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 | BlueBilly Grit’s definition of bluegrass is anything but ordinary. BlueBilly Grit Takes you to a crossroad where Old Fashioned Bluegrass meets Progressive, Contemporary, and Rockabilly. With a love for all genres of music, BlueBilly Grit performs the music everyone loves along with new and innovative originals driven by a style all their own. Each member of the band has their own musical background with many performances under their belt. This past year was spent playing venues in the southeast, gaining momentum, and getting some studio work done. Their new CD, "Mill Grinder’s Blues", was released on November 14th, 2009 and is currently selling on national and international markets. Mark Garrison plays banjo, guitar, and mandolin, Adam "Doc" Garrison keeps the beat on Doghouse bass, Matt Garrison plays the flattop like you’ve never heard it before, and Amber Garrison has a voice that...well, you just have to hear it. Patrick Chisolm, the newest member of the band, is from Dahlonega, Ga. and has spent the past several years playing fiddle with some of the finest musicians in the area. He has developed his own unique style which completes the sound that makes BlueBilly Grit a solid, high-energy band. Mark, Amber, and Matt also have that three part family harmony that makes bluegrass what it is and will leave you with a new and fresh appreciation for a style of music that’s as old as the hills from which it came. |  |
Mark Garrison was born with a passion to make music. From the time he entered his first talent show in third grade, got his dad to teach him to play guitar, and won, he has been hooked. Mark started his first band at the age of 14 and became a local talent. After graduating from high school he started a rock band and began playing the bar scene. This band included Lee Davis, who has since gone on to make quite a name for himself within the music world. Mark and Lee have remained close friends to this day. BlueBilly Grit is currently in the process of recording a CD at Lee Davis Studio to be released on Lee's record label, Rogue Records. Mark eventually became burned out with the bar scene and decided to move to Nashville to pursue a record deal. He spent nearly ten years in Nashville in which time he had a country group from England, Blue Rendevous, record one of his songs, "She'll Go Her Way, I'll Go Mine". The last five years in Nashville Mark landed a job working for Reba McEntire. Reba published three gospel songs Mark had written under her Starstruck Angel Publishing Co. and offered to shop a record deal for him. Marks' desire for success in the music business was losing it's appeal and Mark turned the offer down, decided to move back to Ga., and got out of music all together. He spent the next 13 years driving a truck and raising a family. During this time he developed a love for the purity of bluegrass music. He had been exposed to it and played it all his life, but never really fell in love with it, until his wife gave him a banjo one year for Christmas. The rest as they say, is history.
|  | Adam "Doc" Garrison, the Bass Player, has been playing bass guitar for over 20 years. Picking up the Stand-up Bass a few years ago, he hasn't looked back since. Adam graduated from Jefferson High School, "Home of the Dragons" in Jefferson, Georgia, playing saxophone and snare drum in the highschool band. He also had the opportunity to be the school's drum major. During his early career he played with his family at many community organized events. After high school Adam became a Paramedic, where he worked in his hometown for 15 years. He then decided to change his career path and become a policeman. The tragedy of 911 occurred shortly thereafter. After his decision to join the Navy, he spent a 10 month stint at Al Asad, Iraq. He now remains a Navy Corpsman as a reservist and currently works as a Police/Medic for the Braselton Police Dept., in Braselton, Ga. Adam, has been married for 17 years and has two boys. His wife and kids have constantly stood by him and supported him. He enjoys spending time with family, camping, fishing and of course, Pickin! Adam believes that BlueBilly Grit is a group of family and friends, who are "drawn together by strong original materials and by a chemistry like no other".
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Amber Garrison-"the girl with the beautiful face and the beautiful voice" has been performing since the age of three at county fairs, churches, coffee houses, competitions, and many other venues. She has also been involved with community theater allowing her the opportunity to act and sing. She has written several songs, one of which is was released on their latest Cd, "Mill Grinder's Blues". Amber's love for music is the force that drives her. Her musical repertoire spans all genre's and is evident in the way she performs. With her unique voice and style she brings a sound to BlueBilly Grit that is like no other bluegrass singer, blending with Mark and Matt to create that pure, perfect three part harmony.
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Matt Garrison -Though only nineteen years old, has had recording and live careers consecutively with two other Northeast Georgia alternative rock acts prior to joining Bluebilly Grit . His guitar playing is often noted with giving the band a more eclectic sound, containing not only elements of traditional Bluegrass and Americana but also that of Indie rock and raw-style blues. Matt is a self taught guitarist and has written a number of his own original tunes. Matt currently resides in Athens, Ga.
|  | Patrick Chisolm-Straight from the hills of Dahlonega, Ga., is a self taught fiddle player who was inspired to play fiddle only 5 short years ago after hearing Alison Krauss and has been diligent in his pursuit to do so. Patrick has played with two Dahlonega based groups, "Grey Beard" and "Depression Orchestra". He met BlueBilly Grit in 2009 at the "Bear on The Square" festival and there was instant chemistry, not to mention a common sense of humor. After playing a few shows with the band, Patrick was instantly adopted as the fifth memeber of BlueBilly Grit.
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