The Hard Road Trio motors west to join forces with Berkeley’s own banjo master Bill Evans for an evening of original songs rooted in bluegrass and American traditional music. The trio features Steve Smith on mandolin, mandola, guitar, and vocals, Chris Sanders on guitar and vocals, and Anne Luna on bass and vocals. The website audiophilereview.com praises the trio’s “perfect harmonies,” and the blog Wandering Educators applauds their “sense of connection and joy, both in the music and in the sharing of it.” Steve, who grew up in Virginia, has been performing for nearly 30 years, including stints with the Alan Munde Gazette and guitarist extraordinaire Jim Hurst. Chris, a Minnesota transplant who now lives in Las Cruces, New Mexico, toured with the Concordia Choir, played in various bands in Colorado and the Bay Area, and currently teaches voice at the University of Texas at El Paso. Anne, a New Mexico native, has played with April Verch, Spring Creek Bluegrass, Kenny Maines, and Alan Munde. The trio has recorded three albums, including their latest, Monticello – named for Monticello, New Mexico, where it was recorded. Two-time Grammy nominee Claire Lynch praises the album for its “rich tones, colorful stories, heartfelt sentiment, and excellent musicianship,” and Freight favorite Tom Russell says, “This fine CD reminds me of the raw and colorful beauty of the New Mexico landscape.”

Bill Evans has been playing music with Steve Smith since the 1980s, when they were both in the Virginia-based band Cloud Valley with bassist Missy Raines. In the past year, Bill has appeared on A Prairie Home Companion and performed all across the United States and in England. His album In Good Company topped international folk and bluegrass charts and made numerous “Best of 2012” lists. In addition to hosting the popular All-Star Bangers & Grass series in Kensington, Bill recently played at the Freight with David Bromberg. He also directs the Jazzschool Bluegrass Ensemble.

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