The Second String Band plays progressive acoustic music in the Triangle region of North Carolina. With an eclectic style ranging from bluegrass to newgrass to progressive folk, rock and blues, our music features traditional acoustic intrumentation and rich harmony vocals. We play around a pair of microphones, in the classic style used by some of the great string bands. With abundant lead vocalists, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists, our sound maintains variety and interest. We invite you to come and see us, and hope you enjoy our music!

 

The Band:

 

Marc Auble — resonator slide guitar, acoustic guitar, lead & harmony vocals, songwriting In addition to his acoustic skills, Marc is a talented electric guitar player and veteran of the local scene, and also plays in Sports Alternative. When not playing music, Marc may be found building custom amplifiers and other sound equipment, or writing songs with his niece.

Miner Gleason — violin, mandolin, mandola, octave mandolin, lead & harmony vocals, songwriting Classically trained, Miner has played with rock, folk and classical chamber groups and sung with barbershop quartets and chamber choirs. When not showing his fiddle virtuosity, Miner enjoys sushi and jogging and making sawdust, and can often be found testing voice technology software.

Michael Lowry — mandolin, acoustic guitar, fiddle, lead & harmony vocals, songwriting Although he's been involved in music since an early age, Michael discovered a love for bluegrass only a few years ago and has never looked back. When not playing in The Second String Band, Michael may be found taking care of his two young daughters or analyzing groundwater hydrogeology.

Bert McMillan — bass, harmony & lead vocals An experienced electric bassist, Bert's a veteran of many local bands and also plays with Marc in Sports Alternative. He readily adopted the upright string bass a couple years ago after receiving one as a gift. When not playing music, Bert can often be found serving pints at the Player's Retreat in Raleigh.

 

Alumnus and occasional guest:

 

Matt Mikula — banjo, acoustic guitar, mandolin, lead & harmony vocals, songwriting In addition to his tasty banjo picking, Matt's an accomplished guitarist and has played with several local bands including popular Grateful Dead cover band Terrapin Junction. An avid runner and swimmer, he's often found working a camera or voicing college sports play-by-play.