Fri, Apr 6th, 8-10pm, Bluegrass Concert – Clover Point Drifters

A 3-show tour of Vancouver Island, with shows at Port Alberni, Cortes Island and Sayward. Three shows is not exactly an ambitious tour, but having been playing together for over 18 years, the boys are focused on quality rather than quantity.  Small venues are where their single-microphone show is best delivered, up close with fans that appreciate the fineries of the acoustic bluegrass musical form.

Mike Kraft (banjo, harmony  vocals) is one of Canada's  finest banjo players.  He shares with us his humour and stock picks.

Larry Stevens (resophonic guitar, lead vocals) has a gift for singing the country song, good times and bad, love and loss, the past and even further past.  George Robinson (bass, lead vocals) has the longest pedigree in the band, having played bluegrass bass since 1977.  Dan Parker (mandolin, lead vocals) he also builds guitars. Dan’s spirited and inventive solos complement the plodding efficacy of the old farts.  Alan Law (guitar, lead & harmony vocals) In a band of baritones, he enjoys the role of tenor singer, and he loves singing harmony more than almost anything you can imagine.

http://www.cloverpointdrifters.com  Busking in Nelson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkfQEILHcuY

Advance $15 (Showdate $20 / Kids $10) now @Rollin Art Centre, charge by phone (778) 421-2427, online http://bpt.me/3370427

FMI http://alberni.ca/events/28830   Char’s Landing 19+ (accompanied kids welcome) 4815 Argyle @5th Port Alberni V9Y 1V9 Tel: 778-421-2427 www.charslanding.com

Clover Point Drifters - Band Bio

The Clover Point Drifters are a bluegrass band from Victoria BC Canada. Their repertoire consists primarily of traditional bluegrass songs, with a sprinkling of country, folk, blues and pop melodies served up in the bluegrass style.  Their songs feature close heartfelt duet and trio harmonies, backed by strong banjo, dobro and mandolin accompaniment.

After many years of jamming and sharing music with his friends George Robinson and Mike Kraft, Alan Law formed the Clover Point Drifters in the year 2000. In short order, Larry Stevens moved from to Victoria from Vancouver, and he and Alan soon discovered their natural duet vocal blend.  Last, Dan Parker arrived on the scene with his punchy and free mandolin style, completing the five-piece acoustic bluegrass band that continues to this day.

Over the years they have played almost every festival on Vancouver Island, but being a bluegrass act they have mostly graced bluegrass festivals. They occasionally tour off island, with scores of eager fans in the bustling metropolises of Winlaw, Christina Lake, and Kimberley (to name just three). They have played two command performances on the lawn at Government House for Her Excellency Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo, participated in dozens of charity shows and taught at several music workshops.  Nobody has ever requested a refund.

Clover Point Drifters - Individual Bios

Mike Kraft (banjo, harmony  vocals) is one of Canada's  finest banjo players.  He also plays guitar in a variety of country, rockabilly and blues bands.  Basically, any band that wants a real musician tries to snag him. Mike endured painful back surgery in 2003, but now that his aura has been properly aligned, he has re-established his rapport with the universe, and he shares with us his humour and stock picks. He is a former member of  The Chance Brothers.

Larry Stevens (resophonic guitar, lead vocals) has a gift for singing the country song, good times and bad, love and loss, the past and even further past. For many years, he lived in Vancouver and played the dobro with several bands, including the New Nash Ramblers who were the BC Country Music Association Bluegrass Band of the Year.  In 1999, he drifted over to Victoria, where his rich warm voice has become a welcoming and familiar sound.

George Robinson (bass, lead vocals) has the longest pedigree in the band, having played bluegrass bass since 1977.  By good luck and happenstance that year, he managed to obtain ownership of Duke Neilson’s bass (Duke played for many years with Don Messer and the Islanders, a Canadian musical institution if ever there was one). Being thus equipped, George spent the next 3 years on the road with the New Silver Tone Rangers, with only 2 weeks off. Talk about cutting your teeth. Thanks to the unforgiving march of time, he has now been playing this bass longer than Duke did. Other former bands include Every Day Street Band, Cedar Hill and Back At The Ranch.

Dan Parker (mandolin, lead vocals) drifted west from Ontario following a successful attempt to attain a higher education.  He is one of those annoying people who, if given some new musical instrument, will spend almost no time at all making it sound like they have played it for years. And then he’ll show you the tune he has just written for it. If that isn’t enough, he also builds guitars. Dan’s spirited and inventive solos complement the plodding efficacy of the old farts.

Alan Law (guitar, lead & harmony vocals) does most of the arranging and supplies the beverages for rehearsals.  That makes him the band leader.  He is strictly a rhythm guitarist (“I do not play any notes”), but his drive, passion and stamina are second to none. In a band of baritones, he enjoys the role of tenor singer, and he loves singing harmony more than almost anything you can imagine.  Previous combos include playing with George in Back At The Ranch and with Mike in The Chance Brothers.

