Muskellunge

The City of Flagstaff Recreation hosts Concerts in the Park every Wednesday in June and July. June concerts are at Jim Cullen Memorial Park from 5:30pm-7:30pm. July concerts are at Bushmaster Park Community Ramada. Come enjoy free music, face painting and hula hoops with friends and family!

Muskellunge consists of: Nolan McKelvey (Vocals/Guitar), Aaron Tyler (Mandolin/Vocals), Tim Hogan (Bass/Vocals), Frank Dedera (Banjo), and Ron James (Drums).

Nolan McKelvey moved back to Arizona from Boston in 2004 after being dubbed “Central to the Somerville (Boston) roots revival” (WBUR Boston) and quickly formed Muskellunge. Over the course of his twenty year career he has performed at the Newport Folk Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival, Pickin in the Pines Festival, and many more. Nolan’s band won a Boston Music Award for “best folk act”, and he has performed on nationally syndicated “Nashville Bluegrass Breakdown” and “World Cafe” radio shows. He has opened for bluegrass legends like Peter Rowan, David Grisman, Jerry Douglas, Tim O’Brien, Bela Fleck, and Sam Bush, as well as broad range of artists including Greg Brown, Jack Johnson, Billy Currington, Sugarland, and Odetta among many more. Nolan has been dubbed “One of the best songwriters of the Southwest” and “Flagstaff’s Poet Laureate” (FlagLive!), and was elected “Best Musician,” by the Arizona Daily Sun Reader’s Poll.

Aaron Tyler is renowned across the southwest for his incredible mandolin virtuosity. Aaron has performed in and around Arizona for over twenty years and won the title “state champion” at the Wickenberg Bluegrass Festival Mandolin competition. Aaron is a also a two-time band competition finalist at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. His playing has been referred to as “adrenolin” for his unmatched speed and dexterity. Nolan and Aaron have been performing together since 1994 in various projects in Arizona.

Tim Hogan has traveled the country in several nationally renowned acts including Acoustic Semi, and the In-Betweens. Tim’s “Muskellunge Bass” (Azola electric upright) always garners attention, but it is his creative and melodic bass lines that lay the foundation for the band. He is a phenomenal harmony vocalist and sings the bulk of the harmonies in Muskellunge.

Frank Dedera is a one of the founding members of legendary Arizona band ‘Flying South’ which included bluegrass legends Tom Rozum and Peter McLauglin. Frank has performed at festivals throughout the southwest and four corners region over his 30+ year career. His clean, creative banjo lines provide the driving force behind the “bluegrass” sound of Muskellunge.

Ron James is an incredibly diverse and talented musician who has been performing for over twenty-five years in every style of music imaginable. Ron has toured extensively on the west coast of the United States, in Thailand, and in Europe with bands including Limbs Akimbo, Onus B. Johnson, and Chuck Hall Band. Ron lives and performs in Flagstaff with several current projects ranging from Jazz, to Rock, to Blues, to Bluegrass, and everything in-between. He is a truly deep and soulful musician whose presence in Muskellunge helps to provide the extra kick that separates them from other contemporary bluegrass bands.

Muskellunge is contemporary, original American music that incorporates the traditions of the past into the topics of today.