The Sunset Bluegrass Band has been around since 1996.  The group started out as a bunch of guys who got together at Pete’s place on Thursday evenings for a jam session.   One evening, Pete got a phone call from his friend Annie. Annie ran a little restaurant and wanted to put on an evening with a coffee house atmosphere which included music and poetry.  The band that she had hired for that evening canceled out at the last minute.  In desperation, she called Pete and asked if the guys would be willing to play that evening.  Up until that time, the group had never performed outside of Pete’s living room.  However, after discussing the proposal, we thought, “Why not?”  

 

The group performed for the coffee house and was a smashing success.  That evening someone asked us what we called ourselves. Our reply was that we didn’t call ourselves anything.  However, when we got an invitation to play a repeat performance for the next coffee house. We came up with the name “Sunset” and the Sunset Bluegrass Band was born.

 

Since Annie’s coffee houses, band members have come and gone. However, "the band played on" and has been enjoyed at numerous engagements which included performances at private parties, civic events, festivals, picnics, trade shows and coffee houses throughout  N. Y. State. We have appeared for several seasons at Arrowhead Park in Inlet, NY in the Adirondacks and enjoyed 12 seasons as Artists in Residents at Allegany State Park. Other notable appearances included the Ellicotville Birdwalk BG Festival, the Rushford Bluegrass Festival and several appearances at the Erie County Fair.

 

The Sunset Bluegrass Band performs a variety of acoustic music in the bluegrass format. The band currently consists of band leader Pete Mirando (banjo, mandolin and vocals), Bill Hedderich (guitar and vocals), Damon Beiter (mandolin and vocals) and Julio “Butch” O’Brien bass and vocals).

 

We have a band that we believe is fun and entertaining to listen to.  Our band members are all accomplished and enthusiastic bluegrass musicians who enjoy performing for an audience who appreciates and enjoys bluegrass, folk and country music.