The Virtual Strangers, 2007 Arizona Bluegrass Band contest winners, bring a great mixture of traditional and progressive songs. Their sound is a mixture of the traditional with Stanley, Monroe, and Flatt & Scruggs material along with more progressive material from Blue Highway, Lonesome River Band and Del McCoury. They have shared the stage with Rhonda Vincent, Bluegrass Etc., California, the Dillards, Lonesome River Band, Nashville Bluegrass Band, and others. Virtual Strangers perform in numerous events & festivals in San Diego and throughout California, Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado, among others. In addition, Virtual Strangers lead the annual Cruise2Jam Carnival Line Catalina/Ensenada Cruise each February where they teach passengers about jamming etiquette and hold onboard jam sessions.

Virtual Strangers also has an alter ego – the Tatar Patch Bluegrass Buddies. Several times each year, the Strangers morph into this kid-friendly persona and go into classrooms to educate school-age children about bluegrass music and how to start playing it. They have performed in schools and kids camps at many festivals.

Mike Tatar Sr., on banjo, holds down the lead vocals. He’s played with In Cahoots, Snowy River, Full Deck, LeRoy McNees, and was made an honorary Piney Creek Weasel by the late Rick Abrams.

Jon Cherry plays mandolin, and sings harmony/lead vocals. Jon’s played with Union Creek and Snowy River, and proudly plays his handmade Cherry Mandolin on stage.

Yvonne Tatar plays the acoustic bass and sings harmony. She is a proud fourth generation string player and has accompanied many old time-fiddlers. She’s played with In Cahoots, Full Deck, LeRoy McNees, and sitting in with many other bands.

Kit Birkett plays guitar and also sings lead vocals. His credits include the Scottsville Squirrel Barkers and Down the Road, 2001 Southwest Bluegrass Play-off Winners.

http://www.virtualstrangersbluegrass.com/

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Mike Tatar Sr. – banjo, vocals; Jon Cherry – mandolin, vocals; Yvonne Tatar – bass, vocals; Kit Birkett – guitar, vocals

SHERI LEE & BLUE HEART

Sheri Lee and Blue Heart is a well-seasoned bluegrass band based in Southern California that offer their fans a fun selection of different blends of music. Blue Heart is Sheri Lee on guitar, David Dickey III on mandolin, Chris Cerna on banjo, and Dean Knight on bass. They put so much heart into their bluegrass music and also into any style they perform. See Sheri Lee & Blue Heart!

With a mix of country, folk and primarily bluegrass, they offer their fans a fun selection of different blends of music. The name Blue Heart is the perfect fit for all of our band members that put so much heart into not only their bluegrass music but also into any style they perform. They are known throughout Southern California for our unique style of bluegrass from Sheri’s original songs that are masterfully written from the story telling lyrics right down to the cry or happy dance of a violin.