For live music bound to make you smile — mark your calendar for Friday, Nov. 22, when the acoustic trio Stray Grass is set to perform at the Radio Room, 1310 Ute Ave.

Stray Grass is a class act and you can’t beat the venue or the ticket price.

Their music is often referred to as newgrass or Americana, as they play traditional bluegrass instruments while adding reggae, blues, jazz and rock ‘ roll sounds. It’s the kind of music you’ll hear at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival where you’ll find the band each year performing in the streets, and at band competitions.

---

---

Stray Grass is comprised of singer-guitar player Guy Stephens; mandolin player and singer-songwriter Garry Tullio; and Pete Langford who plays stand-up bass.

Tullio writes the basic lyrics to their songs; then, as a group “we refine them; polish them up,” Langford said.

---

---

Concert-goers will hear a new tune by Tullio titled “There Will Be No Wedding Bells.” He wrote the song last summer while the band attended the Rocky Grass Academy in Lyons, a camp for bluegrass musicians put on by the Planet Bluegrass RockyGrass Festival.

“It’s a chance for us to play with our heroes and mentors,” Langford said.

A Stray Grass concert additionally includes songs by some of their favorite artists, such as New Grass Revival, Sam Bush or Darrell Scott. There’s also a Pink Floyd song the group puts their own spin on.

Stray Grass formed about eight years ago when Langford and Stephens, who were longtime band members of JT and the Big Dogs, decided they wanted a more acoustic sound. They found the right chemistry with Tullio, a solo performer at the time.

“We have a lot of fun,” Langford said. “There’s a lot of give and take between us and the crowd.”

Stray Grass has opened for national acts such as Sam Bush and Del McCoury, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and the Infamous Stringdusters.

Langford said he’s already booked concert dates for next spring at the Durango Meltdown Festival, the Pueblo Bluegrass Festival and the Palisade Bluegrass Festival.

The Radio Room gig is a result of the band winning a Battle of the Bands competition at KAFM Radio’s spring fund drive in April (along with Flat Top Reed). KAFM supporters voted for their favorite local band by pledging money to the community radio station.