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Anthony VanPelt   -   fiddle & vocals   -    Port Republic, VA

Pat Velanzon   -   bass & vocals   -    Port Republic, VA

Dale Wenger   -   banjo & vocals   -    Elkton, VA

Rick Hensley   -   guitar & vocals   -    Pineville, VA

Jim Gallaher   -   mandolin & vocals   -    Staunton, VA

Origins of Loose Gravel

Anthony & Pat were playing in bluegrass/gospel band South River when they first met Jim at the Grottoes, Virginia bluegrass jam in February, 2004. Jim was playing in a newly-formed Waynesboro bluegrass band. The three started showing up at various jams throughout the region and hit it off well enough to begin playing together on a regular basis at Pat's home near Cross Keys. Pat met banjo and guitar player Dale Wenger a little later at Grottoes and invited him to join the group.

The quartet discovered a mutual fondness for the more contemporary sounds of bluegrass, like the Seldom Scene, the Country Gentlemen, Tony Rice, Larry Cordle and Pete Wernick, and a willingness to experiment with the progressive sounds of artists like David Grisman. Since that time, the band members have created original tunes and exciting arrangements of old favorites like "Shenandoah".

Rick had jammed with the four original members on occasion and when the guitar spot opened in early 2007, he was invited to join. He is a veteran of another local band, Grassy Ridge.

Brief Band Bio's

Jim Gallaher (mandolin) grew up in Lynchburg, VA and played in bluegrass, rock'n'roll and jazz bands in the 70's and 80's before moving to Staunton in 1989. He gave up music for over 10 years before starting to play bluegrass mandolin again in 2000.

Pat Velanzon (bass) had played in rock bands in the 60's in his native Danbury, Connecticut before moving to the Port Republic area and immersing himself in the local bluegrass scene on upright bass. He is a familiar presence at jam sessions up and down the Valley.

Anthony VanPelt (fiddle) is originally from Harrisonburg, VA and has been a classical violinist since age 4. He has a BA in Violin Performance from EMU & JMU and an MM in Composition from Shenandoah Conservatory. He is a member of the Lexington Symphony and his original works have been performed in Europe, China, Japan, Mexico, Guam, and throughout the United States. He currently teaches violin in the Rockingham County area.

Dale Wenger (banjo) grew up near Harrisonburg, VA. He started playing guitar at age 6 and joined his first bluegrass group at age 16. His mastery of the "melodic" style of bluegrass banjo made popular by Bill Keith, Tony Trischka, Alison Brown and Bela Fleck is especially well-suited to Loose Gravel's contemporary sound.

Rick Hensley (guitar) of Pineville, VA joined the original quartet in early 2007 and adds more lead vocals and a solid bluegrass guitar presence to the band. Rick is a veteran of another regional bluegrass band, Grassy Ridge.

Past Appearances

Loose Gravel has been a featured musical guest twice on Jeff Ishee's "Virginia Farming" show on WVPT-TV in Harrisonburg, which has resulted in syndicated appearances on Dish Network's RFD-TV. The band's most recent "Virginia Farming" appearance on September 28, 2007 saw Jeff Ishee devote the entire show to Loose Gravel's studio performance. The band has also appeared on the Noontime Show on WHSV-TV in Harrisonburg.

Recent local appearances include opening at Court Square Theater on October 11, 2007 for Rounder recording artist Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain, performing at the 2007 Downtown Fourth of July Celebration in Harrisonburg, "Jamboree in the Park" in Staunton, and multiple appearances at the Staunton Farmers Market and the Blue Ridge Parkway's well-established series of musical events at Humpback Rocks.

Regular Appearances

Loose Gravel plays the second Monday of each month at Panera Bread, 295 Burgess Road, Harrisonburg. The band also appears several times a year on "Brewgrass Fridays" at Queen City Brewing in Staunton.