Name: 33 String Drive
Address: 79 Pine Street, Ashland, Oregon, 97520, US
Telephone: 541-488-0178

About 33 String Drive

33 String Drive is a six-piece Bluegrass/Americana band from Southern Oregon that includes fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar, Dobro and upright bass. Members include some of the most seasoned players in the area including Bob Evoniuk on Dobro and Jeffery Jones on mandolin, both founding members of Foxfire, Siskiyou Summit of course, 33 SD. On banjo is Rick Nelson also a founding member of Siskiyou Summit and of the Rogue Valley Bluegrass Boys. On fiddle is the amazing, Jessie Watson who will delight you with her Bluegrass style on fiddle and harmony singing. On the upright bass is Holly Hurley who has a voice that will give you chills and finally, on guitar is Kevin Andras, who's a well-known fixture in the Northern California music scene. Kevin's guitar playing and singing adds the Drive in the 33 Strings arrangements. 33 String Drive’s vocal harmony singing is second to none! This is no “jam band!” This is a professional group that focuses on tight vocal harmonies, intricate instrumental arrangements and most of all, entertainment!

33 String Drive is available for festivals, wineries,

concerts, weddings, and private parties. Please call 541-488-0178 or email us by clicking on Let's Chat!

Jessie Watson

Jessie Watson grew up in Santa Fe, NM. She started playing violin at age 5, studying both classical violin and Scottish fiddle. She studied intensively through her teens, playing as first chair and concert soloist in the Santa Fe Youth Symphony, as well as fiddling for Scottish Country Dances and Celtic festivals and attending Alasdair Fraser’s Scottish Fiddle Camp annually. Jessie moved to Ashland in 2000 to attend Southern Oregon University. At the time her passions were Spanish, Salsa dancing, and travel and though she did get a minor in music from SOU (along with a BA in Spanish language and literature), her joy for playing the violin had long since dwindled and she eventually quit completely. Fifteen years later, Jessie’s daughter insisted on learning to play the fiddle and started taking lessons with Duane Whitcomb at Creekside Strings. One thing led to another and soon Jessie had rediscovered fiddle music. Fast forward to the present and Jessie now lives and breathes music. She is an instructor for Creekside Strings, and teaches fiddle 5 days a week to children, teens, and adults, and co-teaches two weeks of fiddle camp in Lithia Park every summer. Jessie started playing bluegrass fiddle in 2016 with the band Waking Hazel, and in 2022 became a founding member of the Rosalees, an all-female bluegrass band. She joined 33 String Drive in January of 2024 and is excited to see how the band will help her bluegrass fiddling flourish.

Holly Hurley

Crooning bass player!

Holly was raised in Newberg, OR, in a musical family who supported music of all kinds. She grew up dabbling on a variety of Instruments including guitar, saxophone, mandolin, banjo and piano, and she grew up participating in school jazz bands and musical projects. Both of Holly’s parents are accomplished musicians for singing and songwriting, with a love specifically for country/bluegrass music.

Holly moved to the Rogue Valley in 2014 and in 2016 began playing upright bass. After attending community jams she played a short stint with Mixed Bag until joining the fierce talent of 33 String Drive. Holly is also currently a collaborator with local, all female bluegrass group, The Rosa Lees.

Jeffery Jones

Chop-master

Jeffery Jones, mandolin and vocals - Jeffery became a fixture in Pacific Northwest Bluegrass music soon after he arrived from upstate New York in 1979. He was a founding member of Fresh Cut Grass in Bend. As soon as he moved to Southern Oregon in 1984, became a founding member of progressive Bluegrass band, Foxfire along with Bob Evoniuk, Glenn Freese, Larry Bulaich and Leonard Sutton. Foxfire, know for their entertaining stage shows, toured the Northwest and eventually the U.S. and recorded four CDs.
After twelve years, Foxfire disbanded and Jeffery became a founding member of the band Siskiyou Summit. Siskiyou Summit was a mainstay of Northwest music scene performing at countless festivals and concert venues. For 17 years, Siskiyou Summit produced popular shows including, the music of “O Brother, Where Art Thou.” The band also recorded two CDs.
Jeffery and his son, Julian, began performing as a duet called Generation Jones as soon as Julian had a couple of sets of fiddle tunes under his belt. Generation Jones performed locally at galleries, pubs, wineries, festivals and parties for decades.
A prolific song-writer, in 2016 Jeffery recorded a solo CD “Way Beyond the Blue” which included twelve original songs. In 2018, Jeffery recorded his second solo CD “Wash My Body Down” that included ten original songs and later that year recorded a six-song EP of his original music with his band 33 String Drive.

Bob Evoniuk

Dobro genius

Bob Evoniuk grew up around the bluegrass hotbed of Northern Virginia near Washington DC at a time when many young musicians were discovering and immersing themselves in American roots music, bridging the gap between traditional and progressive forms of the bluegrass genre. As part of a burgeoning younger audience of fans influenced by the likes of Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, Peter Rowan and others, Bob’s interest quickly began to focus on the Dobro.

Bob‘s signature style of Dobro playing continued to develop when, in 1984, he co-founded the contemporary West Coast bluegrass band, Foxfire. The band enjoyed a 12-year stint, extensive touring and recorded five albums. More recently, a decade of performing with the Southern Oregon bluegrass band Siskiyou Summit, with whom he recorded two additional albums, was accompanied by side-projects with Borderline, One Horse Shy, LEFT and many other singer-songwriter collaborations. Being a member of 33 String Drive has re-united Bob with former bandmates from both Foxfire and Siskiyou Summit.

