Biography

Biography
Since forming in 2010 Grassville is has become an acoustic force to behold. Grassville is already receiving national airplay on their newly released CD “Lonely Tonight”. Comprised of five young men whom were all born into musical families their musical roots run deep. All have not only a love of music but a need for it. Each respective member of the band meshes his own stylistic tastes into a pleasant sound not common in today’s bluegrass music making it appealing to a broader audience.

Vocally, the three voices of Jake Hegwood, John Nipper and Brian Stephens provide a tight crisp harmony equally as pleasing on a wide open driving tune as it is on a lonesome mournful ballad. With a range of musicians from teenage banjo prodigy Aaron Clegg to award winning multi-instrumentalist Brian Stephens and fiddle virtuoso John Rice the band provides tasteful fills and blistering solos.

Having talented vocalists and musicians is only part of what makes a great band. Add in the years of experience that each member has and most importantly the friendship off-stage that they share and you have the makings of a top notch entertaining machine – Grassville.

The Band
Jake Hegwood began playing mandolin in local bluegrass circles with his granddad at the age of twelve. As a teenager, he spent most of his weekends traveling and singing bluegrass gospel music. It is during that time that he began to develop his genuine and honest approach to delivering the lyrics to the audience. Jake now plays guitar and sings lead vocals with Grassville.

Having played bluegrass music in and around Georgia for twenty three years, John Nipper is the founding member of Grassville. John has played in many gospel, bluegrass and country bands playing harmonica, mandolin, banjo and bass. John plays bass with Grassville and sings tenor.

At the age of eight, Aaron Clegg began taking guitar lessons. His dad having a love for bluegrass encouraged him to begin taking banjo lessons at age ten. Now only four years later Aaron has won numerous awards on banjo and guitar. Aaron plays banjo with Grassville.

John Rice began playing fiddle at age ten. Coming from a musical family, he’d sit back stage and emulate the fiddler in his dads’ bluegrass band. Before long he was on stage as a member of the band. John toured with his family band for nearly seven years before going off to college. During that time he played with several area country bands. John now is the fiddler with Grassville.

After being hired to perform the mandolin tracks on Grassvilles’ CD, Brian Stephens decided that he’d like to be a permanent part of the band. Brian has won Flat picking Guitarist of the Year for the state of Georgia several times over as well as awards on mandolin, banjo and finger picking guitar. Brian plays mandolin and sings baritone with Grassville.