Jon Shain
Jon Shain is a veteran singer-songwriter who's been turning heads for years with his words, his fiery acoustic guitar work, and his evolved musical style - combining improvised piedmont blues with bluegrass, swing, and ragtime. Shain's latest CD, Army Jacket Winter (produced by Jon along with Jackson Hall and Scottsburg Jonze, released in May 2007) is quickly garnering the best reviews of his career. Shain's musical partners include FJ Ventre on upright bass and vocals, and John Currie on dobro and guitar, and Bill Newton on harmonica.

Attending Duke University in the late 80s, Shain was a student of American history with a dedicated interested in southern musical traditions. This led him to a gig with piedmont blues legend Richard "Big Boy" Henry. After a short apprenticeship in the blues world, Shain cut his touring teeth from 1989-1998 founding the Chapel Hill, NC folk-rock group, Flyin' Mice and their spin-off group, WAKE. While sharing stages with luminaries such as David Grisman, Tony Rice Unit, Hot Tuna, Leon Russell, Dave Matthews Band, and the Dixie Dregs, the band released four CDs and played clubs, schools, and festivals up and down the East Coast, building a legion of fans.

After his band's breakup, Shain went solo, returning to his roots in the folk and blues circuit. He released Brand New Lifetime in 1999 to positive reviews and solid airplay in the US and abroad. Spring 2001 brought the release of Fools and Fine Ladies, which garnered reviews from papers such as the Washington Post to national magazines like Relix and No Depression. 2003 saw the release of Shain's acclaimed album, No Tag, No Tail Light. The CD was produced in Boston, MA by Dave Mattacks and Tom Dube, and marked a watershed in production values, performance, and writing, eventually winning great reviews in Sing Out!, No Depression, Relix, The Boston Phoenix, and meriting a full page article in Dirty Linen. The critically acclaimed follow-up, Home Before Long, was also produced by Mattacks and Dube and released in spring of 2005.

In addition to festival slots and headlining club dates, Shain has performed shows recently with Little Feat, John Hammond, Keb' Mo', NRBQ, N. Mississippi All-Stars, Ian Anderson, and many other greats.

When Shain is not recording or performing, he stays busy giving private instruction in Piedmont blues fingerstyle guitar, and teaching group workshops in songwriting, blues guitar, and "jamming". Whether in the one-on-one atmosphere of the teaching studio or onstage sharing a song with a roomful of strangers, Jon Shain is a natural communicator, keeping students and fans coming back for more.

F.J. Ventre
(upright bass, percussion, vocals)

F.J. Ventre and Jon began working together in the early 80's while attending high school. After high school F.J. enrolled in the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, earning a B.A. in Music Performance and Sound Recording. He remained in Boston to cut his teeth in the city's vibrant music scene with such local favorites as the Invaders, the Shods, Bleu, and the Fall City Kings. Since relocating to Chapel Hill, NC in 2000, he has performed and/or recorded with Jackie O. Pillbox, Jonathan Byrd, Judy Woodall, Tim Stambaugh, Taz Halloween, Dave Kepford, Mel Melton and the Milagro Saints, to name a few. In addition to performing, he has spent time behind the mixing board, engineering both at his home studio, as well as the Rubber Room in Chapel Hill . Also a talented graphic designer, FJ designed the album cover for Fools and Fine Ladies as well as this website.

John Currie
(dobro, guitar)

The talented multi-instrumentalist John Currie has been playing with Jon since 1997 when he joined WAKE as an electric lead player. As one of the Triangle area's hottest and most in demand players, Currie is at home playing everything from Bluegrass to Bebop. His solos often bring hoots and hollers from the crowd.

Bill Newton
(harmonicas)

Bill Newton, known from his work with Rebecca and the Hi-Tones and his own Big Blues Quartet, is a master harmonica player. His album credits include major label acts such as the Indigo Girls as well as just about everyone in North Carolina. He is a veteran entertainer with an engaging stage presence.