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The Unusual Suspects are not the usual persons who one would expect to play Bluegrass and Americana music.  All members are experienced musicians from other genres. They have migrated to this traditional music and fully embrace the improvisational tasks as fun. The personnel are gathered from a pool of experienced musicians by determining who is available for a practice and for each performance.

The Unusual Suspects perform at bluegrass festivals and a variety of venues in central PA.  They were the host band at the Lewistown Festival of Ice and the New Year’s Eve Chip Drop Concert in the Historic Court House in Lewistown.  They perform at rest homes, churches, parties, reunions, funerals, and for all imaginable possibilities. They present educational programs explaining the history of bluegrass and Americana music. They also perform a repertoire of gospel, folk, and traditional county.

R. B. Powell and his wife Bridget Allen are the constants in the Suspects.  Both have backgrounds of studying classical piano and voice. They started taking guitar and banjo lessons as a New Year’s resolution in January of 2001.  They went to Bluegrass Jam Camp at Merlefest that spring as overwhelmed novices, but were treated kindly and were encouraged.  Since then they have continued to study and attend music camps. Both play upright bass and sing.  Bridget also plays rhythm guitar.  R. B. picks the banjo, plays bass and harmonica.  On trips in their motor home, most large spaces in it are filled with instruments. “Have instruments; will play,” is their motto. Nittany Mountain Trail Rides, Inc. is their business that supports this fun.

George Powell plays lead guitar player and his training includes a history of percussion instruments and piano.  He lives in Bellefonte. owns GP Audio which supplies musical equipment, portable stages, and amplification systems.  He is a popular local sound engineer designing and installing sound systems for churches, auditoriums, restaurants, etc.

Ken Shafranko plays Dobro.  He recently retired to Boalsburg and has a twenty-five year tenure with Stained Grass Window, a notable bluegrass band from North Central PA.

Doug Romig plays rhythm guitar.  He is an educator in the State College School District who lives in Milroy.

George Wood plays banjo, guitar, and mandolin.  He is from Muncy, PA and teaches science courses to college students in Williamsport and Scranton.

Everyone sings.

Disclaimer: We do not take our music too seriously; we play for enjoyment and we hope listener enjoy sharing our fun.  Expect musical wrecks, wrong notes, and forgetfulness.