Something From Nothing

The name of the Retread Bluegrass Band refers to the fact that at one time, “everyone in the band had been retired and around the block a few times,” according to founder Dave Seagram.

Although changes in personnel have added fresh and younger players to the bluegrass outfit, the band also has generated something of a following in its six years, so the name has stuck.

“It’s a little corny,” Seagram said, “but that’s what we have.”

The band also has a passion for traditional bluegrass. Although its members have been hard at work producing its debut CD, hoping for a release within the coming year, its performance Saturday at Pyramid Hill likely will be concentrated on standards and some traditional tunes not quite so familiar.

Members of the band include Oxford resident and luthier Bruce Clark on bass, transplanted Canadian Dan Cozens on banjo, guitarist Eric Lawrence and fiddler Vince Phelan, who also is a classically trained violinist and a member of the Middletown Symphony and the Cincinnati Ballet Orchestra.

Although Seagram said that apart from Phelan the band is “semi-professional,” Retread maintains a busy performance schedule and has played at Oxford’s Harpin’ and Pickin’ Festival, on the Red Barn Radio Show in Lexington, Ky., and will soon be one of the featured performers at the Sauerkraut Festival in Waynesville.