Formed in 2015, RiverBend takes their name from the area between Missouri and Southern Illinois where the Mississippi River makes a sharp bend before again heading south. With soaring vocal harmonies and blazing instrumentation, the group prides themselves on the performance and preservation of Traditional Bluegrass music based on the styles of Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys, The Stanley Brothers, Red Allen, and others. If you are seeking an authentic “true grass” experience that harkens back to the founders of the genre, you don’t want to miss this concert. As an extra bonus, the band will be unveiling their greatly anticipated new CD, “Wild Mountain Honey”. Aaron Muskopf (guitar and vocals), originally from Waterloo, IL, is a multi-instrumentalist that started his music career in his early teens by playing with various groups throughout the Midwest. Before joining RiverBend, he was the bassist and vocalist for St. Louis based bluegrass band Cumberland Gap. Andy Novara (mandolin, vocals) is a multi-instrumentalist originally from Jamestown ND, currently residing in St. Louis, MO and plays hot Monroe-style mandolin in this group. He began playing at an early age and has played venues as disparate as the New York City Jazz Festival and the Station Inn by way of Nashville, Tennessee. When not gigging or touring, he can be found teaching at the Folk School of KDHX. Originally from Southern Illinois, Kris Shewmake (banjo, vocals) began playing banjo at age 16. Over the years since then, he has become a very versatile musician who incorporates a wide range of styles and techniques into his playing, developing his technique and music career over the years in Colorado, Tennessee, and Missouri. He has played in several bands including: Lazy-Joe, Foggy Memory Boys, & The River Ramblers before becoming a founding member of RiverBend. Originally from St. Louis, MO, Will Miskall (bass, vocals) is a multi-instrumentalist and long-time veteran of the St. Louis bluegrass scene. In RiverBend, Will is known for his down rock-solid bass lines and high lonesome tenor, which make him an integral part of the RiverBend sound. Before RiverBend, Will played in a number of St. Louis bands, including The Local Gents, Wayward Mountaineers, Gateway Ramblers, The Foggy Memory Boys, and The Grits.
*Focal Point Friends of Old Time Music Series
For more information, email Judy Stein at
| Event Date | 03-19-2022 8:00 pm |
| Location | Focal Point |