Big Fat Gap profile picture

Big Fat Gap

Debut CD: A Brief History of the Big Fat Gap

About Me



____________________________________________________________ ______________ This highly anticipated debut album features the reverse chronological recording history of Big Fat Gap, a dynamic North Carolina-based bluegrass band with some of the top musical talent in America. The young musicians in Big Fat Gap have been performing across the United States for over 6 years and built a reputation for powerful live performances. Their debut record provides a brief history of their music through three recording sessions. The album begins with Big Fat Gap’s most recent spring of 2006 recording session with Jerry Brown at the Rubber Room, where Doc Watson, Jack Lawrence, and Sam Bush have recorded. The next session showcases their studio work with Michael Holland during the fall of 2004. The album finishes with Big Fat Gap’s first recording session with Michael Holland during the summer of 2004. ____________________________________________________________ ______________ Members of Big Fat Gap have performed with Larry Keel & Natural Bridge, Chris Thile, Tony Trischka, John Cowan, Darol Anger, Jim Lauderdale, Jeff Autry, Wayne Benson, Craig Bignell, Luke Bulla, Pat Flynn, the Steep Canyon Rangers, the Biscuit Burners, Bill Evans (Miles Davis), and John McLaughlin (Mahavishnu Orchestra). Big Fat Gap’s two banjo players, Andy Thorn and Ryan Cavanaugh, have won the Rocky Grass and Merlefest banjo competitions; Andy Thorn (2003 Rocky Grass) and Ryan Cavanaugh, (2004 Rocky Grass and 2004 Merlefest). Big Fat Gap banjo player Ryan Cavanaugh is now being featured as Béla Fleck’s replacement with Bill Evans and Soulgrass. ____________________________________________________________ _______________ Big Fat Gap is named after one of the few remaining stands of old growth virgin forest located in Joyce Kilmer Wilderness in Graham County near the North Carolina-Tennessee border. Big Fat Gap features Miles Andrews on guitar and lead vocals, Chris Heaney on mandolin, Andy Thorn (Larry Keel & Natural Brigde) on Banjo and baritone vocals, Ryan Cavanaugh (Bill Evans and SoulGrass) on banjo, Rick Hauchman on guitar and tenor vocals, Bobby Britt (Open Road) and John Garris (McGraw Gap) on fiddles, Jon Stickley (Biscuit Burners) on Guitar, Mandolin, and Tenor Vocals, and Robert Mitchener and Michael Holland alternating on upright bass and harmony vocals. ____________________________________________________________ _____________"The Big Fat Gap is the band currently bringing high energy bluegrass to the Chapel Hill scene. This collection of material which combines hard driving instrumentals with heartfelt songs captures the essence of their powerful live performances. Following the tradition of the Red Clay Ramblers, the New Deal String Band, and the Green Valley Ramblers, the music pours straight from the heart." --Tony Williamson, Mandolin Central ____________________________________________________________ _____________"The encountered yelping, hooting and hollering would have been absolutely ridiculous at any other public event but this was a "Big Fat Gap" concert. Such carrying on was not only entertaining but I insist that it was thoroughly necessary. During one amazing fiddle solo, a grown man yelled at the top of his lungs, "Get on it!" I took that to be a cheer of satisfaction and encouragement and thought nothing of it."--Warren Hynson, The Technician ____________________________________________________________ _______________ "One of the first bands to take the stage was local all-star bluegrass troupe Big Fat Gap. Celebrating the release of their first CD, the band includes numerous musicians who've gone on to light up other bands including Bill Evan's Soulgrass, Larry Keel's Natural Bridge and The Biscuit Burners. Tearing through their down home, back porch music with precise abandon, their set balanced perfectly on the wobbly edge of fierce musicianship and laidback song craft."--Paul Kerr, Jambase, May 07

Get your UNC Myspace Layout
provided by UNC Toolbar

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 3/28/2005
Band Website: bigfatgap.com
Band Members: Miles Andrews, guitar & lead; Chris Heaney, mandolin; Andy Thorn, banjo & baritone; Robert Mitchener & Michael Holland alternating on bass & harmony vocals; Bobby Britt and John Garris, fiddles; Rick Hauchman, guitar & tenor______________________Extended BFG Family: Jon Stickley, guitar; Ryan Cavanaugh, banjo; Joe Troop, banjo and fiddle; Rex McGee, fiddle; Tony Williamson, mandolin_______________________Founding Members: Miles Andrews, guitar; Chris Heaney, mandolin; John Templeton, banjo; Lee Bidgood, fiddle
Influences: Steep Canyon Rangers, Tony Williamson, John Garris, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Larry Sparks, Mountain Heart, Bill Monroe.
Sounds Like: Big Fat Gap
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Tuesdays this fall at Armadillo Grill

Just wanted to let everyone know we'll be doing a weekly gig on tues. nights at the armadillo grill in carrboro. The time is from 6-9 PM so get some food and beer and join us in the upstairs bar for ...
Posted by Big Fat Gap on Fri, 31 Aug 2007 07:24:00 PST

Big Fat Gap on iTunes

Hey y'all we're on iTunes now! Go to the Music Store homepage at iTunes and do a search on Big Fat Gap.  If you get the hankering write a review of our debut album for the world to see.  ...
Posted by Big Fat Gap on Thu, 01 Feb 2007 08:15:00 PST

Debut CD Release Party

Our CD will be released ahead of schedule and we're going to celebrate by making our annual holiday show at Tyler's Speakeasy a CD release party.  Copies of our CD will also be available exclusiv...
Posted by Big Fat Gap on Wed, 06 Dec 2006 11:23:00 PST

Dec. 1st Cat's Cradle Show Review in NCSU's The Technician

Appreciating the bluegrass experience Warren Hynson Issue date: 12/4/06 Section: Viewpoint   Generally, I tend to not get very excited about things such as heritage, history and tradition. I fin...
Posted by Big Fat Gap on Tue, 05 Dec 2006 04:26:00 PST

New website

We are working with a very talented web designer to give our old web-site a face-lift.  As you may have noticed our old site is somewhat of a fossil and with the help of a great site designer we'...
Posted by Big Fat Gap on Wed, 29 Nov 2006 08:57:00 PST

Debut Album--A Brief History of the Big Fat Gap

Our debut album,  A Brief History of the Big Fat Gap, is being pressed as we speak and will be released in about 3 weeks.  We are very excited about this self-produced project.  Th...
Posted by Big Fat Gap on Wed, 29 Nov 2006 08:52:00 PST

WUNC's the State of Things with Frank Stasio

Last Friday before the Carolina Inn we were guests on WUNC's the State of Things, hosted by Frank Stasio.  You can hear our live interview and performance of 3 songs from our upcoming album here:...
Posted by Big Fat Gap on Fri, 08 Sep 2006 10:26:00 PST

American Airlines American Way In-Flight Magazine Article

Hey y'all check out the great article on Michael Holland and Big Fat Gap in American Airlines June issue of the in-flight magazine, American Way.  http://www.folkbomb.com/artist_package.pdf Hi...
Posted by Big Fat Gap on Tue, 23 May 2006 09:29:00 PST

Diamonds in the gap

Here's an article that the Independent Weekly (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, NC) ran on us (www.indyweek.com).  Talk to y'all soon.  BFG. Diamonds in the Gap In addition to ...
Posted by Big Fat Gap on Wed, 04 Jan 2006 01:10:00 PST