Based out of Louisiana’s finest music and arts city, but with hometowns littered across the United States, the Belleville Outfit serves up a truly unique mix of gypsy swing, big band jazz, and roots Americana and bluegrass. Both innovative in their combining of genres, and true to their musical roots, the Belleville Outfit, though young, has already solidified itself as a tour-de-force in the world of acoustic music.
Their latest CD, Wanderin’, is currently at #13 on the Americana Radio chart. Continued...
The Belleville Outfit is "all about good music and fun." |
The Belleville Outfit is one of the two bands featured at this year’s Free Friday kickoff concert for the Pagosa Folk ‘N Bluegrass Festival on June 6 at 5:00 PM at the gazebo in Town Park (along with The Biscuit Burners) and will play the Reservoir Hill Park main stage on Saturday, June 7 at 1:30 PM.
Band members Rob Teter, Marshall Hood and Jeff Brown toured extensively with a group based out of South Carolina called the DesChamps Band, an all acoustic swing/bluegrass group that has shared stages with such prestigious acts as The Waybacks, Junior Brown, the Del McCoury Band, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, the Duhks, and Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, as well as released two full length records.
 Now, as the Belleville Outfit, with the additional talents of Phoebe Hunt on violin, Connor Forsyth on piano, and Jonathan Konya on the drums, the group is poised to introduce their inventive sound into the ears of anyone and everyone who will listen.
From Spartanburg, SC, Rob Teter is a singer-songwriter, and original member of South Carolina's DesChamps Band. Rob got his start playing southern rock a-la Lynard Skynard with fledgling Austin guitarist Marshall Hood. After squandering his youth playing the devil's music, Rob picked up an acoustic guitar and began writing his own material. You can find Rob at various New Orleans spots, including but not limited to Banks St. Bar (trying not to get shot), Robert's, the Maple Leaf, and of course, Miss Mae's, or hanging around the Loyola Music School pretending to be a legitimate musician.
From Tulsa, OK, Connor Forsyth is a stride player, and a gypsy beyond the shadow of doubt, often being compared to the ultra-fast sound of Oscar Peterson. He currently studies under New Orleans legendary pianist, Ellis Marsalis. You can find Corndog locked in his jail cell/brewery known as Biever Hall. That's right folks, he brews his own beer, that is, until the powers that be told him he couldn't do that anymore. It's called Corndog Ale, and drops in stores world-wide in 2079.
From Norwalk, Ct, Drummer Jonathan Konya, is possibly the most versatile member of the group. He currently studies under New Orleans’ own Johnny Vidacovich, and is rapidly becoming one of the most talented young drummers to begin working in the city in the last year. You can usually find Jon at the far end of Adams Street, sitting on his porch in his underwear. Read about him more at his site www.jonathankonya.com.
Also from Spartanburg, SC Jeff Brown is the hardest working man in show-biz today. Consistently holding it down as the Bass Assassin, Jeff holds down the lowest register of the Belleville Outfit. In his own words, "You'll have to forgive me sir, I'm not so smart when it comes to thinkin' about stuff."
Yet another Spartanburger, Marshall Hood plays the big curly afro. Now living in Austin, Marshall is quickly becoming the premier big curly afro player in the city. Check him out with Warren Hood and the Hoodlums or The Phoebe Jeebies at Momo's on Sunday nights.
And last, but most definitely not least, Ms. Phoebe Hunt, from Austin, TX. Not only did she take home the Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin from Mark O'Connor's fiddle camp in 2006, she plays in a band full of dudes, all younger than her. Quite a feat. Coming in at a whopping 22 years old, she's the grandma, and tries to keep all the boys from killing themselves or each other.
If you haven’t already guessed, this band is all about good music and fun. Don’t miss out on either of their upcoming performances in June at the Pagosa Folk ‘N Bluegrass Festival. Tickets to the event are on sale at Moonlight Books downtown and Switchback Mountain Gear in the uptown City Market Plaza. Tickets and additional information are also available online at the FolkWest website or by calling 877-472-4672. |