Bluegrass band formed in the summer of 1993 by former members of Jeff Presley’s South Central Bluegrass. Tommy Neal (banjo -see bio), Dick Laird (mandolin), and Carroll Swam (guitar).
Originally known as Keystone, they became Bluestone, “the name derived from the blues in bluegrass music and the stone from Keystone, a former band of some of the members,” according to their website.
“The band worked at various events throughout the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, making personal appearances at the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival; the DC Bluegrass Festival; the National Apple Harvest Festival, South Mountain Fairgrounds south central Pennsylvania; The Old Schoolhouse, Lucketts, Virginia; and the Patterson Park Theatre, Baltimore.
Also, Bluestone was featured on the award-winning public television series Song of the Mountain, recorded at the Lincoln Theatre, Marion, Virginia.” From Richard Thompson’s Tommy Neal article (see Neal, Tommy).
By 2018 the group consisted of original members Dick Laird and Carroll Swam, with Chris Warner (banjo, vocals), Russ Hooper (dobro, vocals), Jon Glik (fiddle), Jeff Laird (guitar, vocals), and Heath Laird (bass, vocals).
From their website “This hard-driving veteran bluegrass band is certainly no stranger to the bluegrass scene as members have played with some of the best including Del McCoury, Jimmy Martin, The Franklin County Boys, Dave Evans, Frank Wakefield, The Country Gentlemen and others. Bluestone’s repertoire also incorporates gospel, country, blues, swing and folk influences as well. They have performed at countless festivals, fairs, private parties, weddings, and other such events in the PA, MD, VA region, as well as The Lincoln Theater “Songs of the Mountains”, 10th Annual Wyoming BBQ Festival, The Whittaker Center, The Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival, The Maryland Hunt Cup, The Arcadia Bluegrass Festival, Coleman Station Bluegrass Festival and others.” Rob’s Bluegrass Barn, annual Marathon Bluegrass Jams to benefit The Fisher House Foundation…
Bluestone discography:
1993(CD) (indie) Bluestone
1999(CD) (indie) 499-02 Twelve O’Nine
2009(CD) (indie) Solitaire
2010(CD) Lost City Leaving Home
2015(CD) Patuxent CD 272 What Goes On
