Meet the Band

Neal Brown

Bass and Vocals

Neal has been playing stand-up bass since1984. He is one of the founding members of the Rattling Brook Bluegrass Band. He's also been part of Hidden Drive, Bluegrass Revisited, and others.

Ernie Minetti

Guitar and Vocals

Ernie saw Doc Watson after being introduced to Bluegrass by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band album Will the circle be unbroken. Where the band and Earl Scruggs brought all the great Bluegrass artists to do an album together. Then seeing Doc and Merle Watson at a chapel in Stetson University and later at Stetson seeing Earl Scruggs.

Ernie has been in bands such as Hidden Drive, Bluegrass Revisited, and others.

George Seymour

Banjo and Vocals

George started playing the banjo in 1977 after being inspired by banjo music on Vermont Public Television and Earl Scruggs. In 1981 he won first place in the Bluegrass division at the prestigious Craftsbury Banjo Contest. In 1985 his band, The New Cross Country, won the New England division of the Wild Turkey Battle of Country Band. The New Cross Country played to high acclaim appearing on Vermont Public Television's Guest of the House, opening for country music star George Jones.

Realizing a long-time dream of focusing on playing his beloved banjo George formed the Steel Rail Bluegrass Band in early 2004. George is now playing pedal steel, fiddle, and banjo with several groups in Vermont including the Tim Brick Band and Corner Junction Bluegrass.

Allen Gratton

Mandolin and Vocals

Music has always been a part of Allen's life. Since childhood, his father had a guitar laying around for the kids to play. His uncles' heavily influenced Allen's musical growth with many nights playing old-time country and family favorites around the campfire during family camping trips. They also performed these same songs at local square dances.

Bluegrass has been a breath of fresh air for Allen. He loves how the style takes inspiration from every genre of music.

Willy Dallas

Fiddle and Vocals

Willy was introduced to bluegrass at age six after attending a local festival and has been hooked ever since. His first bluegrass band, Possum Livin, won the Weiser National Oldtime Fiddle Championship battle of the bands in Boise. Willy played guitar, mandolin, or fiddle in numerous Boise-based bluegrass bands. He also co-hosted a bluegrass radio show "The AM Breakdown" on Radio Boise KRBX 89.9 FM for five years.

Moving to Vermont to be closer to family, Willy decided to focus on fiddle playing. His first love and instrument of choice. Willy loves the old-timey style fiddlers like Curly Ray Cline, Chubby Wise, and Paul Warren.