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Mickey Abraham - Martin HD-28 guitar and Gibson mandolin

Kevin Robertson - Martin D-28 guitar

Jason McMillan - Ratliff Mandolin

Mike Snelling - acoustic bass

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Read Gabrielle Giron's ethnography of the PSB,
Panhandle String Band: Discourses on Authenticity and Innovation [PDF]

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The Panhandle String Band is an instrumentally driven acoustic group based out of Tallahassee, Florida. Focusing both on original new-grass flavored tunes and string band standards, the band has developed a loyal following of new-grassers as well as traditional music fans. Elements of old-time, bluegrass, rock, blues, Irish, and jazz music are delivered with a twist of the Panhandle String Band sound. Currently, the PSB can be seen playing to eager Tallahassee crowds as well as music festivals around the southeast.

It all started when Kevin Robertson met Mickey Abraham. The two bluegrass guitarists would meet together at least four nights a week honing their guitar chops and talking about creating music. The band’s unique bluegrass/old-time/flat-picking sound came out of these jams. Their friend Jason McMillan joined the weekly jams playing mandolin. A few jams later there was original material and great picking. Other friends came and went...or moved away... yet, it wasn’t until local acoustic bass icon Mike Snelling showed an interest in what Mickey, Kevin, and Jason were doing, that the PSB’s sound was ready for audiences. Finally, the musical chemistry was right and the Panhandle String Band has since been building a fantastic reputation one listener at a time.

Throughout the last couple years, Mickey, Kevin, Jason, and Mike have enjoyed much success writing and playing the acoustic music they love. They have had the honor of performing with and along-side some of today’s greatest acoustic musicians; Mark Johnson, Emory Lester, Tony Trischka, Larry Stephenson, Tony Rice, David Grisman, Sam Pacetti, Gabe Valla, Allan Shadd, and Larry Rice to name a few. Long overdue, PSB’s first full length new-grass record, Hanglider’s Lullaby, was just recently finished and has been receiving great reviews.

It’s amazing that the members of this band still have the time to devote to successful musical side projects. Kevin Robertson fills the guitar chair both in Dead Keys, Tallahassee’s Grateful Dead tribute band tour de force, as well as the FSU Irish Fiddling Ensemble. Jason McMillan plays mandolin as one-half of Mando Nectar, instrumental duets performed with mandolas and mandolins. Mickey Abraham has recently teamed up with Florida’s nineteen-year-old mountain dulcimer champion, Aaron O’Rourke, performing at dulcimer festivals and dropping jaws in the process. And, Mike Snelling seems to have more jobs playing bass than he knows what to do with. This, of course, is a good thing.

In the end, the members of PSB just love playing good music...that is the most important part of being in a band. As this unit, they have come a long way in such a short time and, one should wait to see and “hear” where the Panhandle String Band is headed next.