Bio
Garrett Newton is an exceptional banjo player. Not only can he play banjo, he can talk banjo with the best. He is presently touring with Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road in their “Country Grass” tour featuring his banjo playing. Garrett fronts his own band, the Garrett Newton Band. He has played on stage with national artists such as Marty Raybon, Kenny Ingram, Ben Greene, Steve Dilling, and James King.
He is endorsed by Yates and Mitch banjo and plays the Earl Scruggs style. He has his own banjo project entitled “Young Heart, Old Soul” which includes several bluegrass standard instrumentals, and original song written by Garrett. This project is on Pinecastle Records.
Although Garrett started bluegrass at a young age, his ability of playing will let you think he is much older. He can talk about the history of bluegrass in detail with anyone. Just ask Del McCoury or Ricky Skaggs about conversation they have held back stage with Garrett Newton. They will tell you he is a young kid with the bluegrass mind of an older man.
Parks Icenhour began playing the guitar and mandolin as a young boy, providing rhythm for his dad who played the banjo. As a teenager, he drifted away from bluegrass but picked it up again while studying at East Carolina University where he met Tommy Edwards (The Bluegrass Experience) and enjoyed many impromptu picking sessions in their dormitory. In 1971, he met Glen Dyer, father of Allen Dyer, and they have been picking together as the "Brother's 'N Bluegrass" for the last 45 years. He has recorded two albums with Glen and several projects with various recording artists, including background guitar music for a museum of history documentary featuring Andy Griffith as the narrator. His preference in bluegrass is strictly traditional with Doc Watson and Norman Blake as his favorite guitarists. Parks is excited to be a part of the Garrett Newton Band and provides the bass vocals and lead guitar work for the group. Parks works as a professional engineer. He endorses GHS Strings.
Allen Dyer was born in Tennessee, but he grew up and makes his home in the Garner, North Carolina. Allen was introduced to bluegrass music at an early age by his dad who played in a local band named the "Brother’s N Bluegrass." He spent a lot of summers with his dad at bluegrass festivals around the area. Allen began playing guitar and singing at the age of twelve. He enjoys the more traditional side of bluegrass today. Flatt and Scruggs, Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers, Reno and Smiley, and Larry Sparks are some his favorites. Allen is excited to be playing in a band where all the members share the same musical interests which is to play good solid traditional bluegrass music. Allen plays guitar and sings lead for Garrett Newton Band. Allen works as a professional electrician. He endorses GHS Strings and Blue Chip Picks
Born in 1985, Daniel Aldridge was inspired to play bluegrass by hearing IIIrd Tyme Out. He spent many years listening to and absorbing the music of great mandolin players before picking up the instrument himself at the age of fifteen. His influences include his father Mike, Wayne Benson, and Bill Monroe. Once he put fingers to strings, Daniel's progress was astonishing. Just barely out of high school, he joined Constant Change in November of 2003. He soon was recruited by Honi Deaton, with whom he toured from March through October of 2004.
Daniel spent the summer of 2005 touring with Jeannette Williams before returning to play with Constant Change. In addition to his dazzling mandolin picking, Daniel is a fine lead singer and provides much of the baritone harmony in the band's trios and quartets. Daniel is employed at the Alamance County Sheriff's department. He endorses GHS Strings and Peterson Tuners.
Kevin Lamm was born and raised in Wilson NC. I am 48 years old and started playing Bluegrass in 1998. I started out picking banjo and soon there after switching to Upright Bass. I learned how to play by going to a weekly Jam in Wilson at the County Line Bluegrass Barn. My first festival that I went to was Bass mountain and I was hooked. My Family vacationed every year in Nashville Tn and at an early age I fell in love with Bluegrass music. I have played and filled in with a few local bands when needed and help start a Band Steady Drive. I am excited to have the oppurtunity to play with The Garrett Newton Band. I sing lead and Baritone. I love the Traditional style Bluegrass. I am married to my wife Shannon for 26 years. and I have two children, A 19 year old son named Bennett and a 21 year old Daughter named Sydney. I am a Partner in a restaurant in Wilson “Parkers Barbecue”.
