompin', "yee-haw"-inspiring fiddle hoedowns.
Astrograss performs regularly in top New York venues such as BB King Blues Club, Joe's Pub, Symphony Space, The Living Room and 92Y Tribeca, in addition to regular appearances at city sponsored events, such as Madison Sq. Park Kids, Washington Market Park, River to River Festival and others. In June 2004, the band undertook a tour of the Midwest, culminating with two sets at the highly esteemed Appalachian Uprising bluegrass festival in Ohio. Starting in 2006, the band has launched a highly successful series of childrens' music performances at theaters and parks throughout the NYC area. In early 2008, Astrograss released a kids album entitled "Let Me Stay Up All Night", featuring 16 original tracks of high-energy bluegrass, Celtic and folk music for kids of all ages. Starting in winter of 2012, the band has begun to work on new family music album, to be released in early fall 2012.
The band also takes on about 4-6 private events per month, ranging from weddings to pig roasts to school events and kid's birthday parties.
At weddings, the bands let the wedding couple pick out 6-8 specific song requests that they learn specifically for that wedding. Any song, any genre, no problem. For the rest of the performance, the band generally does a mix of uptempo bluegrass, the couple's requests, and past requests from the band's published songlist, which ranges from 80's pop tunes to traditional Americana to Celtic music to classic rock/soul tunes. (all done in the high-energy 'newgrass' style.) Favorites include songs by Wilco, Old 97's, Grateful Dead, Flaming Lips, Madonna, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and The Pixies.
Astrograss is available as a 4, 5 or 6 piece ensemble, including any of the following instruments: Banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, dobro and bass. (****new to 2012: beat-box master Adam Matta is available as a 5th or 6th member of the band for events.)
Anniversaries
Bachelor Parties
Bachelorette Parties
Banquets
Birthday Parties
Children's Birthday Parties
Celebrations
Church Services
Clubs
Cocktail Parties
Community Events
Conventions
Corporate Functions
Dinner Dances
Events
Festivals
Fund Raisers
Graduation Parties
Grand Openings
Halloween Parties
Picnic
Private Parties
Proms
Restaurants
Reunions
School Assemblies
Weddings
Wedding Ceremonies
Wedding Cocktail Hours
Wedding Receptions
AfricaToto
All I Want is YouBarry Lewis Polistar
AmericaSimon & Garfunkel
Anything You Want, You Got ItRoy Orbison
Baby Now That I've Found YouAllison Krauss/The Foundations
Beautiful GirlINXS
Beauty of My DreamsDel McCoury/Phish
Billie JeanMichael Jackson
Blue Suede ShoesElvis
Boogie On Reggae WomanStevie Wonder
Book of LoveMagnetic Fields
Box of RainGrateful Dead
Bright Side of the RoadVan Morrison
Bye Bye LoveEverly Brothers
California StarsWilco/Billy Bragg
Catch The WindDonovan
Cecilia Simon & Garfunkle
Chimbley SweepDecemberists
Close To MeThe Cure
Come On EileenDixie's Midnight Runners
Comes a TimeNeil Young
Could You Be LovedBob Marley
CrazyPatsy Cline
Danny's SongLoggins & Messina
Dead FlowersRolling Stones
Do You Realize?Flaming Lips
Down by the WaterThe Decemberists
Enjoy the SilenceDepeche Mode
Everybody Knows this is NowhereNeil Young
First Day of My LifeBright Eyes
FlyNick Drake
Freedom '90George Michael
Friend of the DevilGrateful Dead
Girl, You'll Be a Woman SoonNeil Diamond
GoldenMy Morning Jacket
Got to Get You Into My LifeThe Beates
Happy TogetherTurtles
Harvest MoonNeil Young
Here Comes Your ManThe Pixies
Hesitating BeautyWilco/Billy Bragg
Hey YaOutKast
Hoodoo VoodooWilco
I Can't Get U Out of My HeadK. Minogue
I Don't Feel Like DancingScissor Sisters
I Hope I Don't Fall in Love With YouTom Waits
I Want To Hold Your HandBeatles
I'll Be Your Baby TonightBob Dylan
I'll Follow You Into the DarkDeath Cab
I'm Looking Through YouBeatles
I've Just Seen A FaceBeatles
ImagineJohn Lennon
In Spite of OurselvesJohn Prine
January WeddingAvett Brothers
KissPrince
LandslideFleetwood Mac
Lay Lady LayBob Dylan
Let's Give 'Em Something to Talk AboutBonnie Raitt
Like a PrayerMadonna
Little Lion ManMumford and Sons
Littlest BirdsBe Good Tanyas/Jolie Holland
Live To TellMadonna
Long Time GoneDixie Chicks
Look at Miss OhioGillian Welch
Love TrainThe O'Jays
Love VigilantesNew Order
Lovin' In Your Baby's EyesTaj Mahal
Material GirlMadonna
Me and Bobby McGeeJanis Joplin
Me and Julio Down by the SchoolyardPaul Simon
MushaboomFeist
New MadridUncle Tupelo
New MorningBob Dylan
No ExpectationsRolling Stones
Northern SkyNick Dranke
Ooh La LaThe Faces
Our HouseCSNY
Postcard from Italy Beirut
Pump Up the JamTechnotronic
Pumped Up KicksFoster the People
Rag Mama RagThe Band
RainBeatles
Raspberry BeretPrince
Scarlet BegoniasGrateful Dead
She's Got the LookRoxette
Signed Sealed DeliveredStevie Wonder
So LonelyThe Police
Soul Meets BodyDeath Cab For Cutie
Such Great HeightsPostal Service
SugareeGrateful Dead
Sweet CarolineNeil Diamond
Sweet Child of MineGuns 'n Roses
Sweet ThingVan Morrison
SweetheartsCamper Van Beethoven
SweetnessDan Bern
