Grass It Up
About Us

Grass It Up is a critically acclaimed four-piece band based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The group is made up of David Jeffrey, Shannon T. Carr, Jon Bross and Jim Marsh. Steeped in traditional American music such as bluegrass, country and rock, they regularly dip their toes into their own original ballads and “grass up” pop tunes. The quartets instrumentation includes guitar, banjo, mandolin, and bass.

In addition to being in high demand for performances at The Broadmoor Hotel, owned by the Gaylord family of Grand Ol' Opry fame, yhe band has won a multitude of awards. It was voted "Best Original Band of 2010" by readers of Colorado Springs Independent (after winning runner up in 2009 and third place in 2008), as well as "Best Original Band of 2009" by The Gazette. Their performances have captivated a wide range of audiences in venues from the Front Range Barbecue, to the Western Jubilee Warehouse, Meadowgrass and Keystone Bluegrass Festivals, and the Pikes Peak Center. The group has an impressive resume, having recorded four full length all original albums and performed for Fortune 500 companies, luxury resorts, convention centers, mountain towns, festivals, acoustic societies, weddings and other private events.

Grass it Up was formed in 2005 as a power trio, David Jeffrey (mandolin/guitar/vocal), Shannon Carr (guitar/banjo/vocal) and Jon Bross (upright bass/vocal). In the years since, two additions have been made to the band. Danny Karpel (keyboard/piano) brings an eclectic blend of keyboard and piano that stirs the soul and tempts the ears. In 2009, Ben 'Blackbeard' Lewis (Fiddle) found his way to the Front Range BBQ Yes, the BBQ is that good. Both Ben and Danny left the band full time in December 2011 to spend more time with their families. However, we were promised that they'll come sit in from time to time so you never know. Also in 2010, the fabulous Lebanese Banjo Picker from Alabama, Jim Marsh, joing the band settling the boys in as a quartet. Jim brings 25 years of perfoming bluegrass to the musical palette. He's charasmatic, fun, extremely talented and he's the Jerry Garcia (but a lot faster) of bluegrass today. If you like Scruggs, you'll love Jim.

A range of influence is evident in their music and performance energy. “We’re playing to have fun and that means a dynamic repertoire for us, we find that engaging our audience at every performance is vital in building the energy we’re after,” states bass player Jon Bross. Grass It Up performs most Wednesdays at the Front Range Barbeque in Colorado Springs, a venue that has grown into a local hub for bluegrass music and a showcase of nationally touring bluegrass bands. Their musical adventures certainly don’t stop with an evening booking. Says Bross: “In our five years together, we’ve arranged and hosted a series of mountain music festivals near Divide, Colorado, Grapes and Grass in Sonoma, California, as well as two destination music festivals titled Lavapalooza in Arenal, Costa Rica. We find inspiration in our friends and community, and are passionate about culture and travel - these events further unite our music and friends each year."

"Six Years of Grass It Up Wednesdays and it just keeps getting better."

Brian Fortinberry -Front Range BBQ

"Two performances in two months for the Black Rose Acoustic Society, standing room only. Wow! Featuring at the Open Stage, they had multiple Black Rose Stomps, two encores and a standing ovation. Amazing!"

Moira Theriault - The Black Rose Acoustic Society

Grass It Up has been featured throughout Colorado in the print media, regional radio stations and bluegrass shows. They can be heard each Wednesday as the introduction music for "Grass Roots Revival," hosted by Steve Harris on KRCC-FM.

Grass It Up is an active member of the Colorado Springs business community, performing often for chamber members and local businesses while assisting non-profit and benefit organizations such as Care & Share and Junior Achievement of Southern Colorado.

Story Behind the Voices

David Jeffrey goes with the flow, like a twig on the shoulders of a mighty stream. Unmistakably from a front porch in Alabama, Dave was born blue, playing with Randomwood, Blue Hooptie Revival, JSU Jazz Band and is now the driving force behind Grass It Up. When Dave isn't pickin', he is at The Independent, working as an account executive. Dave has been in Colorado for six years and is influenced by Del and Ronnie McCoury, Chris Thile, Sam Bush, David Grisman, Jeff Austin and Pearl Jam. Dave plays guitar and mandolin.

David Jeffrey goes with the flow, like a twig on the shoulders of a mighty stream. Unmistakably from a front porch in Alabama, Dave was born blue, playing with Randomwood, Blue Hooptie Revival, JSU Jazz Band and is now the driving force behind Grass It Up. When Dave isn't pickin', he is at The Independent, working as an account executive. Dave has been in Colorado for six years and is influenced by Del and Ronnie McCoury, Chris Thile, Sam Bush, David Grisman, Jeff Austin and Pearl Jam. Dave plays guitar and mandolin.

