Wayne Erbsen

Pathway

Wayne Erbsen

Wayne is a master of a number of styles of music including old-time, bluegrass, folk, Appalachian, cowboy, pioneer, railroad, gospel and music of the Civil War. As a solo performer living in Asheville, North Carolina, he plays clawhammer and bluegrass banjo, fiddle, mandolin and guitar. His repertoire is over one thousand songs. A typical program would include songs, stories, history and humor mixed with hot instrumentals. Wayne can design an educational musical program perfectly suited to the occasion and the audience.

If your festival, party, wedding celebration or conference is looking for a larger group, Wayne often performs with additional musicians as a duet, trio, or four-piece bluegrass or old-time band. He can also play for old-time dances and provide a dance caller.

Wayne has performed at colleges, coffee houses, concert halls, historic societies, museums, clubs, and festivals both in America and in western Europe. He has recorded eighteen solo CDs and written twenty-nine instruction and song books. Wayne has appeared on Sesame Street and his music has been selected to be distributed by NPR’s Wireless Catalog. Many of Wayne’s recordings have been included on numerous educational interactive CDs including American Heritage’s CD of the Civil War and Microsoft’s Encarta 2004. He has won numerous prizes at fiddler’s conventions including 1st place clawhammer banjo (Galax, Virginia, 1973) and 1st place senior old-time fiddler (Fiddler’s Grove, NC 2004). Wayne is included in North Carolina Touring Arts Directory.

For the past twenty-eight years, Wayne has had his own radio show called "Country Roots" on Asheville’s public radio station, WCQS, 88.1 FM. Listen Sunday nights from 7:00 - 9:00 EST at http://www.wcqs.org/

Wayne Erbsen & Backcountry Bluegrass is Wayne's bluegrass band. This dynamic Asheville, North Carolina bluegrass band features soulful duet and trio singing and firey instrumentals played in the style of the Stanley Brothers and Flatt & Scruggs. Playing sizzling hot fiddle is Natalya Weinstein, John Miller is on high tenor vocals, guitar and mandolin and Jerry Sutton plays bass. Wayne is featured on lead vocals, bluegrass and clawhammer banjo, guitar, fiddle and mandolin. This band is perfect to play for your wedding celebration, party, or what have you.

For information about open performance dates and fees, call Wayne at (828) 299-7031, or email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . When emailing, omit the NOSPAM, unless you are one of those spammers!

Here's Wayne demonstrating a minstrel banjo.

Wayne Erbsen singing the North Carolina murder ballad, "Little Sadie."

Listen to Wayne's music by clicking on the music icons, below.

Silver Bells

Billy the Kid

John Brown's Dream

Brother Green

Waiting for the Federals

Battle of Bull Run

Dony Gal

Turkey in the Straw

Jack of Diamonds

Sugar in the Gourd

Sweet Evelina

Wayfaring Stranger

Rock Island Line

Railroad Corral

Paddy on the Railway

Man of Constant Sorrow

Freight Train Boogie

Arkansas Traveler

Soldier's Joy

" The audience was enthralled with the wonderful Wayne Erbsen concert last Sunday. He had a wonderful stage presence - he had everyone singing along on some songs." --Patricia Samford, North Carolina Historic Site, Bath, North Carolina.

"I'd like to thank you for the splendid program you did for us. You blended just the right amount of history and music and the audience participation was perfect. Thanks so much for a lively evening." --Carrie Holthouser, Western N.C. Civil War Roundtable.

Thanks for the excellent programs you brought to Harnett County, NC. Everywhere I've been the past few days, people are talking about the concert. Thank you for being willing to bring your gifts so far." --Susan Morrow, Harnett County Schools.

Wayne Erbsen

Workshops

Free Tabs

Free Video Lessons