Rick Nelson

Mr. Banjo
Rick Nelson, aka: The Singing Brakeman or Mr. Banjo, was born and raised in Medford, Oregon. Rick joined first Bluegrass band while still in high school. In the Rogue Valley Bluegrass Boys, he played upright bass with his dad, Joe Nelson on mandolin, Ted Grant on banjo, and John Bevins on guitar. When John passed away, Rick switched to guitar until the end of that band in 1984. Rick played bass with the Rogue Valley band Alive & Pickin for two years. A versitle musician, Rick started playing the banjo and was quick to master the instrument, practicing every chance he could get - much to his wife’s chagrin. In 1986, the second version of Rogue Valley Bluegrass Boys was formed with Rick playing banjo. When Siskiyou Summit Bluegrass band was formed in 1999, Rick was tapped as its banjo player. His banjo playing was integral in the band’s sound and he wrote and recorded many of its songs. Rick’s banjo playing puts the DRIVE into 33 String Drive. Rick owned Nelson’s Brake and Alignment shop for 31 years, and retired in 2022. Thus the nickname, Singing Brakeman. In his spare time, Rick has seven children with his wife Candy, and still lives in Medford.

Kevin Andras

Kevin Andras has been playing acoustic and electric guitars for over 30 years. He has studied with masters of the acoustic guitar including Grant Gordy and David Grier, and spent countless hours in jam sessions. While most deeply versed in bluegrass music, he enthusiastically engages in jazz, rock, folk, and country music. He occasionally performs with his brother Kerry (Andras Brothers Band), and local Siskiyou County musicians (Whiskey Gulch). His banjo and guitar playing can be heard on Rogue Valley musician Bekkah McAlvage's album "Madrona". Kevin can often be found in his workshop building, repairing, and otherwise tinkering with instruments and amplifiers.

33 String Drive at Trium Wines
Fri, Sep 06
Talent
Sep 06, 2024, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Talent, 203 E Main St, Talent, OR 97540, USA
Sep 06, 2024, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Talent, 203 E Main St, Talent, OR 97540, USA
Very intimate winery in downtown Talent, Oregon. Delicious wines and food. Carmine is an amazing host and the back deck makes a wonderful, but small space to play. Reservations are advised. 203 E. Main Street, Talent, OR 97540 Phone: 541.625.9100 info@triumwines.com
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33 String Drive plays Dunbar Farms again!
Sat, Oct 12
Medford
Oct 12, 2024, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Medford, 2881 Hillcrest Rd, Medford, OR 97504, USA
Oct 12, 2024, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Medford, 2881 Hillcrest Rd, Medford, OR 97504, USA
We played at Dunbar Farms last year and had a great time! Delicious wines, salads and wood fired pizzas. Plus, just a great vibe and working farm setting. https://www.dunbarfarms.com/menu Table reservations are recommended (but not required) for our music events. (541) 203-0612 info@dunbarfarms.com
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33 String Drive, Infamous Stringdusters, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
Mon, Aug 05
Jacksonville
Aug 05, 2024, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Jacksonville, 350 S 1st St, Jacksonville, OR 97530, USA
Aug 05, 2024, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Jacksonville, 350 S 1st St, Jacksonville, OR 97530, USA
We are honored to open this great night of progressive Bluegrass music at Britt Festivals on August 5th! Get tickets : https://www.brittfest.org/performance/the-infamous-stringdusters-and-molly-tuttle-2/
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33 String Drive play Bayer Family Estate
Sat, Aug 03
Eagle Point
Aug 03, 2024, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Eagle Point, 11663 Agate Rd, Eagle Point, OR 97524, USA
Aug 03, 2024, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Eagle Point, 11663 Agate Rd, Eagle Point, OR 97524, USA
This event has been canceled!
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33 String Drive plays Dunbar Farms
Sat, Jul 13
Medford
Jul 13, 2024, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Medford, 2881 Hillcrest Rd, Medford, OR 97504, USA
Jul 13, 2024, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Medford, 2881 Hillcrest Rd, Medford, OR 97504, USA
We played at Dunbar Farms last year and had a great time! Delicious wines, salads and wood fired pizzas. Plus, just a great vibe and working farm setting. https://www.dunbarfarms.com/menu Table reservations are recommended (but not required) for our music events. (541) 203-0612 info@dunbarfarms.com
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Siskiyou Folk & Bluegrass Festival
Sat, Jun 29
Josephine County
Jun 29, 2024, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Josephine County, Lake Selmac, Oregon 97538, USA
Jun 29, 2024, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Josephine County, Lake Selmac, Oregon 97538, USA
The Rotary Club of the Illinois Valley is proud to present the Annual Siskiyou Folk and Bluegrass Festival Saturday June 29th, 2024 at Lake Selmac. 33 String Drive will close the show beginning at 5p.m. $5 parking fee and $20 for all day event available at the gate.
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33 String Drive to play at Dos Mariposas Vineyard
Fri, Jun 28
Medford
Jun 28, 2024, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Medford, 3976 Bellinger Ln, Medford, OR 97501, USA
Jun 28, 2024, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Medford, 3976 Bellinger Ln, Medford, OR 97501, USA
We love playing at Dos Mariposas, especially outside overlooking the pond and lavender fields. We hope to see you there on Friday, June 28th at 5:30p.m.
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Can't Buy Me Love

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29 Ways

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I'm Sorry

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33 String Drive reelin' in the years

33 String Drive has been fortunate to have some of the most talented musicians perform with us at some fun gigs throughout the years. Here's photos of some of them.

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About 33 String Drive

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Can't Buy Me Love

29 Ways

I'm Sorry

33 String Drive reelin' in the years

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