check out About The Band
Big Mon
BIG MON is a Reggae Bluegrass Band performing Jamaican Bluegrass. When a Reggae rhythm section is accompanied by great bluegrass musicians on fiddle, mandolin and three part harmonies, performing the songs of the Father of Bluegrass Bill Monroe you get Big Mon.
It was in the 1960s that the folk music magazine Sing Out first called "Bill Monroe the Father of Bluegrass". Why they said, because it was true. Monroe spoke of bringing “ancient tones” into his music with echoes of British and Irish fiddle and he had a passion for blending the sounds of other cultures into his music. "Big Mon" respectfully borrowed from "Bill Monroe's" nickname is continuing that musical journey.
Dennis Ludiker
Fiddle, Mandolin, Guitar, Vocals - Dennis Ludiker of Asleep at the Wheel grew up in Spokane, Washington and moved to his new home town of Austin, Texas in 2002. He has since toured with South Austin Jug Band, MilkDrive. Dennis is a four "4" time Texas State Fiddle Champion, World Champion and Rocky Grass Mandolin Champion.
Noah Jeffries
Fiddle, Mandolin, Guitar, Vocals - Noah Jeffries of The Deer is a founding member of Austin’s own MilkDrive and South Austin Jug Band. Dennis Ludiker and Noah Jeffries met as youngsters competing in the National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest in Weiser, Idaho. Eventually they migrated to Austin, where they toured with an eclectic mix of bands.
Jeremy Carlson
Keys, Vocals - Jeremy Carlson is a familiar face in the Texas reggae scene. Besides working with multiple Austin artists, he also performs his original music with his band Lion Heights. Carlson has backed multiple touring Jamaican reggae & dancehall acts including Sister Nancy, I Wayne, Triston Palmer, & Luciano. He is a Wednesday night regular on keys and vocals with Austin’s own “godfathers of reggae,” the Mau Mau Chaplins.
Mike Morgan
Bassist, Vocals, Producer - Mike Morgan owner, of the Zone Recording Studio, has performed on an eclectic mix of records, from Peter Rowan to the Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Allen Ginsburg, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Pam Tillis, and many more. Morgan was a founding member of Rhythmic Statues, Flounders without Eyes and Peter Rowan’s Twang an Groove. He has been a regular performer at Telluride Blue Grass Festival, Old Settlers Music Festival, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, Merl Fest, Floyd Fest
Chuck O'Connor
Guitarist, Dobro, Vocals - Chuck O’Connor joined Big Mon after returning to Austin Texas. He was a founding member of the reggae band I-Tex and the Frontier Dub Boys and worked Heather Masse, Robert Ellis Orrall, Jed Wilson, Asleep at the Wheel, The Ash Family, Doc Toler, The White Mountain Boys, Al Hospers’ Valley Horns Arts in Motion and Neal Ford.
Miguel Pankratz
Drummer, Vocals - Miguel Pankratz of Mau Mau Chaplain an Austin Native Texas Music Hall of Fame and founding member of: Stop the Truck, I-Tex and the Frontier Dub Boys, OG member of all things Reggae in Austin, and side man for Freddy Powers, Greezy Wheels, Etta James, Ray Price and Dan Del Santo.