simon pure bluegrass

homenews and reviewsphotosvideoscontactbiosRobert StaronRon MillerBrian CampbellJarrett LeskoLaurie CampbellTom RobisonCalender

Simon Pure

Bluegrass Band

homeWELCOMESimon Pure , one of the best acoustic vocal bands playing in Southern California. Performing a blend of traditional and contemporary Bluegrass music. The band brings with it a vast collective of musical tastes and experiences which translates into a sound that is Simon Pure , the real thing.SPB Music all rights reserved montana california girl i know love the locket old red ax big blue skynews and reviewsNEWS & REVIEWSBluegrass Soundboard cover story August 2009Simon-Pure (si'man) adj. untainted; pure. This is the definition by the Random House Webster's Dictionary, 2nd addition. Thesaurus supplies descriptions such as: genuine; authentic; real. All of these words describe the core philosophy of this band, and those that have seen and heard them perform can attest to how well they have managed to live up to their name. Simon Pure is a straight ahead bluegrass band, combining superb musianship with flawless vocals. Go to their website and give a listen to Laurie Campbell's work on "Kentucky Borderline". Rhonda Vincent, move over, this cut is Simon-Pure dynamite. The band members met at the Agoura Hills jam, enjoyed playing together, and formed the band in 2005. Since then, they have been steadily increasing their repertoire, refining the sound, and successfully built a sizable fan base. They won first place honors at Topanga in 2006, and their appearance on the SWBA stage at Huck Finn this year resulted in an avalanche of positive comments from the crowd, and genuine interest from promoters.photosPHOTOSTaste of Encino 2009Jarrett and Ron at taste of Encino 2009Taste of Encino 2009Taste of Encino 2009SPBB at Bert and ErniesTom RobisonBrian CampbellRon MillerlaurieJarrett LeskoRobert StaronDown to the river to playLaurie and Brian at taste of Encino 2009Taste of Encino 2009Taste of Encino 2009SPBB at Bluegrass on the Bay in Great FallsSPBB at Cascade MTSimon PureTom at Lompoc FestivalvideosVIDEOwatch for coming clips !contactCONTACTFor Bookings contact :

Brian Campbell (818) 970-0535

simonpurebluegrass_gmail.com

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biosRobert StaronRobert Staron Upright BassBorn in a steel mill town in Ohio andarrived in California by way of the East Coast, Appalachia, the Deep South and the South West. Robert tells his account of joining the band:"Not only are they all excellent pickers and singers, but they are also engineers and scientists,artists and theologians as well as being good looking people. They needed an upright bassplayer to play bluegrass and that it would help if I was also a philosopher. Was I up to the task? I replied, I play bluegrass music on the upright bass, therefore I am." Robert describes his particular style of upright bass playing as "the sound of one hand slapping."Back to BiosRon MillerRon Miller Guitar/VocalsRon was born and raised in Los Angeles. He went to school in Salt Lake City, Utah were he earned his degree as a sound recording engineer. He started his engineering career there before moving back to Los Angeles to work in the television and film industry. All the while playing music along the way. Not only is Ron a very talented and solid guitarist and flat picker, he is a fine singer and songwriter. Ron helps arrange the harmonies with such ease. It is a real joy singing and pickin' with him.Back to BiosBrian CampbellBrian Campbell Mandolin/Vocals He says that 'Simon Pure' is Cowboy slang for 'the real thing', and thats what he wants the band to be. Brian is originally from Great Falls, Montana. He and Laurie moved to Agoura Hills several years ago where they Pastor Gateway Church. Mandolin is his first love musically, but he is a great guitar player and singer as well. Simon Pure met at various Bluegrass jams in the Conejo Valley a few years ago and we've been playing together ever since.Brian plays a Collings Deluxe V mandolin.Back to BiosJarrett LeskoJarrett Lesko Dobro/VocalsBorn and raised in Los Angeles I've been playing music in some form for about thirty plus years. I played Guitar & Bass in a few rock bands and performed and recorded quite a bit in Southern California . I've always had a great love for acoustic music and started playing Dobro in a strange bluegrass band called "Cluster Pluck". We played various styles with these "bluegrass instruments" and I quickly realized how complex this music was and Dobro in particular. A few years ago I fell in love with the Mandolin , and I'm studying that as well! It's really fun playing and singing with these guys and look forward to a long association of pickin' and songwriting. Back to BiosLaurie CampbellLaurie Campbell Vocals/GuitarLaurie grew up in central Montana in a musical family and sang with her two sisters while dad played guitar. She was a music major in Montana when she met and married Brian before moving to Agoura Hills, Ca. Laurie sings lead vocal and plays rhythm guitar. She is an amazing singer and harmonizer and is the "prime vocal sound" of the band.Back to BiosTom RobisonTom Robison Banjo Tom grew up in Santa Monica, Ca. and took up the banjo in 1975 after hearing the Flatt and Scruggs at Carnegie Hall album. "“I’'ve never stopped being a student" he says. The years of work show in the even articulation and rich tone of his playing.Tom is always tinkering with his instruments and finding new ways to make them sound great. I hear he's a heck of a fly fisherman too!Back to BiosCalenderCalendar

1/19/2010 8pm BASC at Braemar Country Club, Tarzana,Ca

4/25/2009 7pm BASC nite at Vincenzo's

5/2/2009 3pm St. Francis De Sales Carnival

5/17/2009 10am Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest

6/19/2009 11am Huck Finn Jubilee SWBA stage

7/17/2009 7pm Bert & Earnie's , Great Falls, Montana

7/18/2009 12pm&4pm Bluegrass on the bay , Great Falls, MT

7/19/2009 6pm Cascade,Montana

10/4/2009 4pm Underwood Farms Harvest Festival

10/11/2009 4pm Taste of bluegrass in Encino

10/31/2009 6pm Lompoc Harvest Festival