North Country

Ben Freed
Banjo / Dobro
  Ben is a tremendous banjo player in his own right, the Dobro being his second instrument of choice. He is a self-taught musician who has developed a solid foundation and passionate understanding of the banjo. To date Ben has produced two excellent recordings. The most recent is "Suite For Bluegrass Banjo," and the critically acclaimed "Speed Of Sound." Ben has the drive in his playing that every Bluegrass band desires. He maintains an impressive website for the NY Bluegrass scene: BanjoBen.com.
Ben also conducts on-line banjo lessons from this site.

Kevin Lynch
Mandolin / Guitar, Harmony Vocals
  Kevin has been playing mandolin for as long as I can remember and has attained worldwide recognition in the acoustic music circles. He has contributed unrelentingly to the promotion of Bluegrass music in the USA and Europe. Kevin was a co-founder of the Podunk Bg Festival in East Hartford, CT. He was an advisory board member of the original Bill Monroe Foundation in Rosine, KY and is currently vice president of the Connecticut Bluegrass Music Association. Kevin has hosted a four-hour Bluegrass radio show on WWUH 91.3FM in West Hartford, CT since 1992. He has performed and recorded with several artists through the years, and has toured the USA, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Scandinavia. The North Country band appreciates Kevin's sense of timing. His 'chop' is as hot as it gets for those of us who rely on a tight sense of "the groove."

Tom Hagymasi
Fiddle, Harmony Vocals
  Tom is a multi-instrumentalist with strong supporting vocals as well. He has played everything from rural string band and jug band music, to bluegrass and acoustic western swing. He's been a member of several bands throughout the years in the northeast including American Flyer and Last Fair Deal. Tom brings a great voice to North Country, a vast understanding of the music and the way a Bluegrass fiddle begs to be played.

Ethan Kende
Upright String Bass
  Ethan has been involved in the Bluegrass music scene for several years now. He mentored with one of the great progressive banjo players of our time, Roger Sprung. Ethan has performed with almost every Bluegrass band in the NY/CT area. He is the youngest member of the group and has made Bluegrass the love of his life. As for his bass playing, you couldn't ask for a stronger sense of time with which to build your music upon. Ethan has given his time and friendship to the North Country band and we surely could not do without his presence.