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The Acousticatz
The Acousticatz are steeped in bluegrass but tinged by pop, jazz and country and can best be summed up in just five words: Everything old is new again. This group offers a refreshing, wholesome approach that crosses demographic lines and embraces young and old alike.
They were Arkansas State winners and national semifinalists (one of 10 acts out of more than 100,000) of the Colgate Country Showdown, the biggest country music competition in the world. Performing a blend of original and traditional favorites, the group has enjoyed extensive touring throughout Arkansas and the U.S. as well as maintaining a brisk schedule for the Arkansas Arts Council Arts On Tour program. The Acousticatz are also a featured group with the Mid-America Arts Alliance in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. They've also been featured the last four years at the American Music and Craftsmanship festival at Silver Dollar City and are proud members of the International Bluegrass Music Association. The group has three cds to their credit and are working on their fourth recording project with some exciting new original material.
Pete Brown heads up the stage performances for The Acousticatz with incredible driving fiddle, mandolin and sings baritone, lead and a number of attempts at humor. Pete's been performing for 30+ years for bluegrass and country audiences and frequently gets asked to judge state and national fiddle championships. Pete lives in Benton, AR.
Tom Barito grew up in Louisville, KY, a bluegrass hotspot in the 70s. Tom has lived and played in many different areas of the country from Oklahoma to Connecticut. Tom's banjo style is best described as eclectic because it reflects his many musical influences. These include swing, bluegrass, country, jazz and the rock music that his 3 teenagers play at home. Tom lives in Arkadelphia, AR.
Britt McGarity was raised at bluegrass festivals touring in a bus with his family who performed across the country during his childhood. Britt plays guitar, mandolin and fiddle and has one of the best new lead voices in bluegrass today. His picking and singing could best be described as contemporary with a traditional backbone. Britt lives in Sheridan, AR.
Patti LaFleur started picking banjo at a very young age and bought a bass 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 a sampling of what people are saying about the group:
"The Acousticatz form a bluegrass band unrivaled in Arkansas. Their brand 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 and tasteful 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 magic and an excitement about them that is indefinable. You simply have to hear it to believe it." -- Ricky David Tripp, former RCA recording artist and National Champion, True Value Country Showdown (1992)
"The Acousticatz gave our audience a delightful style of music most had not heard in concert before and totally captivated the crowd with their 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 vocal harmonies, outstanding musicianship and extremely entertaining live shows. Their song selection will please people with diverse musical tastes as they play bluegrass standards, Gospel tunes, contemporary bluegrass compositions and unique arrangements of songs originally performed in other genres of music like jazz, pop, country and rock music. Their love for bluegrass music and for playing music together shines through in everything they do. The Acousticatz are true professionals and I would highly recommend them to anyone seeking a band to perform at their event." -- Marty Scarbrough, KASU Program Director and sponsor of Bluegrass Monday Concert Series.
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