Banjo player, tunesmith, and band leader David Lovett

David started off playing bluegrass and melodic three-finger banjo in the early 1970s, then discovered the old-time clawhammer banjo style of North Carolina, and now plays all of the above, along with a little guitar. For the past ten years or so he has been putting together bands, including the Back Porch Rockers and the Atomic City Rhythm Rascals. He writes original tunes and songs in traditional styles.

David has performed in 19 states at folk festivals, dance weekends, fairs, and hundreds of dances and weddings. Current projects include the Feral Brothers, Grinning Deer String Band, and New Lost Weasel Concern. He is also a member of Mountain Soul, which performs open-minded bluegrass and folk music throughout East Tennessee and beyond.

David toured with University of Tennessee Theatre's Appalachian Shakespeare Project, in which he played onstage for a bluegrass adaptation of “As You Like It.” He performed in the Word Players production of “Cottonpatch Gospel” in Knoxville’s Bijou Theatre. Television appearances include the live kick-off show for Nine Counties One Vision at the Tennessee Theatre. He has played on live radio for stations including WNCW and the award-winning WDVX, among others.

David hails from North Carolina where he started playing in old-time square dance bands in the mid-1970s. His explorations of goosebump-raising music have led to such ensembles as the Fruit Eating Bears (with P.J. O'Connell, who just recorded a CD with NRBQ), the Burlap Underground (with Chris Durman and John Parrott), Alaric & the Smoky Mountain Visigoths, Deep Fried Possum (with Sarah Pirkle and Rick Wolfe), and the Back Porch Rockers (who released a CD on Grinning Deer and were voted Knoxville’s Best Bluegrass Band two years running).

David and his wife Ellen live in Knoxville, Tennessee. They have two grown sons. He operates Grinning Deer Music Company, an acoustic-oriented recording studio.

David's Performance Schedule — 2005

Biography (pdf) (html)

High-Resolution Photos

Press Releases

3/11/05 David Lovett & Friends Release New Album (pdf)

As The Crow Flies
He Be G.B.
Mariner’s Fling
Old Hooky
Over The Mountain
Two Steps Back
Walland Gap

1. I played in college in the Fruit Eating Bears with P.J. O’Connell.
2. O’Connell recently recorded an album with backing tracks by NRBQ, including Joey Stampinato.
(Joey also married the sister of the stepfather of Jason Krekel, who Cailen Campbell and I used to gig with. And the Bears opened for NRBQ in 1979.)
3. Joey played bass on a documentary about Chuck Berry, alongside Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones.

1. I played at a wedding ceremony along with Peter Rowan. (Chris Durman and I played the processional and recessional, and Peter played a song in the middle.)
2. Peter played in Old and In The Way with Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead.
Peter also played with Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys from 1964 to 1967, and with the band Muleskinner which also included Clarence White of the Byrds.
3. Bill Monroe had numerous great musicians in his band, including the legendary Earl Scruggs.