Shannon Carr was born and raised in Oxford, Alabama. Shannon and David began playing music together ten years ago and their passion for performance has brought them together again in Colorado. Shannon’s first musical influences were the country and bluegrass sounds of his grandparents and uncles followed by the highly recognized sounds of Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn. He then woodshedded to jazz greats and bluegrass legends. Shannon adds the element of precision and fine tuned musicianship to Grass It Up. He helps push the band to achieve the highest level of performance. Shannon plays guitar and banjo.

Shannon Carr was born and raised in Oxford, Alabama. Shannon and David began playing music together ten years ago and their passion for performance has brought them together again in Colorado. Shannon’s first musical influences were the country and bluegrass sounds of his grandparents and uncles followed by the highly recognized sounds of Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn. He then woodshedded to jazz greats and bluegrass legends. Shannon adds the element of precision and fine tuned musicianship to Grass It Up. He helps push the band to achieve the highest level of performance. Shannon plays guitar and banjo.

Jon Bross thinks that the only thing that would make Colorado perfect is better cheese and a few more walleye lakes. Hailing proudly from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Bross spends his daytime hours in advertising and his nightlife burning pent up energy. After gigs in several Blues, Disco and Funk bands, Bross headed for the Rockies in 1998. When he isn't grassin' it up, you'll find him atop Colorado's high peaks, rippin' down a mountain on broken skis or dry flyin' a cool mountain stream. Bross plays bass. Save Cancel

Jon Bross thinks that the only thing that would make Colorado perfect is better cheese and a few more walleye lakes. Hailing proudly from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Bross spends his daytime hours in advertising and his nightlife burning pent up energy. After gigs in several Blues, Disco and Funk bands, Bross headed for the Rockies in 1998. When he isn't grassin' it up, you'll find him atop Colorado's high peaks, rippin' down a mountain on broken skis or dry flyin' a cool mountain stream. Bross plays bass. Save Cancel

Jim Marsh was welcomed to the band back in the fall of 2010. Jim brings more than 25 years of experience in playing bluegrass to the table. After years of touring and playing with Alabama based Distant Cousins, Jim relocated to Colorado Spring to join in the fun. Jim is a master at the banjo and can play any Earl Scruggs you want to hear. What does that mean for Grass It Up? We can now play about 500 traditional bluegrass songs when needed. Oh, and he's fast.

Jim Marsh was welcomed to the band back in the fall of 2010. Jim brings more than 25 years of experience in playing bluegrass to the table. After years of touring and playing with Alabama based Distant Cousins, Jim relocated to Colorado Spring to join in the fun. Jim is a master at the banjo and can play any Earl Scruggs you want to hear. What does that mean for Grass It Up? We can now play about 500 traditional bluegrass songs when needed. Oh, and he's fast.

Growing up in Miami, Florida, Danny’s music career started with Spanish guitar lessons when he was 8 years old, but he could never tear himself away from a little toy casio keyboard his grandmother bought him. This led to over 400 hours of classical piano lessons all the way through high school and while his formal music education ended at high school graduation, he continued to study music theory on his own through college and still to this day. Heavily influenced by the Latin music that was prevalent in his home growing up, Danny likes to fuse elements of jazz, classical, classic rock, funk, blues and latin into the Americana rhythms featured by GIU.

Growing up in Miami, Florida, Danny’s music career started with Spanish guitar lessons when he was 8 years old, but he could never tear himself away from a little toy casio keyboard his grandmother bought him. This led to over 400 hours of classical piano lessons all the way through high school and while his formal music education ended at high school graduation, he continued to study music theory on his own through college and still to this day. Heavily influenced by the Latin music that was prevalent in his home growing up, Danny likes to fuse elements of jazz, classical, classic rock, funk, blues and latin into the Americana rhythms featured by GIU.

Ben “Blackbeard” Lewis is a versatile fiddler and multi-instrumentalist from Manitou Springs, Colorado. Ben first picked up a fiddle at the age of four, and has been making music ever since. He played classical violin and fiddle throughout his youth. During his teen years he transitioned to jazz and rock guitar. In 2002, Ben enrolled in Vassar College, where he majored in Music. While there, he studied theory, composition, world music, percussion and classical guitar. Upon returning to Colorado, he began to play solo classical guitar gigs, but before long, he felt moved to reconnect with his fiddling roots, a path which led him to the vibrant, living tradition of old-time music and the bluegrass scene.

Ben “Blackbeard” Lewis is a versatile fiddler and multi-instrumentalist from Manitou Springs, Colorado. Ben first picked up a fiddle at the age of four, and has been making music ever since. He played classical violin and fiddle throughout his youth. During his teen years he transitioned to jazz and rock guitar. In 2002, Ben enrolled in Vassar College, where he majored in Music. While there, he studied theory, composition, world music, percussion and classical guitar. Upon returning to Colorado, he began to play solo classical guitar gigs, but before long, he felt moved to reconnect with his fiddling roots, a path which led him to the vibrant, living tradition of old-time music and the bluegrass scene.