THE STELLANOVAS

The Stellanovas is what we called ourselves for over ten years during which time we focused mainly on vintage jazz styles. We may still invoke that name from time to time when we’re performing as a bigger band or if we’re playing a more specifically jazz-oriented show.
Video of the Stellanovas’ 30-Minute-Music-Hour video on WI Public TV

 

GRAMINY

We are founding members of this award-winning “class-grass” quintet that plays all original music. It’s a bluegrass / old-timey / klezmer / jazz / classical group with a string trio at its’ core — violin, viola, cello, with the addition of mandolin and guitar and sometimes claw-hammer banjo. Graminy mostly plays concerts at performing arts centers and concert series, but is always on the lookout for other interesting concert settings. Also available for private events as well as clinics and workshops (performance, improvisation and composition. www.graminy.net

 

THE MOON GYPSIES

Gaines and Wagoner started The Moon Gypsies with award-winning singer-songwriter, Robert J. Conaway, in 1998, releasing two albums of original material, “The Moon Gypsies” and “Slip”.  We still perform a few times a year as a trio or larger band at clubs and festivals. www.robertj.com

 

BIG BANG STRING THING

Acoustic trio with our friend and master mandolin and guitar-player, Bob Westfall. Many may remember our days as The Bob Westfall Band with drummer, Tom Ellis, or percussionist, Pauli Ryan, or guitarist, Micah Olsan. Bluegrass to Newgrass, Folk to Jazz, Latin to Irish. On temporary hiatus while we’re all pursuing other musical ventures, BBST will spring back into action again, we’re sure!

 

MAD TOAST LIVE

was a music and talk show produced and hosted by Gaines and Wagoner (that’s us) from 2009-2015 featuring music and conversation with musicians of all styles and from near and far, including a few major national and international artists in front of a  live studio audience. A regular feature of MTL was having us sitting in for a few tunes with our guests. Mad Toast Live episodes were recorded, mixed and mastered by our amazing technical producer, Andy LaValley (Bear Sound) and the prerecorded shows were broadcast from Madison’s WORT 89.9FM, our local listener-sponsored community radio station. We’d love to bring MTL back someday, but would need to secure regular sponsors…hint, hint. There are still almost 300 episodes online! Check it out at www.madtoastlive.com

 

LA BOHEME STRING TRIO

performs classical, folk, jazz, pop and ragtime (think garden party circa 1920) at select events. Cello + 2 violins or violin & viola and the occasional mandolin, guitar, accordion or ukulele. Bach to Beatles, Mozart to Monk, Bill Bailey to Bill Monroe, Scott Joplin to Janis Joplin….OK, that may be a bit of a stretch. For audio samples go to www.thestellanovas.com and click on STRING TRIO

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Gaines & Wagoner also perform with:

 

RANDY SABIEN

 

Chris and Mary join hard-swinging fiddler, Randy Sabien, for a few fun shows a year, so watch for us! Chris also occasionally joins Randy’s “Fiddlehead Band” featuring a three-fiddle front lineup and rotating stellar cast of band-mates. www.randysabien.com

 

JOSH HARTY

 

One of the Midwest’s hardest working singer-songwriters, Josh is most often leaving for a tour to Europe, on tour somewhere or returning home for just a few days or weeks before heading back out on the road. Fortunately for us, we occasionally get to join him onstage and on recordings.  www.joshharty.com