Free Grass Union

Free Grass Union is an American progressive bluegrass band from Long Island, New York. They are known for their exciting and imaginative spin on traditional bluegrass music. Their genre-defying music has spread throughout the East Coast of the United States and continues to spark the attention of audiences every time they play.
"They are the new sound of old-time music!"
Members
Kim Humphrey, on lead vocals and guitar (including acoustic guitar, dobro, and banjo).
Greg Butler on mandolin and vocals.
Mitch Erdman on double bass
Happy Cassie, on lead vocals, autoharp, Appalachian dulcimer and percussion
Eric Morgan on percussion (including cajón and djembe).
Career
Free Grass Union was formed in 2000 by Kim Humphrey and Greg Butler, when the two friends decided they were sick of playing in bands. Their musical relationship developed over shared intrest of old-time bluegrass, progressive jam band, and psychedelic music. Despite not wanting to be in a band, they quickly found themselves playing music together frequently. As their talents developed, they gained a local following and were regularly featured at Mr. Fadeley's Deli Pub in Patchogue, NY. In 2004, Mitch Erdman heard Humphrey and Butler playing at a Jerry Garcia birthday bash and became intrigued by their energy and sound. After a few months passed, Erdman appeared at Fadeley's to sit in with Humphrey and Butler, from that moment on he has been part of the band. In 2008, Happy Cassie joined the band. While Free Grass Union was playing at a music festival in Pulaski, NY they needed someone who knew the words to Me and Bobby McGee by Kris Kristofferson, Happy Cassie accepted the chance to sing and to everyone's surprise she had the voice of an angel. From that point on, she has been a beautiful addition to the Free Grass Union experience. The newest member, Eric Morgan joined in 2010. He had never even heard the band's music before he appeared on stage with them at a music festival. Happy Cassie was friends with Morgan before he joined the band and knew that his musical expertise would be a welcomed influence, so she invited him to a show and the rest is history.
Free Grass Union was featured in the August 2010 edition of Relix Magazine . They have also been featured in New York State's popular music magazines the Groove Link and Upstate LIVE . Popularity of the band has also grown due to the spotlight from Stony Brook University's radio station DJs.
The artist Sean Poole painted the founding members of Free Grass Union in 2007, the painting gained great popularity in the music festival community.
Free Grass Union has independently recorded and released one album, Circles (2008). They are currently working on a second album which should be available the summer of 2011.
Free Grass Union is known around the north east music festival circuit for their late night camp-fire jam sessions. They have been known to regularily play until the sun comes up. Many promoters hire them for the ambiance their acoustic stylings bring to the camp sites. Author and musician, Patrick McAnulty, from the music magazine, Upstate LIVE, stated "... a New York music festival isn't a music festival without a Free Grass Union campfire."
By constantly gaining the attention of new followers, the audience never knows what to expect when they hear Free Grass Union's music. Brian Ferdman of Relix magazine was blown away by Free Grass Union's performance, when he heard them in New York City. In his article he stated, "Free Grass Union was very impressive. I was not at all expecting a bass-mandolin-guitar trio with serious pickers who could harmonize well. These guys were picking with speed and skill, and they weren't restricted to bluegrass, pulling out a little jazz and a little Latin, as well as Peter Rowan's "Free Mexican Airforce." I was honestly quite surprised that a band this good from long Island has been flying under the radar, and any grass/acoustic fans on this list would really love these guys."
Discography
* Gamblin' Man (2006)
* Circles (2008)
* Live at Sterling String Fling (2010)
* Live at Fadley's (2010)
* Live on Long Island (2010)
Single Releases
* Circles (2008)

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