Selected best country band in Chicago, IL, 2014, by The Chicago Reader, Kampfire Kowboys consists of five highly experienced musicians. If you like smokin' guitars and fired up fiddles, this is the band for your event! There's no slowing down with this band. It starts with a bang and leaves you wanting more.
Lead vocalist/guitarist Tom Colton founded the band in 1999 and produced two full length CD's at that time to rave local revues. In 2010, he put together a new band using the Kampfire Kowboys name and introduced a new dynamic line-up that plays all your favorite current and classic country songs.
In addition to Colton's high-energy guitar licks and smooth vocals, he added veteran fiddle player Ray Henaughan. Ray has played with numerous country bands in the last 20 years, most notably Workin Class Band, which played hundreds of clubs and festivals all around Chicago-land. WCB was the 1997 Wisconsin State Champion in the True Value/Jimmy Dean Foods Country Showdown, the largest country talent competition in the world. They were also nominated for "Best Country Artist of the Year" in the Chicago Music Awards two years in a row. Ray is also known as the guy with the big white hat and you should hear him perform Charlie Daniels!
Adding more energy than ever before, Dave Piper returns to the band as the “man on the bass.” In the past, you've seen him play with Kampfire Kowboys as the original bassist. Dave also performed with Big Guitars from Memphis for 8 years. If you know Dave, you know he's all smiles and invites everyone into his world. Music is his best friend!
Just recently the Kowboys added vocalist Kevin McCarthy on lead vocals and guitar. Kevin adds a new vocal dimension to the band. An excellent vocalist, his rendition of Zac Brown is amazing to hear, not to mention his performances covering Darius Rucker and many other artists. Kevin also contributes his vocal skills by adding more profound vocal harmonies to the band.
How do you firm up a country band and place the cherry on top? You add a dynamic drummer to the mix. Rich Lavin plays that role perfectly. Coming to us direct from the band "Hooked on Sonics," Rich Lavin is an amazing drummer. "He can play anything!" This south paw is somthing to see live. Very energetic and in complete control and he provides the thunder with the lightning.
Tell us what you want!
The band performs many different artists, including The Mavericks, Dwight Yoakam, Johnny Cash, and more modern country like Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Justin Moore and The Zac Brown Band. Kampfire Kowboys also performs fiddle classics such as Charlie Daniels' Devil Went Down to Georgia and Orange Blossom.
Tell us what you want. New country, classic country, maybe a little classic rock or a little of everything. We aim to please because we'll accommodate to whatever you want.
Kampfire Kowboys is perfect for your club, festival, corporate or party needs. Just remember to clear the dance floor when they take the stage because it's foot-stompin' time!
Kampfire Kowboys are:
Tom Colton – Lead Vocals/Lead Guitar
Kevin McCarty - Lead Vocals/Guitar
Ray Henaughan – Fiddle/Vocals
Dave Piper – Bass/Vocals
Rich Lavin - Drums/Vocals
Group Members
Tom Colton (Lead Vocals/Guitar),
Ray Henaughan (Fiddle/Vocals),
Dave Piper (Bass/Vocals),
Kevin McCarthy (Lead Vocals/Guitar),
Rich Lavin (Drums/Vocals)
