About the Band

Lizzy Ross

Lizzy Ross was born and raised in Annapolis, MD, where she learned to play guitar and began writing songs.  Her performing talent really began to shine while she studied music and philosophy at UNC-Chapel Hill. While in school, she and two other UNC students hooked up as “Lafcadio” to enter a band competition hosted by [...]

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Post-swimming... in her natural habitat.

Lizzy Ross was born and raised in Annapolis, MD, where she learned to play guitar and began writing songs.  Her performing talent really began to shine while she studied music and philosophy at UNC-Chapel Hill. While in school, she and two other UNC students hooked up as “Lafcadio” to enter a band competition hosted by Vinyl Records. They won the competition within a week of forming, began performing regularly at local venues, and released a critically acclaimed EP in January 2009.

After her success with Lafcadio, Lizzy decided to extend into solo performance. Her fans praise her songwriting as insightful beyond her twenty-two years, and are always struck by the intensity and passion of her live performance. She is known for blending the flavors of singers like Janis Joplin and Joni Mitchell to create a smooth, strong, and soulful sound. Lizzy has been featured on WRAL-TV, as well as WKNC and WXYC radio. In June 2010, Lizzy released her first full-length solo album, “Traces.”  This intimate, acoustic collection of original songs has been called “the perfect antidote to clear away the muggy humidity of a North Carolina summer day.” (Norris, the Daily TarHeel).  She performs regularly in North Carolina’s triangle area, both solo and with her band.

The band includes Dylan Shrader on lead guitar, Casey Toll on upright bass, and Drew Smith on percussion. Both Shrader and Smith hail from the Asheville area, while Toll comes from Wilmington, NC. Shrader’s training in bluegrass, combined with Smith and Toll’s formal jazz education, creates uniquely soulful music with hints of rock, jazz and blues. Layered against Lizzy’s powerful voice and the folky textures of the songs themselves, the band’s musical style is intelligent, danceable, and unique.

Casey Toll – Upright Bass

Casey Toll grew up in Wilmington NC listening to his parents’ record collection and a few country ballads relayed by Ppaw during family gatherings.  He started playing piano at 6, switched to guitar, clarinet, bass, then back and forth a few times.  From middle school on his time was spent in a mess of musical [...]

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You gotta be mean to get this good.

Casey Toll grew up in Wilmington NC listening to his parents’ record collection and a few country ballads relayed by Ppaw during family gatherings.  He started playing piano at 6, switched to guitar, clarinet, bass, then back and forth a few times.  From middle school on his time was spent in a mess of musical projects : catholic school punk rock band, high school bar band, school concert band, school orchestra, county and state orchestras… After high school Casey decided to move to the closest thriving music scene he had grown up reading, hearing, and dreaming about : Chapel Hill.

It was in school at UNC that Casey studied jazz and made the decision to try and make himself feel at home with the upright bass. After four years and a music degree Casey decided to spend some time taking advantage of whatever musical opportunities in the area came his way – mostly recording and performing. It was in this period that Casey made the acquaitance of Dylan (when he was faking bluegrass tunes) and Liz (when he was faking her tunes). Casey knew that their energy, talent and enthusiasm was something he wanted to be around.  He jumped on board in November of 2009 and is excited about continuing to be a part of this music and these people.  The band returns his enthusiasm–we are lucky to be in the company of such a capable musician and good friend!

Dylan Shrader – Lead Guitar

Dylan Shrader’s love for guitar developed from unlikely sources of inspiration.  He first picked up the guitar at age twelve.  The Chicago and Delta Blues were early influences, and his first public performance was at a blues jam in West Asheville.
In college at UNC-Chapel Hill, Dylan studied political science, Asian studies, creative writing, and Hindi. [...]

Dylan's concentration face

Dylan Shrader’s love for guitar developed from unlikely sources of inspiration.  He first picked up the guitar at age twelve.  The Chicago and Delta Blues were early influences, and his first public performance was at a blues jam in West Asheville.

In college at UNC-Chapel Hill, Dylan studied political science, Asian studies, creative writing, and Hindi. It was during a semester abroad in India, in the deserts of Rajasthan known colloquially and cheerfully as Marwar (the Land of Death), that Dylan developed the resolve to become a bluegrass guitarist.

Back on American soil, Dylan honed his chops in the picking circles of Western North Carolina.  He traveled to all the famous jams in the area, learning new tunes and immersing himself in the traditional music of the Appalachians. After graduating college, he spent months in an isolated cabin in the high country of NC, not planning to leave until he was as good as Tony Rice.  Thankfully, Lizzy Ross brought him out of his hermitage by inviting him off the mountain to start a band. In addition to acoustic and electric guitar, Dylan plays old-time fiddle and writes original songs.

Drew Smith – Drums

Drew Smith keeps the rhythm going in the Lizzy Ross Band.  He is a wonderful addition to our group, and we feel lucky to have him! More info TBA.

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Keeping the BEAT!

Drew Smith keeps the rhythm going in the Lizzy Ross Band.  He is a wonderful addition to our group, and we feel lucky to have him! More info TBA.