Citigrass

• Sandy Israel - Banjo
• Kenji Bunch - Fiddle, Viola & Vocals
• Noah Chase - Vocals, Mandolin & Guitar
• Tim Kiah - Upright Bass & Vocals
• James Kerr - Dobro, Guitar & Vocals
• Leah Latella - Vocals

Winner of the the 2010 NYC Battle of the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Bands! Fresh off their performances at New York's legendary Greyfox festival (2011) and San Francisco's sprawling Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2010), CITIGRASS has also shared the stage with such acclaimed artists as Ricky Skaggs, Mike Gordon (Phish), and the Yonder Mountain String Band, and was the featured soloist with the Mobile Symphony Pops. CITIGRASS has performed at Gracie Mansion for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and has become a regular first call act for city-run events at parks and public spaces. The band is a repeat performer on ABC TV's live New York Morning Show at Lincoln Center. The band's music was recently featured in the Billy-Bob Thornton movie, "Astronaut Farmer," and other short films.

CITIGRASS was started 10 years ago by banjo player and bandleader Sandy Israel, and has become a well-known name act in NYC with more than 500 shows under its belt. The band has played regularly at such well-known NYC venues as the City Winery, Rodeo Bar, Kntting Factory, Superfine, Delta Grill and Virgils. Only a small sampling of our performances are listed in the gigmaster calender. CITIGRASS continues to receive praise and critical acclaim in diverse publications such as The New York Times, Bluegrass Unlimited, Relix, The Village Voice, NY Press, and others.

CItigrass combines traditional bluegrass with the spontaneous energy of a jam band and the heart and soul of classic rock. Like a fine blended whiskey, CITIGRASS goes down smooth, featuring subtle notes of Celtic, old-time, bluegrass, rock, funk, disco, and beyond, creating a rich, complex body of work that leaves audiences from Maine to Alabama screaming for more.

CITIGRASS is a fantastic choice for barbeques, parties, company picnics, weddings, rehearsal dinners, cockail parties, openings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, all-American or southern-themed events.... you name it. All players are singers and virtuosos on their instruments, are very easygoing and professional, and are veterans of hundreds and hundreds of private events and weddings. The group can be customized in size and staffing to fit your needs and can play both traditional bluegrass and rock/folk material. We can bring our own sound system if necessary. Song requests by clients are of course welcome, and the set list can be tailored to be as traditional, "background", high-energy, family-friendly, alternative etc. as needed.

The band has a modern sound that attracts a much wider audience than most bluegrass acts. Citigrass's music music is varied and crosses generations extremely well, appealing to everyone from grandmothers to professionals to hipsters to children. Feedback from clients has been uniformly excellent. As one wedding client described, "Citigrass played at our daughter's wedding reception, which was attended by friends and family of all ages and tastes in music. The response was overwhelming, even from people who were not music fans. The band is tight and professional, yet there is not a hint of pretentiousness. And the repertoire is amazing!"

In addition to our usual set list of original and traditional bluegrass material, Citigrass can also intersperse Jewish material. Our lead singer grew up in Israel is truly among the best in the world at covering Jewish material. We do it in the bluegrass style so it's both high-energy and very soulful. Moreover, Citigrass is a creative, touring band, with CD's and radio play - not just another "Bar Mitvah Band."

Citigrass is truly the unexpected alternative that will help make your event a success – your guests will be talking about the party for a long time to come.

