The Loose Acoustic Trio

Sacramento serves as home base for the modern jug band the Loose Acoustic Trio, whose lineup includes Richie Lawrence on accordion and vocals, Ken Cooper on guit-jo, mandolin, and vocals, and Steve O'Neill on upright bass and vocals. After relocating from his native Oklahoma to Los Angeles, Lawrence joined forces with songwriting partner Paul Lacques to establish the polka band Rotondi. Once that ensemble disbanded, Lawrence moved to Sacramento and connected with Cooper, a New York native who had also spent time in Los Angeles writing songs, one of which, "Out on a Limb," was recorded by the Dillards. O'Neill, a California native, performed for four years on bass with the bluegrass band California Zephyr before becoming part of the Loose Acoustic Trio. The group developed a regional audience across the San Joaquin Valley by appearing at festivals and fairs such as the California State Fair, the Sacramento County Fair, and the Cotati Accordion Music Festival. Issued on August 23, 2005, their debut album Brand New Mind launched the independent label Big Book Records, which Lawrence and Lacques run. Their second album, Sorrow Be Gone, arrived on May 20, 2008, and contained a cover of the Who's "Pinball Wizard."