From the hills and hollers of Northern California comes a country/Americana/bluegrass trio called Keystone Canyon, whose members are longtime friends with decades of experience playing various kinds of music. Imagine old-school country songs, bluegrass and a bit of old-time rock and roll, played on two acoustic guitars, with three lead singers and three-part harmonies, and you’ll have a good idea of what to expect from this exciting trio.
While usually performing as an acoustic trio, depending on the venue and what is desired, KC can also expand to an electric quartet or quintet with drums and pedal steel.
Two of the members – Larry Carlin and Claudia Hampe – also have a duo called Keystone Crossing. With guitarist Gary Bauman also singing lead and harmony, the trio offers up quite the variety in sounds and styles.
As a result, at any Keystone Canyon show you are likely to hear a melodious mix of Merle, Hank, Johnny, Patsy and Emmylou, along with Creedence, The Mavericks, CSN&Y, The Byrds, and the Dead.
Video
In August of 2020 they recorded a live performance in San Anselmo, CA, which - due to the pandemic - had no audience, and this was later used as part of a virtual music festival. You can watch the show here.
Band Member Bios
Larry Carlin, on rhythm guitar and vocals, is a longtime performer, producer, and writer of bluegrass and country music in the San Francisco Bay Area. Originally from King of Prussia, PA, he lived in Sausalito for 35 years and has now a resident of Mill Valley. He and his wife, Claudia Hampe, have a duo called Keystone Crossing as well as a five-piece bluegrass band called Keystone Station. For 31 years he played with Dr. Elmo (of "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" fame) and Wild Blue.
Claudia Hampe grew up in Radnor, PA, and has been living in Mill Valley since the early '70s. She sang in folk groups in high school, and her singing group, The Jovial Singers, beat out a fledgling singer/songwriter named Jim Croce at a talent show in 1964. She sang in the Marin County band Rowdy & The Rivets in the early '80s, and she plays with Larry in the Keystone bands. She sings the beautiful parts that make Blithedale Canyon sound so good. To support her music habit, she has been working as a real estate broker in Mill Valley for 40+ years.
Gary Bauman, on acoustic lead guitar and vocals, is originally from LA but has been in San Anselmo for four decades. He began playing guitar as a kid, and was influenced early on by the surf music of Dick Dale, The Ventures, and The Beach Boys. He is a versatile player who has played with a long list of Bay Area bands, including the current ensembles The Ghost Riders, Rovetti & Meatballs, and Todos Santos. Gary is right at home playing country, swing, blues, and bluegrass.
