The Eclectics

The Eclectics are a bluegrass-based trio, playing old favorites, surprising bluegrass (covers of older pop and country), and original music. 

We are Phil Nusbaum - banjo and vocals; Nick Martin - fiddle and vocals; and John Bergquist - bass.

The trio is well-rehearsed and plays a great variety of song types. The focus is instrumental music, though we sing some good old songs, too. The Eclectics are equally at home in formal and casual performance situations. 

Entertaining and Informative
Phil Nusbaum is a long-time bluegrass and folk music radio host, a teacher, and has published many articles about bluegrass music. A professional communicator, Phil and the other Eclectics have created structured presentations that make performances more than a sequencing of songs. Or, if the situation is casual, the Eclectics are relaxed with improvising exchanges with audiences that keep the mood light, as we provide context about our songs appropriate to the situation.

Structured Performances and Performance Modules
Inside Bluegrass is a 1-hour program that informs audiences about putting together a bluegrass performance. It includes the roles of the instruments, weaving the blues into the music, providing musical variety and humor, and the importance of originality. This show is perfect for auditoriums and meeting rooms and has been successfully presented in arts centers, senior residences, a brewpub and a bluegrass festival. If requested, the Eclectics group also presents shorter modules dropped into musical sets on topics such as “Kenny Baker, master fiddler” and “the blues in bluegrass music.” We also have a set of “Original Songs for Each Season.” Connecting songs via spoken narratives give Eclectics performances an added interest: shows are more than a sequencing of songs.