Old School Freight Train (OSFT) is a Charlottesville, Virginia-based band that combines bluegrass, jazz, Latin, and Celtic sounds to create their music.

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Successes

The band's self-named debut CD Old School Freight Train was met with considerable acclaim. Relix magazine, included them in their "Artists Too New to Know" series in May 2005. Daniel Gewertz of the Boston Herald called them: "The most talented young string band in the land . ." ^[1]

Mandolin master David Grisman heard their music in the Fall of 2004 and invited them record at his Dawg Studios in Mill Valley, California. He manned the production and recording himself with the help of Dave Dennison. From these sessions came Run , OSFT's second CD and their first for Acoustic Disc, Grisman's acclaimed independent label. He says of the experience:

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They have backed David Grisman as his band on several tours in 2005 and 2006. They opened for Merle Haggard May 3, 2006 at the Charlottesville Pavilion. ^[3] They were co-billed with King Wilkie at the Starr Hill Music Hall in Charlottesville, Virginia November 15, 2006. They played at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC on September 23, 2006.

The band's tour schedule has included the Newport Folk Festival, MerleFest, Wintergrass, the Strawberry Music Fest. They appeared at the Menokin bluegrass festival in Warsaw, VA for the third time. ^[4] They were added to the 2007 Stagecoach Festival in Indio, CA with a lineup including Lucinda Williams, Willie Nelson, Neko Case, Alan Jackson, George Strait and many more. ^[5]

Their latest effort, Six Years , was released officially March 17, 2009.

Sound

Tim Dickinson, National Affairs Correspondent, Rolling Stone said of the group's sound:

"Shades of Jack Johnson, Ben Harper... even a kiss of Van Morrison. With Not Like The Others, Old School Freight Train is off on a timeless new track, blending roots and rock to create a sound that's all their own."

Relix magazine, including OSFT in their "Artists Too New to Know" series in May 2005, described their playing as:

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Daniel Gewertz of the Boston Herald noted:

". . they finesse everything from breakneck bluegrass and seductive, sinuous Gypsy jazz to a dynamic, grassed-up version of Stevie Wonder's 'Superstition.' There are even brief side-trips to Ireland and Latin America. This Virginia-based Freight Train hurtles along the Roots revival

—"Boston Herald"/>

David Grisman, who recorded their album Run on his independent label, said:

"Acoustic Disc"/>

In his review of their new album (released March 17, 2009) John Borgmeyer said in C-VILLE:

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Personnel

Old School Freight Train is made up of the vocals and songwriting talent of guitarist Jesse Harper, the mandolin stylings of Pete Frostic, the fiddling of Nate Leath, backbone upright bass of Darrell Muller, and drumming of Nick Falk.

Former members have included Ann Marie Calhoun (née Simpson) on the fiddle, and Ben Krakauer on banjo, both of Walker's Run fame. Ann Marie has gone on to further success performing with Jethro Tull and Steve Vai, as well as Ringo Starr. She was also the "My GRAMMY Moment 2008" winner on the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards, chosen to perform with the Foo Fighters live.

Discography

• Old School Freight Train (2002), Courthouse Records – ASIN: B000083GLJ
• Pickin' on John Mayer: A Bluegrass Tribute (2003), Various Artists CMH Records
• Pickin' on Wilco: Casino Side (2004), CMH Records – ASIN: B000294ROE
• Run (2005), Acoustic Disc – ASIN: B00080Z66K
• Pickin' on Coldplay: A Bluegrass Tribute (2005), Various Artists CMH Records – ASIN: B00070Q886
• Pickin' on John Mayer Vol. 2 (2005), Various Artists CMH Records
• Live in Ashland (2006) – ASIN: B000WGX6LM
• Six Years (2009) Red Distribution — ASIN: B001QWEE3A

Articles, reviews, interviews

• Issue #21.11 :: 03/17/2009 - 03/23/2009, ""; review by John Borgmeyer.
• by Rudi Greenberg, posted May 27, 2008 Express.
• biography IMN World.
• "Old School Freight Train: Not a 1-way ticket" Lancaster New Era published: Jul 26, 2007.

Notes

1. http://www.bostonherald.com/ Boston Herald
2. http://www.dawgnet.com/ Acoustic Disc
3. Charlottesville Pavilion Official Site.
4. http://www.menokinbluegrass.com Menokin Bluegrass
5. http://stagecoachfestival.com/ Stage Coach Festival
6. ''Relix Artists Too New to Know'' May 5, 2005 Relix.
7. C-VILLE Issue #21.11 :: 03/17/2009 - 03/23/2009, "Freight Train jumps the track: Six Years; Old School Freight Train"; review by John Borgmeyer.