The Acousticatz are steeped in bluegrass but tinged by pop, jazz andcountry and can best be summed up in just five words: Everything oldis new again. This group offers a refreshing, wholesome approach thatcrosses demographic lines and embraces young and old alike.

They were Arkansas State winners and national semifinalists (one of 10acts out of more than 100,000) of the Colgate Country Showdown, thebiggest country music competition in the world. Performing a blend oforiginal and traditional favorites, the group has enjoyed extensivetouring throughout Arkansas and the U.S. as well as maintaining abrisk schedule for the Arkansas Arts Council Arts On Tour program.The Acousticatz are also a featured group with the Mid-America ArtsAlliance in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.They've also been featured the last four years at the American Musicand Craftsmanship festival at Silver Dollar City and are proud membersof the International Bluegrass Music Association. The group has threecds to their credit and are working on their fourth recording projectwith some exciting new original material.

Pete Brown heads up the stage performances for The Acousticatz withincredible driving fiddle, mandolin and sings baritone, lead and anumber of attempts at humor. Pete's been performing for 30+ yearsfor bluegrass and country audiences and frequently gets asked to judge state and national fiddle championships. Pete lives in Benton,AR.

Britt McGarity is a gifted singer/songwriter and is known by his strong, driving bluegrass guitar rhythm style. Raised in bluegrass family band, Britt was touring in a bus from festival to festival as a baby.  Bluegrass music is in his blood.  Britt and his wife Mandy have three beautiful children and are from Sheridan, AR.

Britt's brother Phil McGarity, is a highly respected banjo picker known for his hard driving banjo style.  Phil toured many years with his family in their band Blue Mountain Bluegrass.  Phil and his wife, Carol make their home in Sheridan, AR

Patti LaFleur started picking banjo at a very young age and bought abass at the age of 12 to join a group that needed a bass player. Her driving bass style is the glue that holds The Acousticatz together.  Patti sings tenor, lead, handles bookings for the band and attempts to keep Pete Brown humble. Patti lives in Benton, AR.

With three albums to their credit since forming in the spring of 2002,the group has racked up an impressive list of fans. Here's just asampling of what people are saying about the group:

"The Acousticatz form a bluegrass band unrivaled in Arkansas. Theirbrand of bluegrass goes beyond the normal limits, exploring jazz,swing and pop styles into a mix of their own." -- John Van Orman,Entertainment Director, Ozark Folk Center.

"The talented members of the Acousticatz present a distinctive andtasteful swirl of country, jazz and bluegrass sounds." -- D.A. Callaway,Silver Dollar City"This group has actually gotten me excited about playing again myself,just knowing that music this good can still be made. There is a magicand an excitement about them that is indefinable. You simply have tohear it to believe it." -- Ricky David Tripp, former RCA recording artistand National Champion, True Value Country Showdown (1992).

"The Acousticatz gave our audience a delightful style of music mosthad not heard in concert before and totally captivated the crowd withtheir vitality, charm and musicianship." -- Ron Petti, VP of Programs,Hot Springs/Hot Springs Village Symphony Guild (at 1500 members,the largest symphony guild in the U.S.).

"The Acousticatz have something for everyone: beautiful vocalharmonies, outstanding musicianship and extremely entertaining liveshows. Their song selection will please people with diverse musicaltastes as they play bluegrass standards, Gospel tunes, contemporarybluegrass compositions and unique arrangements of songs originallyperformed in other genres of music like jazz, pop, country and rockmusic. Their love for bluegrass music and for playing music togethershines through in everything they do. The Acousticatz are trueprofessionals and I would highly recommend them to anyone seeking aband to perform at their event." -- Marty Scarbrough, KASU ProgramDirector and sponsor of Bluegrass Monday Concert Series.