Description: Bluegrass/Newgrass, Folk Rock
Comparisons: Railroad earth is similar to Crosby Stills Nash & Young and the Grateful Dead, although with a decidedly Bluegrass influence. Think Traveling Wilburys meet Del McCoury. The guys of Railroad Earth also hail from From Good Homes and the Blue Sparks From Hell, among other bands.
Starter CDs: Black Bear Sessions (self-released, 2001). Bird In a House (Sugarhill, 2002). The Good Life (Sugarhill, 2004).
Todd Sheaffer: (Lead vocals, acoustic guitars) Todd's previous band (From Good Homes) disbanded in 1999. Originally from New Jersey, the band blended Americana, jazz, and celtic folk with the jam band aesthetic that Railroad Earth has so mastered.
Tim Carbone: (Fiddle, vocals) Tim started out in a Swing band (Blue Sparks From Hell) and later also became a member of From Good Homes. He toured India with the Dharma Bums, when he was invited to play for the Dalai Lama. Tim has also been the House Fiddler at Falcon Ridge, and has toured with John Gorka, Greg Brown, and others.
John Skehan: (Mandolin, vocals)
Andy Goessling: (Acoustic guitars, banjo, dobro, mandolin, flute, pennywhistle, saxophone, vocals) Multi-instrumentalist Andy Goessling is also part of the band The Secret Admirers, who played folk, swing, and other forms of Americana. Also formerly of the Blue Sparks From Hell, Andy was an early Bluegrass prodigy on just about every instrument known to man.
Carey Harmon: (Drums, hand percussion, vocals) Like the other members of the band, Carey has had his hand in several other projects as well. Most notably The Hour - a folk rock band comparable to the Fairport Convention. The Hour was integral in beginning the H.O.R.D.E. festival.
Johnny Grubb: (Upright bass)
Railroad Earth Tour Dates: The best way to learn more about any Folk band is to check them out on tour. You can keep up with Railroad Earth's rigorous, seemingly non-stop tour schedule here.
