Pert Near Sandstone is a new-timey string band from Minneapolis/St. Paul. They've been playing together since 2003. They play a hard-driving acoustic music in the old-time vein, but with a fresh sense and new-time urban grit. Pert Near approaches the American stringband tradition with reverence, infusing their own ideas and character to deliver a sound and style uniquely their own. In Pert Near's songwriting there is as much depth and diversity (and often quirkiness) as their traditional material. You'll find them gathered around a single, old-timey microphone in a choreographed dance of lyric & melody, regardless of being in a rock venue or formal theater. Their originality & energy has won them fans across generations and genres. Pert Near's rhythm gets people dancing, tight harmonies keep folks singing along, and the fiddle/mandolin melodies and hot solos tear a crowd up with excitement. Having become a force in the Minnesota roots music scene, Pert Near Sandstone is stretching out along the rivers and roads of the region.
The members of Pert Near Sandstone have a diverse musical background, from old-time country, blues and rock, to jazz and classical. Their modern stringband approach is how all that has blended and sounds on the other side. Most of the guys have been good friends for a decade or more, since growing up along the Mississippi River outside Minneapolis, which is apparent when seeing how much fun they have during a performance. The whole purpose of music after all, is to facilitate a good time.
Uniquely unconventional in the traditional bluegrass genre Pert Near Sandstone got it's start, they offend none with their interpretations of standards and covers, and push towards innovative with their arrangements and songwriting. They are just as comfortable playing fully acoustic around one mic in the old-time style, as they are plugged in at a rock venue.
After a successful year of hosting their own Old-Time Music Showcase at the historic Hexagon Bar in Minneapolis, Pert Near brought their show on the road. They are teaming up with great bands and hitting the region hard.
With two recordings released, one demo (2004) and one live (2005), Pert Near just released a much anticipated studio recorded CD (May 2007).

MEMBERS

Ryan Young: Fiddle (guitar/ mandolin)
A well accomplished and adept multi-instrumentalist, music teacher, and songwriter. Ryan's fiddle style threads archaic and experimental, with masterful delivery. He is a veteran musician and has shared a stage with some of the greats. M'Pappy Young is also Pert Near's sound and recording engineer.

J Lenz: Acoustic Guitar/Backing Vocals
Also an accomplished multi-instrumentalist music teacher, and American Irishman. J has played more horns than most know the names of, and shared several bands with Ryan. His strong rhythm and solid backup vocals keep Pert Near grounded, yet his jazz background keeps swinging through. Captain J is also our main tour driver and road manager.

Kevin Kniebel: Clawhammer Banjo/Lead Vocals
Kevin's powerful workingman vocals, convincing songwriting, and syncopated clawhammer banjo are as gritty as the gravel road he grew up on... As band & booking manager, Kevin is the driving force of Pert Near. Without him, Pert' Near Sandstone would still be just a couple of guys on your neighbor's couch pickin' tunes and sippin' whiskey.

Nate Sipe: Mandolin (fiddle/mando-banjo)
Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, folk-musicologist. Nate joined Pert Near in '04, after spending years traveling with a mandolin, often by way of thumb or freight train. He brought the essential repertoire and influence that founded the group's sound and approach. Sonnyboy Sipe works at the prestigious Podium Music store, and is continually working to keep Pert Near sounding old-timey. Nate is also Pert Near's equipment manager.

Jeff Swanner: Upright Bass (whistling/ bowing)
Jeff is the latest to join the group in '05. His dOghouse was just what Pert Near needed to take their sound to the next level. His musical influences and character melded with the established group immediately, and surprisingly well. A freelance welder by trade, and amateur narcoleptic, Swanner provides the foundation for Pert Near's raucous renditions. Jeff is also the band mechanic.


SELECT PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

PRESS

Minnesota Monthly Arts Feature—Aug. ’06
City Pages Article---March ’06, Vol.27 Issue 1340
Minnesota Music Awards—’06 Nomination for Best Bluegrass Band
Minneapolis Star Tribune May 3rd 2007, Local Scene feature article.


Ryan Young - fiddle, guitar

Nate Sipe - mandolin, mando-banjo, fiddle

J Lenz - guitar, backing vocals

Kevin Kniebel - banjo, lead vocals

Jeff Swanner - string Bass