Press Kit
“Y’all sounded amazing!”
“What a fantastic evening we had listening to Hot Pickin 57s. You guys were awesome. From your interaction with the crowd to the selection of original music and wonderful bluegrass and country standards. Looking forward to seeing HP 57s again in the near future.”
Hot Pickin 57s, Austin’s favorite bluegrass band, playing the Tommy Duncan/Bob Wills classic Time Changes Everything
Hot Pickin 57s Bio
Get ready to have a blast with Hot Pickin 57s, Austin's favorite bluegrass and country band!
• Energetic Fun Mix of Bluegrass, Classic Country, and Americana Music
• Hot Pickin 57s take inspiration from legends like Bill Monroe, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Flatt & Scruggs, Bob Wills, Doc Watson. Johnny Rodriguez, and more.
• Hot Pickin 57s is a four-piece acoustic band with guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, and upright bass, along with lead and harmony vocals. We can also perform as a trio or expand to a five-piece band.
• With a wealth of experience performing at corporate events, festivals, house concerts, weddings, libraries and private parties, the Hot Pickin 57s will help make your event a success.
• Hot Pickin 57s is a Moontower Entertainment Artist.
Meet Our Musicians
• Max Zimmet, with some mighty fine chops on guitar and mandolin, learned to strum the strings at the tender age of 8. But it was Bill Monroe on Austin City Limits that turned him into a Bluegrass fanatic. Max earned his degree in guitar and mandolin performance at Berklee College of Music. He has shared the stage with incredible talents like Sierra Hull, Kym Warner, Mark Cosgrove and Beppe Gambetta.
• Shawn Spiars, our banjo and lead vocal virtuoso, has been charming audiences for over three decades. He honed his chops while getting a degree in Bluegrass Music at South Plains College. His captivating banjo sound weaves together elements from legends like Earl Scruggs, Don Reno, and Alan Munde.
• Michael Montgomery, the maestro of the fiddle, started his musical journey with classical violin before diving into Old Timey and Bluegrass music. Audiences are captivated by his improvisations and phenomenal musicality. His impressive resume includes playing with Whit Smith's Hot Jazz Caravan, Texas banjo legend Alun Munde and Billy Bright (Wood & Wire).
• Vance Hazen holds down the rhythm on the upright bass. This guy's got some serious mileage under his belt, having played with bands all around the globe. From the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash to Rosie and the Ramblers and more, Vance has been laying down those bass lines like a true groove master.
Very happy to announce that Hot Pickin 57s album Hot Picks has been selected for
the Austin Public Library's Electric Lady Bird music collection.
Festivals & Highlight Shows
Rodeo Austin *
Grapefest Festival*
Conspirare Benefit
Stubbs SXSW Corporate Event
Coushatte Pickin’ & Grinnin’ Festival
Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
Texas Heritage Foundation House Concert*
Dseutschen Pest*
Camp Street Cafe
HogEye Festival*
Fayetteville Art Walk*
Cotton Harvest Festival
Leander Bluegrass Festival*
Spicewood Arts RoundUp*
Bastrop Summer in the City
Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival
Grapevine Sunset Concert Series
*multiple years
Audio
Upcoming Shows
Discography