Clover Point Drifters - Selected work:

            Fort St James Cottonwood Festival                            Luminara Festival, Victoria

            Vancouver Island Music Festival, Courtenay            Coombs Bluegrass Festival

            Sooke Bluegrass Festival                                            Chilliwack Bluegrass Festival

            opening act for Nitty Gritty Dirt Band                       Lighthouse Bluegrass Festival

            Peace Country Bluegrass Festival                              Filberg Festival of the Arts

            Cabin Fever Bluegrass Workshop                              White Hart Pub - Gabriola Island

            Victoria Folk Music Society                                       Foothills Bluegrass Music Society

            Victoria Bluegrass Association                                  Deep Cove Folk Coffee House

            Pender Harbour Music Society: Concert Series         Cowichan Folk Coffee House

            Government House “Music On The Lawn”               CBC Annual Foodbank Show

            Dan Lapp’s Joy of Life Celebration                           plus various school workshops

                Shady Grove Bluegrass Festival                                 plus various private functions

Clover Point Drifters - Press, Reviews, and Comments:

“Their latest collection consists of 14 selections from a myriad of sources and are highlighted by vibrant vocals supported by precise instrumental accompaniment. The performances include renditions of standards like “Rider In The Rain,” “Lonesome Old Home,” and “Beautiful Brown Eyes.” Of special note is the instrumental “Kennedy Lake” composed by band member Dan Parker. Also of interest are several country-tinged pieces, “My Window Faces The South,” “My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You,” and Cindy Walker’s “I Was Just Walking Out The Door.” #2 Unplugged is mainstream bluegrass at its finest and a major milestone in the music career of the Clover Point Drifters.”

–      Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine May 2011

“The Nitty Grittys came close to being upstaged by a fine Victoria bluegrass outfit, the Clover Point Drifters. These fellows -- some sporting ball-caps, some with ZZ Top-style beards -- are able to nail the high, lonesome harmonies that makes this style of music so compelling. And the players are good, especially banjo-man Mike Kraft and slide-guitarist Larry Stevens.

“In an unself-conscious way, the quintet captures the authenticity and honesty of old-time bluegrass music. Their sound is also flavoured with echoes of Hank Williams and Willie Nelson (the latter mainly conjured up by Stevens's singing). The Clover Point Drifters also play original tunes in a contemporary folk style. All of this, combined with a jocular stage manner, made for a great opening set.”

–      Adrian Chamberlain, Victoria Times-Colonist October 24, 2006

            “. . .  clever . . .”

                        - John McEuen, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band October 21, 2006

            “Why use a bango[sic]instead of a girl screaming at the top of her lungs ?”

–      Stephanie, age 10  May 20, 2005

“The Clover Point Drifters Grapes On The Vine is the local bluegrass

quintet's debut CD, and it is impressive. The Drifters pick and sing with precision on a quirky, eclectic repertoire including Just Because, Hapa Haole Hula  Girl, Lady of Spain, Ian Tyson's Four Rode By, Hank Williams My Sweet Love Ain't Around and a version of Gonna Lock My Heart that was a hit for Billie Holiday in 1938. Mike Kraft's banjo work stands out in a mix of intricate string-bending on bass, mandolin and dual guitar. The boys sing like cowboy angels too. Five Stars.”

                        - Joe Blake, Victoria Times-Colonist May 22, 2004

“Hey it was sure good to see and hear yous guys here in Lake Country.  We

enjoyed havin' ya stay with us too.  I was tellin' Mike our friends thought the kitchen party was the best dang thing they'd seen in a metric decade (I gotta admit I enjoyed it plenty myself). Ricardo said Doreen put the Drifter CD on the next day and just hit repeat while she read the liner notes and stared at her autographs like a teenage girl!!   We all had a great time for sure and we look forward to seein' ya back again not too far from now.”

- Dan C,  April 15, 2005

“Hey Larry, You play a hell of a good resophonic guitar (dobro) I prefer listening to you than Gery[sic] Douglas.”

                        - John B, February 18, 2005

“Listening again to your music. Thanks for letting me share your

beautiful talent, all of you, your smooth voices and your well living rhythm! For the love of your fans, for the fun that stimulates you, please keep playing!”

                        - Aunt Marie from Quebec  xoxoxoxoxo, August 22, 2004

“We listened to your CD on the way home and we enjoyed it so much.

It's now in the car permanent like and the only one in rotation at

the moment.  We especially like the fact that your CD as well as your show is so diverse in it's style and feel with each song. And of course we feel that each and every one of you is lovely and talented. (Darrell is standing over my shoulder reading this. He thinks you're all talented, but HE’S not so sure about lovely.)”

                        - Shelley & Darrell, April 9, 2004

... be sure to check out our website: WWW.CLOVERPOINTDRIFTERS.COM