The Storytellers: BIO - Folk, Americana, Bluegrass Music

The Storytellers is an indie-folk ensemble whose repertoire represents a unique blend of roots-rock, Americana, country-blues, folk and bluegrass music.

One of the fastest rising folk groups on the Los Angeles music scene, The Storytellers took only one year to go from busking on street corners of Pasadena and Santa Barbara to gracing stages of bars, taverns and regional festivals all over Southern California. The Storytellers draw from the rich canon of traditional bluegrass, country blues, old time and folk music as a basis for inspired improvisations and intrepid vocal harmonies.

The LA Weekly has said of The Storytellers, “This band moves seamlessly through traditional and progressive musical approaches. One tune will echo Doc Watson, the next, Jerry Garcia. They find great joy in folk music and that joy is evident in their performances.”

Legendary folk music promoter Bob Stane stated: “The Storytellers are wonderful singers, and energetic, passionate players. We’re thrilled to have them spin their tales on our stage.”

The Storytellers perform every fourth Friday at Bon Vivant Market & Cafe in Atwater Village for their highly regarded monthly “Folky Fourth Friday” residency.

Founded in the Fall of 2017 as a duo, the complete band formed in February of 2018, performing more than 30 Los Angeles-area shows through the end of the year. This intensive schedule included defining performances at the historic Mint, and a spellbinding set at The Love Street Festival, sharing the bill with Micky Dolenz, Wilson Phillips and Chris Stills.

The Storytellers have performed on stages at The Mint, Molly Malone’s, The Coffee Gallery Backstage, Kulak’s Woodshed, The Trip, Old Towne Pub, Redwood Bar, The Theatricum Botanicum, Silverlake Lounge, Cinema Bar, Maui Sugar Mill Saloon and Villains Tavern.

They performed on the main stage of The California Avocado Festival, The Village Unplugged and The Love Street Festival.

The Storytellers’ strong musical chemistry allows them to bring soulful harmonies, delicate acoustic sensibilities, soaring grooves, tight rhythms, substantive storytelling and their own hippie, happy magic to every stage they stand on.

The band consists of Scott Diehl (Guitar, Vocals), Lance Frantzich (Bass, Vocals), Jonathan Sheldon (Fiddle, Vocals), David Ryan (Mandolin, Vocals), Dave Burns (Banjo, Mandolin, Vocals) and Steve Stelmach (Percussion, Harmonica).