PATRICK VARINE

Patrick Varine grew up surrounded by music on all sides, with a father who loved Dylan and Springsteen, a sister who majored in opera performance and a mother who loved Aretha Franklin, directed choir and played the church organ. After playing trumpet and drums in high school, he taught himself to play guitar while attending Duquesne University.

He has performed at Frankie & Georgie's 4Wood Grille in Squirrel Hill, Club Cafe on the South Side, Table 22 in Murrysville and other venues in the greater Pittsburgh area, blending acoustic originals with the music of artists like the Grateful Dead, Dylan, J.J. Cale, Paul Simon, Tom Waits and more. He has shared the stage with fellow Pittsburgh artists like The Grifters, theCAUSE and the Old E Allstars. (And technically with Steve Kimock, although Steve was already sharing the stage with theCAUSE!)

With a love of singer-songwriters, American roots music and its psychedelic progeny, Varine's sets are always unique.

"I get really bored, really fast, playing the same songs all the time, so I try to keep a wide range of covers rotating in and out of the setlists," he said. "I might play an obscure Dead tune for a few shows, then it'll disappear for six months. If it works, it'll stick around for a few sets. If not, it's on to something new."

THE GRIFTERS

Classically trained bassist Trish Imbrogno joins finger-picking style guitarist Peter Flynn to create the folk/blues group, The Grifters. The combination of their polar styles lends a unique sound to traditional American folk music.

What does it sound like when a metalhead-turned-Deadhead classical bassist and acoustic-roots guitarist get together? You'll have to hear for yourself...

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