Swimming SongLoudon Wainwright III
Teen Angst/What The World Needs NowCracker
Thank You For Being a FriendAndrew Gold
They Love Each OtherJerry Garcia
This Must Be the PlaceTalking Heads
ThrillerMichael Jackson
UmbrellaRhianna
Wagon WheelOld Crow Medicine Show
Waiting on a FriendRolling Stones
What the World Needs Now is LoveBurt Bacharach
When I Paint My MasterpieceBob Dylan
When the Stars Go BlueRyan Adams
White WeddingBilly Idol
Wild HorsesRolling Stones
With Or Without YouU2
YellowColdplay
Yer So BadTom Petty
You Can Close Your EyesJames Taylor
You Never Can TellChuck Berry
Acoustic Band
Americana Band
Bluegrass Band
Celtic Band
Children's Music Band
Classical Band
Country Band
Folk Band
Irish Band
Jam Band
New Age Band
Roots Band
Wedding Band
Price Range
$600 - $4000
per job
Members
Dennis Lichtman
mandolin/fiddle/vocals
Jordan Shapiro
guitar/vocals
Tim Kiah
bass/vocals
Sarah Alden
fiddle/vocals
Jonah Bruno
banjo
Michael Pasternak
mandolin
Influences
Tony Rice, Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, David Grier, Edgar Meyer, Jerry Douglas, Bill Monroe, Bill Frisell, Stanley Brothers, John Hartford, Shel Silverstein, Ween, Cracker, Steve Earle, Darrell Scott, David Grisman, Tim O'Brien, Wilco, Tom Waits, Johnny Cash
"They were very accommodating, played songs we requested and allowed some of us to sing with them. Plus they sound great."
- Paul Y.
Wedding Reception
in Albany, NY
on 08/20/2011
Overall Satisfaction:
Professionalism:
Accommodating:
Overall Talent:
Recommend:
"Very accommodating, very fun. And where else can you find a first-rate bluegrass, new grass band that can suddenly switch from "This Land is My Land, this is Your Land" to the Hava Nagila on a great accordion? Great band, great time. Very happy with them. "
- Mark O.
Birthday Party (Adults)
in Hillsborough, NJ
on 06/13/2009
Overall Satisfaction:
Professionalism:
Accommodating:
Overall Talent:
Recommend:
"My experience with Astrograss was phenomenal. Their enormous talent aside, they are just wonderful people. A really cool group of guys and just as nice you'd want them to be. They are complete professionals, learned songs for the gig, and let my wife join them for some impromptu jamming (thanksfully my wife can sing).
It was raining like hell for the party, but these guys soldiered on and made the day a huge success.
If you are looking for a great bluegrass band (with some cool funky twists as well) and a great group of guys, don't think twice. Book Astrograss and you're going to have a great time, without any hassles, attitude or worries.
Jon Renner"
- Jon R.
Wedding
in West Chester, PA
on 10/13/2007
Overall Satisfaction:
Professionalism:
Accommodating:
Overall Talent:
Recommend:
"We were thrilled withtheir performance and even asked for their contact information afterwards"
- Brewster S.
Anniversary Party
in New York, NY
on 04/08/2006
Overall Satisfaction:
Professionalism:
Accommodating:
Overall Talent:
Recommend:
"What a fabulous, professional, talented group! They were the perfect band for my party of 60 people in my NYC garden. They came right on time, were willing to forgo their amplifiers to suit my small venue and played a delightful mix of bluegrass, blues and even some country folk. Lots of delightful banjo, mandolin and fiddle plus great guitar and bass. They played constantly or three hours with only a couple of short breaks playing their own stuff plus lots of requests including Ashokin Farewell, Tennessee Stud and several Johnny Cash tunes. They are a cheerful group who clearly love what they do and their enthusiasm and great sound-entirely acoustic!- were a wonderful addition to my party. I'd hire them again in a flash."
- Ms Jeffrey Z.
Wedding Reception
in Philadelphia, PA
on 10/23/2010
Overall Satisfaction:
Professionalism:
Accommodating:
Overall Talent:
Recommend:
"Our experience with Astrograss was great! Everyone loved them. At our reception they played a number of songs we asked them to learn (Journey, Sarah Mclachlan, Van Morrison)! They were great for our "song." They were easy to work with, fairly priced, generally fun!
To be honest I didn't hear them much during the cocktail hour - too much else going on. They did play more instrumental/newgrass music during that time! Everyone said they were great!
The reception music was TERRIFIC! Everyone danced and Astrograss was the perfect group for the diverse/divergent tastes of our family and friends. "
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In addition to Brooklyn, Astrograss will also travel to Jamaica, Flushing, Far Rockaway, Arverne, Inwood, Long Island City, Cedarhurst, Lawrence, New York, Valley Stream, Woodmere, Atlantic Beach, Elmont, Floral Park, Hewlett, Glen Oaks, Lynbrook, Malverne, Bronx, East Rockaway, Franklin Square, Hoboken, Jersey City, New Hyde Park, Garden City, Great Neck, Island Park, Long Beach, Oceanside, Paramus
and many other locations in and around the Brooklyn area.
Astrograss
was rated an average of 5.0 stars out of
5 by
6 GigMasters clients.
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