Bruce Hayes

An electrifying performer energizes the Radio Room on February 19!

KAFM and the Radio Room present singer songwriter Bruce Hayes at 7 pm February 19 in the Radio Room.  Bruce Hayes plays rhythm and Celtgrass music, a fusion of musical styles that combines acoustic and electric instrumentation with elements of rock, bluegrass, Celtic, and r&b music. Collaborating with the String Cheese Incident and Acoustic Junction, Hayes helped define the acoustic jam band sound. He continues this tradition performing original songs and arrangements on mandolin, guitar, dobro, foot board and his latest creation, the Stratobassto.

"...The most phenomenally talented performer you've ever seen. A master of the guitar, mandolin, and dobro, he even dances a rhythm while he plays -- Bruce will astound you. He writes great songs, has a hell of a voice and is a supreme entertainer." -- Acoustic Coffeehouse, Nederland, CO

Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, recording engineer, one-man band -- Bruce Hayes does it all. The 40-something entertainer has been a professional musician since high school and his experience shows.

"...Lightning-fast mandolin licks... phenomenal guitar picking... a cross between Leo Kottke and Michael Hedges." -- BERKSHIRE EAGLE, Pittsfield, MA

On stage, Hayes' presence is electrifying. He taps his feet on an amplified floor board, slaps accents on his guitar and cheeks, wails on the harmonica and sings charismatically. His fingers dance around the strings with incredible fluidity, creating rich harmonic textures and rapid-fire riffs.

“What he was doing with that guitar gave me chills.... Awesome.” -- TOP O' THE WORLD, WSC

The music is fresh and original but steeped in tradition; borrowing from blues, bluegrass, Celtic, world beat, folk, rock and jazz.

"...Styles that could be loosely termed "Mountain Music", (Hayes is an accomplished bluegrass player) but Bruce's mountains reach from the Andes to the Smokies and back to his home range in Colorado." -- Larry Good , ASPEN DAILY NEWS

Inspired by the Beatles and the Monkees, Hayes began studying music at age seven. His mother, a former Broadway dancer, would insist that he study piano first, but his attention was always diverted by a small Sears Silvertone guitar. He formed his first band in seventh grade and got his first paid gig as guitarist for the high school jazz ensemble when he was 15. In college, he majored in classical guitar, but after attending his first bluegrass festival, he traded the classical guitar for a mandolin and began performing at ski areas.

"...Bruce Hayes is the Jimi Hendrix of the mandolin..." -- CRESTED BUTTE CHRONICLE & PILOT

Perfoming as a solo act, a sideman, or with his bands, Hayes has given over 3,000 performances in many of America’s finest music venues, and several prominent music festivals. His music has taken him across the continent a dozen times, and twice around Europe. He's jammed on stage with Joe Cocker, Arlo Guthrie, New Riders, Acoustic Syndicate, Railroad Earth, Darrell Scott, Tim O'Brien and Drew Emmitt; and opened shows for David Bromberg, Jorma Kaukonen, Merle Sanders, the Subdudes, the Neville Bros., Dave Mathews, Sam Bush and David Lindley. He has also recorded in Nashville for Grammy-winning producer, Jon Vezner.

"...Definitely not some New Age dork. Man, he really cuts loose!" -- Tom Robbins

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