Meet the members of Mountin' Weasels, one of Ontario's premiere bands, who entertain with a mix of new and traditional Bluegrass.
Willy Weasel
Willy is a rabid promoter of bluegrass, especially through his written concert reviews and photography for the Ottawa Valley Bluegrass Music Association, as well as being one of the club's bestest Directors. When not hard at work at work, the Willy weasel can be found working hardly on his 23 acre weasel ranch on the outskirts of Ottawa.Willy plays guitar and mandolin and "owns a banjo." He also has a leg-hold on lead and harmony vocals, and is also the Promotions Director for the band.
Steve Weasel
Steve, master of all things bluegrass, has played banjo, and (retired) dobro in several Ontario based Bluegrass bands, thereby adequately demonstrating his inability to hold a job. Not to brag, but he is the 2002 runner-up Central Canadian Dobro Player of the Year. Of course, he quite appropriately plays Bass or Banjo with the Weasels... Ever the shy weasel, 'the Ol' Wolverine' spends most of his spare time in the deep woods of Ontario; he is considered quite the hunter and fisher. He is also the band Gofer; but has a bad habit of gofering for somethering and never returnering...
Cyril Weasel
After a 10 year break from the festival scene Cyril started attending regularly again in the late '90's spending many late nights jamming with friends. He played for several years in Highwater, a band he co-founded in 2001. Cyril does a lot of writing for the band and more than a couple of his songs have already worked their way onto the set lists. He plays a 1959 Martin D-18, and he plays it well, if we do say so...and we do.
Bill Weasel
Bill has played in several renowned and highly respected bands - bands who were at the top of promoter's lists across Canada and northeastern United States - including Blue Mule and Hardwood. Not only does Bill keep the band on time with his award winning rock-steady bass work, he is also indispensably gifted with strong vocal skills that he puts to excellent use on several lead vocals and tenor harmonies that he sings with the Weasels.Bill works as a Class 'A' mechanic in Kingston, lives to fish, and makes his home in Verona, Ontario (on beautiful Hardwood Creek) - just north of Kingston on highway #38, where he lives with his wife Sharon, and daughters Kelly and Casey.
Bruce Weasel
Bruce plays dobro and guitar, and is the 2002 second runner-up Central Canadian Dobro Player of the Year. What are the chances!? Home is in Kemptville, south of Ottawa, where he lives with his wife Linda, surrounded by many guitars, dobros, mandolins, and classic cars.
Bruce Compton. 2005 Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards Dobro Player of the Year! Congratulations Bruce!
Darwin Weasel
Another country weasel originally from the hinterlands of the Ottawa Valley of Ontario, now making his home in Stittsville. He once played in a pop band as a full time job 23 years ago, but grew up listening to Bluegrass. He rediscovered the mighty Bluegrass at the Palmer Rapids Twin Festival (10 years ago) and never looked back!An electronics hardware designer by day, he wants to make $1,000,000 playing Bluegrass music by night.Sings lead and harmony vocals, and plays rhythm and lead guitar (...so much for the $1,000,000.00........).
Lisa Weasel
The newest member of the band, Lisa has been listening to bluegrass music all her life, and has now stepped into the limelight. After forming her own high-school bluegrass band in 2005, she sat in with the Weasels at a benefit concert, and hasn't stopped her steady climb to world-wide bluegrass band domination since. She plays guitar and upright bass.Guest Weasels
Sherry Weasel
A country weasel, originally from the thriving metropolis of Palmer Rapids, Ontario, the Sherry weasel now makes her home just west of Ottawa in a small community called Arnprior. A quiet weasel, she never-the-less is entirely capable of making quite a racket as she rakes her nails across the calfskin of her 5-string banjo. She also sings lead and harmony vocals at the drop of a hat. Making her debut on the bluegrass scene, Sherry was a mainstay at the local jam sessions and festival jams. She joined the Weasels and immediately gained numerous fans, fabulous wealth, and near-stardom. So much so that she decided to start her own band (yes!), Concession 23, whom you can visit if you decide you really need to.
Nick Weasel
The Nick weasel is something of a Roads Scholar as he winds his way from his comfy home in the hinterlands of Gatineau to his place of work in the Nation's Capital. Equally at home on both guitar and mandolin and banjo, the Nick weasel is capable of ferreting out even the most difficult melody instumentally-wise, as well as vocally. He too plays in Concession 23.
Chris Weasel
Chris Barkley of Handsome Molly sits in at Rasputins in Ottawa. Chris plays dobro and guitar, and he is the 2002 third runner-up Central Canadian Dobro Player of the Year. Yep, three nominated Dobro players (in the same year) playing in the same band.