Mike IversonMusic, clawhammer banjo, and more...

Music, clawhammer banjo, and more...

The Bands - A History Of Mike’s Past Ensembles



The following is a partial list of ensembles Mike has played with over the past thirty five years:

The very first band

Mike’s High School Garage Band (Mid 70’s)

Lynn Glover - guitar, vocals
Steve Smith - mandolin, guitar
Mike Iverson - banjo, guitar
Rob Winters - guitar

We were a John Denver Clone band and probably the only folk ensemble Layton High School has ever produced...






Corn Husker Road Ad

Corn Husker Road (Late 70’s)

Earl Rouse: guitar, vocals
Bob Hardy: banjo, bass
Mike Iverson: banjo, mandolin, vocals
Becky Shupe: fiddle, vocals
Neesha Roberts: bass violin, vocals

-Earl Rouse put together this band when we were attending Weber State College



Home Grown
Homegrown (Late 70’s)

Gene Campbell: guitar, vocals
Bob Hekker: guitar, vocals
Mike Iverson: banjo, mandolin

-This folk/rock trio was put together by Dick Davis of the Weber State College Program Bureau as an official college ensemble. As such, they represented Weber State at various events along the Wasatch Front.



Hawgwash at Promontory Point

Hawgwash (Late 70’s - Early 80’s)

Earl Rouse: guitar, vocals
Bob Hardy: banjo, bass
Mike Iverson: banjo, mandolin, vocals

-A bluegrass trio based in Logan. Performed at various events including the Park City Bluegrass Festival, Golden Spike Celebration (Promontory Point), Bluegrass Express Festival (Ogden), Golden Spike National Fiddle Contest (Ogden).
Hawgwash








Bitter Creek (Early 80’s)

Don Baker - guitar
Jim Shupe - fiddle
Ted Shupe - bass violin
Lou Featherolf - banjo, vocals
Mike Iverson - mandolin, vocals

Jeanine Orme - fiddle (Jeanine replaced Jim when he left the band)

-Bluegrass band that performed at many special events including the Roosevelt Bluegrass Festival, Fort Buenaventura Bluegrass Rendezvous (Ogden), Park City Bluegrass Festival, Provo Freedom Festival, and the concert series held at the O.C. Tanner Amphitheater outside of Zions National Park.



Bunch Grass (Early 80’s)
John White and Mike Iverson


Mike Iverson - mandolin, banjo, vocals
John White - guitar, mandolin, vocals
Tom Dean - guitar, vocals
Andy Keller - bass violin

-Bluegrass/newgrass band comprised mostly of natural resource majors from Utah State University (which explains the name... )





Prairie Fire


Prairie Fire (Mid 80’s)

Mike Iverson - banjo, mandolin, vocals
Bob Hardy - bass violin, vocals
Terry Fields - fiddle
Don Baker - guitar

-A short lived but very talented bluegrass/newgrass band.






Powder Ridge (Late 80’s Early 90’s)

Mike Iverson - mandolin, clawhammer banjo, vocals
Don Baker - guitar
Bob Hardy - bass violin, vocals
Matt Flinner - banjo, mandolin
Ryan Shupe - fiddle

Theresa Ellis - fiddle (Theresa replaced Ryan when he left the band)

-A critically acclaimed bluegrass/newgrass band that performed at festivals all over the intermountain west. Mike was leading this band when it took first place honors at the prestigious national bluegrass band competition held at the Telluride bluegrass festival in Colorado. Powder Ridge "opened" for many national acts including Bob Dylan.




McKay/Iverson Duo (Early 90’s)

Dan McKay - guitar
Mike Iverson - mandolin

-A classical guitar and mandolin duo that performs material from the baroque to the modern. This duo features pieces by such diverse composers as Bach, Debussy, Mozart, Grieg, and Bartok. The duo performs mainly at private parties and weddings, but does the occasional public performance at events such as the Layton concerts in the park series.


Rainbow Factory

Rainbow Factory (Late 90’s Early 2000’s)

Marcia Knorr - guitar, vocals
Mike Iverson - banjo, acoustic and electric mandolins, clarinet, jaw-harp, and harmonica.
Shauna Iverson - bass violin

-A trio that performed fun, interactive songs for children. In every Rainbow Factory show, the audience was continually involved with singing and motions. Various music topics were discussed and the children exposed to a variety of instruments. This group was selected twice for the Utah Performing Arts Tour and performed for many events including the Utah Arts Festival.



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Brenn Hill (Late 90’s)

Brenn Hill - guitar and vocals
Mike Iverson - mandolin, banjo, guitar

-The best of the contemporary western songwriters. Mike toured with Brenn throughout the West where they performed at such events as the Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering, Michael Martin Murphy's Westfest, Elko Cowboy Poetry Gathering, the Gene Autry Theater (Los Angeles), and a tour of military bases in Alaska.