By By EMILY DREITZLER / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Take four guys with a love for music and the talent to combine bluegrass, Irish, and jazz music in perfect juxtaposition to create a completely unique melodic sound and you've got the Goldmine Pickers.
Goldmine Pickers will perform a free concert Sunday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Riverfront Amphitheater in downtown Niles.
Lukas Simpson proves to be a jack-of-all-trades by playing the guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, harmonica, and singing lead vocals for the band.
Simpson, who studied at Indiana University-South Bend and Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, wrote most of the original material for both the CD and live performances. Simpson currently hosts a program of diverse Americana and world music that features live music on a local Indiana public radio station.
Jay Lapp strums the mandolin, guitar, and provides vocals for the group.
According to the band's website, www.goldminepickers.com, aside from being a member of Goldmine Pickers, Lapp, who previously studied guitar at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music, currently works at TG Music where he gives instruction regarding the guitar and mandolin, as well as doing repair work and sales.
Sean Hoffman, pickin' at the fiddle for the band, grew up in a family of vigorous musicians. Hoffman had the honor of studying with the Brian Conway, All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, in New York. Hoffman, who has performed all over the world, later joined the California-based Frank O'Connor Band before finally becoming a member of Goldmine Pickers.
Ohio native, as well as bass player and vocalist for Goldmine Pickers, Derek Kratzer, finds influences within folk, gospel, bluegrass and jazz music. Kratzer has studied with Robert Oppelt of the National Symphony and legendary jazz bassist, Butch Warren.
In February 2004, Kratzer had the opportunity to travel to Spain to record bass for a singer-songwriter.
Goldmine Pickers, originally based in Goshen, Ind., offer their self-titled debut album for sale on their website.
The CD is the product of months of collaborative work among the musicians and showcases seven songs written by Simpson and one each by Hoffman and Lapp. The CD features such songs as "Too Many Things," "Hoad's Tornado," and "Greed."