Old Circle came together as a group fairly recently… Late July of ’07 to be exact. The four of them have been friends for many years, and have shared the stage with each other in various configurations throughout the span of their bluegrass careers. With everyone in the band being on the same page idealistically, the conglomerated chemistry of the individual members coalesce perfectly as a unit displaying the passion they have for the bluegrass music.
Old Circle knows what the bluegrass music is, and how it’s supposed to be presented. Collectively, they present a raw taste of traditional bluegrass music that has roots steeped in the tradition of the bluegrass Masters from the 40's, 50’s and 60’s. They provide a glimpse of an era gone bye with the way they approach bluegrass music from the stage. The band's influences are exemplified by the way they dress, their professionalism, their stage presence, their “drive,†and a straight ahead interpretation of the bluegrass. If you want a fancy band that plays "glitsy," plays too many notes, and real fancy, then Old Circle might not be for you! But if you’re looking for paint peeling, in-your-face, honest-to-goodness, foot stompin', bluegrass music played by REAL people, for REAL people, then this four piece ensemble will please you to no end!
Dennis Berck - Rhythm Guitar/lead & harmony vocals ~ Dennis hails from Omaha, Nebraska, and currently calls Eugene, his home. He has an eclectic musical background that encompasses rock & roll and jazz. Dennis is a veteran of Russ T. Axe, the Knott Brothers, The Berck-Pearce Band, McKenzie Crossing, and the Green Mountain Bluegrass Band. Dennis aptly sings tenor, high baritone, and lead in the ensemble; he can sing harmony to dog whistle! Dennis’ strong rhythm guitar and superb singing are an integral part of this band’s unique sound. When Dennis isn’t picking and grinning, he repairs fretted instruments for a living. Every now and then, Dennis will pop into the Tuesday night bluegrass jam at Sam Bond's Garage.
Nikki Clevenger - Bass and Vocals ~ Nikki was born in the Army and spent the first part of her life as an Army Brat and then an Army Wife. She started playing guitar in high school starting with folk, avoiding rock and roll, then went right into bluegrass. She has played bass for the Barley Brothers, Prairie Flyer, Zach Driscoll & 3/4 Time, and the Emerald Valley Boys. She is also a past board member of the Oregon Bluegrass Association and the Inland Bluegrass Association. Nikki leaves no doubt where the down-beat is. Hard driving is an understatement. She is a multi-instrumentalist more likely to be seen playing fiddle in a jam these days.
Clyde Clevenger - Mandolin and Vocals ~ Clyde hails from Texas and is very happy to be FROM Texas. Being a multi-instrumentalist, Clyde started playing guitar and singing in high school. He went from folk to rock to country to bluegrass in just a few years. After playing in a number of folk, rock and country bands Clyde joined the Union Hill Bluegrass Boys in 1978. He has played with numerous bluegrass bands since then, including Gordon Mitchel and Scott, Cowboy Clyde and the Bluegrass Allstars, The Clevenger Family Band, Blue River, Zach Driscoll & 3/4 Time, and the Emerald Valley Boys. His "been there, done that" voice gets right to the meat of Bluegrass. Play hard or stay home would discribe his mandolin playing, a perfect match for "Chainsaw's" hard driving banjo. No Fluff.
Chuck (Chainsaw) Holloway - 5-String banjo/lead & harmony vocals ~ Chuck (nicknamed "chainsaw" because of his aggressive playing style) was born and raised in Southern California. His earliest recollections of bluegrass music stem from listening to WSM and the Grand Ol’ Opry back in the 50’s when his family lived in Kansas. Chuck is a multi-instrumentalist. He started playing guitar in the 60’s, but is currently most comfortable playing the 5 string banjo. He is a former president of the Oregon Bluegrass Association. He has played with a plethora of regional bluegrass musicians. Chuck has played with Oregon bands: Cold Thunder, Blue River, Russ T. Axe, the Emerald Valley Boys, Zach Driscoll & 3/4 Time, the Cascade Colonels, and the Green Mountain Bluegrass Band. He has made cameo appearances with Peter Rowan, and Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum. From 1999 through 2004, Chuck was a radio DJ for KRVM. There he programmed, and broadcast three hours of bluegrass music on the "Miles of Bluegrass" show every Monday night. Chuck’s traditional bluegrass music roots keep the band steeped in a traditional sound. When he’s not performing, he teaches guitar, mandolin, and 5 string banjo at the John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts in Eugene, OR. Twelve years ago, Chuck founded the Tuesday night bluegrass jam at Sam Bond's Garage in Eugene, OR. You can see him there, picking away on his five string, most Tuesday nights.