• ACROSS THE GREAT DIVIDE - THE BAND
• AIKO AIKO - TRADITIONAL
• AIN'T GONNA CHANGE - CITIGRASS
• AIN'T GONNA WORK TOMORROW - TRADITIONAL
• ALL THE GOOD TIMES - TRADITIONAL
• AND IT STONED ME - VAN MORRISON
• ANGEL FROM MONTGOMERY - JOHN PRINE
• ANGELINE THE BAKER - TRADITIONAL
• BANJO SIGNAL - DON RENO
• BEND HER OVER - CITIGRASS
• BIG MON - BILL MONROE
• BIG SCIOTI - TRADITIONAL
• BILL CHEATHAM - TRADITIONAL
• BILLY JEAN - MICHAEL JACKSON
• BLACKBERRY BLOSSOM - TRADITIONAL
• BLACK DIAMOND RUN - CITIGRASS
• BLUE MOON OF KENTUCKY - BILL MONROE
• BROOKLYN BOUND - CITIGRASS
• BROWN EYED GIRL - VAN MORRISON
• BUFFY FLOW - TRADITIONAL
• CAN'T GET NO BETTER - JOHN HARTFORD
• CEDAR COVE - CITIGRASS
• CHEROKEE SHUFFLE - TRADITIONAL
• CLINCH MTN BACKSTEP - TRADITIONAL
• COUNTRY ROADS - JOHN DENVER
• COUSINS - CITIGRASS
• THE CUCKOO - TRADITIONAL
• DARK HOLLER - TRADITIONAL
• DEVIL'S DREAM - TRADITIONAL
• DON'T LET YOUR DEAL GO DOWN - TRADITIONAL
• FOGGY MTN BREAKDOWN - TRADITIONAL
• FOGGY MTN TOP - TRADITIONAL
• FOREVER YOUNG - BOB DYLAN
• FOX ON THE RUN - TRADITIONAL
• THE GAMBLER - KENNY ROGERS
• GOING DOWN THE ROAD FEELING BAD - TRADITIONAL/ GRATEFUL DEAD
• GOOD LOVIN' - YOUNG RASCALS/ GRATEFUL DEAD
• GROUNDSPEED - FLATT AND SCRUGGS
• HAND OF THE ALMIGHTY - JOHN R BUTLER
• HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY I LOVE YOU - VAN MORRISON
• HEY POCKY WAY - TRADITIONAL
• HIGH ON A MOUNTAIN - TRADITIONAL
• HOLD WATCHA GOT - TRADITIONAL
• HOW MTN GIRLS CAN LOVE - TRADITIONAL
• I'LL NEVER SHED 'NOTHER TEAR - TRADITIONAL
• I KNOW YOU RIDER - TRADITIONAL/ GRATEFUL DEAD
• I'M GOING BACK TO OLD KENTUCKY - TRADITIONAL
• I'M SO EXCITED - POINTER SISTERS
• IN THE JAILHOUSE - TRADITIONAL
• JOHN HARDY - TRADITIONAL
• LEAVING LONDON - TOM PAXTON
• LIVE TO TELL - MADONNA
• LONG MAY YOU RUN - BOB DYLAN
• LOVE PLEASE COME HOME - TRADITIONAL
• MAN OF CONSTANT SORROW - TRADITIONAL
• MIDNIGHT MOONLIGHT - PETER ROWAN
• MIDNIGHT RIDER - ALLMAN BROTHERS
• MIDNIGHT SPECIAL - TRADITIONAL/CCR
• MOLLY AND TENBROOKS - TRADITIONAL
• MOUNTAIN DEW - TRADITIONAL
• NEW RIVER TRAIN - TRADITIONAL
• NINE POUND HAMMER - TRADITIONAL
• NOAH'S IRISH DELIGHT - CITIGRASS
• NOT FADE AWAY - BUDDY HOLLY
• OLD HOME PLACE - J.D. CROWE
• OLD PLANK ROAD - TRADITIONAL
• ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL - TRADITIONAL
• PIKE COUNTY BREAKDOWN - TRADITIONAL
• PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME CHANGE - CITIGRASS
• POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME - DEF LEPPARD
• PROUD MARY - TINA TURNER/CCR
• RED HAIRED BOY - TRADITIONAL
• ROCKY TOP - FELIZ AND BORDELEAUX/BRYANT
• ROLL IN MY SWEET BABY'S ARMS - TRADITIONAL
• RIDIN ON MIDNIGHT TRAIN - TRADITIONAL
• ST ANNE'S REEL - TRADITIONAL
• SALT CREEK - TRADITIONAL
• SALTY DOG - TRADITIONAL
• SERPENT IN THE GRASS - CITIGRASS
• SHADY GROVE - TRADITIONAL
• SHAKEDOWN STREET - GRATEFUL DEAD
• SHORT LIFE OF TROUBLE - TRADITIONAL
• SITTIN ON TOP OF WORLD - TRADITIONAL/ GRATEFUL DEAD
• TABLE MOUNTAIN ROAD - JODY STECHER
• TAKE IT EASY - THE EAGLES
• TAKE ON ME - AHA
• TANGLED UP IN BLUE - BOB DYLAN
• THINK WHAT YOU'VE DONE - TRADITIONAL
• THONG SONG - SISCO
• VIVA LAS VEGAS - ELVIS PRESLEY
• WAGON WHEEL - OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW
• WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE SOME DAY - KASEY CHAMBERS
• WHISKEY BEFORE BREAKFAST - TRADITIONAL
• WHY DON'T WE GET DRUNK & SCREW - JIMMY BUFFETT
• WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN - TRADITIONAL
• WISH YOU WERE HERE - PINK FLOYD
• WORRIED MAN - TRADITIONAL
• WOULDN'T LOOK BACK - CITIGRASS
• WRECK OF THE OLD 97 - TRADITIONAL
• YOU'RE GONNA BE LONESOME - BOB DYLAN

Anniversaries, Bachelor Parties, Bachelorette Parties, Banquets, Birthday Parties, Children's Birthday Parties, Celebrations, Christenings, Christmas Parties, Church Services, Clubs, Cocktail Parties, Community Events, Conventions, Corporate Functions, Dinner Dances, Festivals, Fund Raisers, Graduation Parties, Grand Openings, Picnic, Private Parties, Proms, Restaurants, Reunions, Sweet 16 Parties, Weddings, Wedding Ceremonies, Wedding Cocktail Hours, Wedding Receptions...and more.

• Citigrass performed at a private party at my home and did an excellent job. The music was perfect to accompany the Western theme of the party, but I can honestly see how they would have been a great entertainment choice regardless of the type of event. I highly recommend them. Everyone at my party enjoyed them. -- Scott W, Kennett Square, PA, 9/10/2011
• These guys were perfect for our outdoor party and I would definitely hire them again. -- Alanna J, Princeton, NJ, 10/14/2011

Click here for more feedback