Greene Countrie Towne Festival welcomes Hickory Robot

Thousands of people come to Greenfield, Ohio each summer to enjoy the Greene Countrie Towne Festival. The 2014 festival is under way and contines Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20 in downtown Greenfield. 

The community festival takes place during the third weekend of July, offering visitors a chance to enjoy free entertainment, explore the community’s rich history, renew old friendships and make new ones.

Proceeds from festival events help local organizations to operate for the good of the community

Hickory Robot of Cincinnati will be featured Saturday, July 19 at the 2014 Greene Countrie Towne Festival in Greenfield.

Fans of bluegrass, folk and Americana music with a twist are sure to enjoy Hickory Robot, a quartet from Cincinnati, who will be performing from 5:30-7 p.m. Saturday, July 19.

The original trio of guitarist Jim Pelz, mandolinist Scott Carnder, and fiddler Lauren Schloemer came together in 2008. By 2010, they had released an album of critically-praised originals entitled "Firefly." 2011 saw bassist Mike Georgin complete the quartet and a year of constant gigging that resulted in a Cincinnati Entertainment Award nomination for Best Bluegrass Band.

In October 2012, the band released its second album, "Sawyer," to even greater acclaim, and a Cincinnati Entertainment Award nomination not only for Best Bluegrass Band (second year in a row), but also for Album of the Year. Citybeat Magazine praised the group's "stellar songwriting" and "impeccable musicianship."

Jim Pelz brings a lyrical brand of storytelling and a sophisticated harmonic sense to his songs that engages the listener on multiple levels. His guitar playing complements his writing with a unique and fluid sound devoid of the usual picker’s clichés, finding new paths over familiar landscapes.

Scott Carnder writes songs often drawn from the traditional themes of bluegrass but arranged with with an ear raised on equal parts Motown and classic rock. His mandolin playing also reflects a broad range of influences, with strong rhythmic drive, deep pocket, and flowing melodic lines ready to take flight.

Lauren Schloemer, a natural singer of great dynamic range, power, and depth, takes those songs and makes them her own, delivering emotive and riveting performances. Equally remarkable is her expressive and adventurous fiddle-playing, which seamlessly melds a beautiful, classically-influenced tone to a warm, country soul.

Bassist Mike Georgin plays both upright acoustic bass and five-string fretless electric bass. His playing percolates with chords, slides, and counter-melodies, providing not only a striking foundation for the rest of the band, but another superb soloist as well.

The band, brought together by friendship born of a shared love of acoustic music, songwriting, and live performance, have created a music that reflects those varied backgrounds while developing a unique and multi-faceted personality all its own.

For more information, go to: http://www.hickoryrobot.com/ or http://www.greenfieldrotary.org/.