Bios
The Student Loan is an internationally touring bluegrass band that has been recognized by Jazz at Lincoln Center as the cutting edge of American roots music. They have worked extensively as musical ambassadors for the U.S. State Department and have performed in 16 countries on 5 continents. Borrowing heavily from a wide variety of styles their original music mixes catchy bluegrass melodies with classical and jamband forms to create an innovative new acoustic musical style distinctly their own.
In the United States The Student Loan has appeared with prominent national and regional acts including Sam Bush, Greensky Bluegrass, The Sierra Leone Refugee All-Stars, Alejandro Escovedo, eKoostik Hookah, and The Ragbirds, and were featured alongside Larry Keel at the 2008 Appalachian Uprising All-Star Bluegrass Jam.
Formed in 2005, The Student Loan integrates a wide array of musical styles and backgrounds. A formally trained composer, percussionist, and violinist, West Virginian mandolinist Chad Kimbler blazes a trail of furious picking. Guitarist, fiddler, and vocalist Liz Chibucos, an Ohio native and avid songwriter, brings to the table a wealth of jazz, classical, world and rock influences. Banjo player, vocalist, and guitarist Mark Gerolami of upstate New York draws upon a rich background of folk, western, and world music. Seasoned rock, gospel, and jazz bassist, Tacoma, Washington native Julio Appling lays down a creative and solid foundation, and holds his own as a soloist.
The Student Loan released their first album, “Wake Up to The Student Loan” in 2006 and followed up with their sophomore effort, “A New and Different Life,” in 2008. Their most recent album, “No Host Lunch” was released in the summer of 2011. With original songs and a vast library of covers from groups as diverse as The Beatles, Bill Monroe, Rage Against the Machine, Afroman, Phish and The Grateful Dead, The Student Loan will please just about any audience.