Lo-Fi Breakdown

Lo-Fi Breakdown is a high energy, old-school bluegrass quintet based in Asheville, North Carolina. This is a band that is steeped in tradition while forging new sounds and stories in bluegrass music. With a healthy mix of traditional and original material, the band is constantly striving to break new ground while being true to its roots. The band had its start, strangely enough, in Utah, where Garth, Ian, and John originally met.

With a healthy mix of traditional and original material, the band is constantly striving to break new ground while being true to its roots. The band had its start, strangely enough, in Utah, where Garth, Ian, and John originally met.

Everyone in the band at that time had moved there at some point from other places to ski, climb, bike, and work. Everyone was working full time and playing music on the side, but the band still made time to play throughout the intermountain West and even had a highly successful West Coast tour that was documented on DVD.

There was a year hiatus when Garth took a long trip around the world and John moved back to his home state of North Carolina. Soon after, the other guys decided to take a chance and move to Asheville to keep the band alive. After a few years and some readjustment, the band is doing better than ever and is establishing itself in the Southeast as a true exponent of the old raucous bluegrass style that is becoming increasingly rare these days.

The band loves experimentation and writing new songs, but their sound is definitely rooted in early bluegrass. Lo-Fi has developed a strong following with their soulful vocals, fast picking, innovative original material and passionate live performances. Working around one microphone, dressed in vintage suits, the band's look and sound sets them apart from so many of the contemporary acts today.

Lo-Fi Breakdown has played all across the country from San Francisco to New York City and everywhere in between. They have shared the stage with such acts as the great Del McCoury Band, mandolin master Sam Bush, songster Robert Earl Keen, and fiddle legend Jim Shumate among others.