Featuring some of the San Francisco region’s finest veteran bluegrass musicians, the Thundering Heard performs traditional bluegrass music, exceptionally well.

Multi-instrumentalist and singer Victor Skidanenko, hailing from San Jose, is known as one of the finest banjo players on the West Coast and gives a deep traditional dimension to the band. Singing heartfelt leads and soaring tenor, Victor is an integral part of the band’s signature sound. He’s also the youngest member of the band, but with an old soul steeped in the tradition of this uniquely American music. You might have seen him perform with Rock Ridge, Jenny Lynn & Her Real Gone Daddies, Flash Crash & Thunder and the Central Valley Boys.

Butch Waller was one of the first members of the band to play professional bluegrass in Northern California, and formed the band High Country in 1968. His distinct mandolin playing, firmly grounded in the Monroe style, shines through strong bluesy downstrokes and vibrant tremolos. Butch sings lead and baritone in the group. He has recently released an album of waltzes on the mandolin.

Margaret Green hails from Palo Alto, and has played fiddle in numerous bluegrass, country and rockabilly groups. She has also played classical violin in many chamber ensembles and orchestras, and teaches. Margaret also sings lead and tenor in the band.

Bass player Dave Gooding is originally from Bakersfield, the “Big Apple” of the Central Valley. You may have seen him perform with Donner Mountain, Borderline, Pacific Ocean Bluegrass, The Central Valley Boys or any number of other bands. Dave holds the rhythm down.

Guitar player Jesse Personeni loves to play his 1963 Gibson RB-250 Special Archtop and his 1928 TB-4 Pot w/ Burlile Ring & Ken Sherrod Neck, under the influence of musicians including Don Reno, J.D. Crowe, Noam Pikelny, Ralph Stanley, Doug Dillard, Bill Keith, Scott Vestel, Richard Underwood, Don Stover, Allen Shelton, Tony Trishka, Sonny Osbourne, Earl Scruggs, Garland Shuping, Mike Lily, Sammy Shelor, Kenny Ingram, Joe Mullins…

You can’t go wrong here! C’mon out!