Meet the Band

In the beginning, “The Grackles” was a performance name worn by Matthew Lyons and Evan Hall during their 6th Street busking days while attending The University of Texas at Austin. Every weekend they would gather up the Burnt Orange Bluegrass Club and play their hearts out at the corner of Red River and Sixth. Now relocated to the DFW area, Matthew and Evan quickly formed a new team around them to create The Grackles Bluegrass Band. Since launch, they’ve played a variety of venues from Hop & Sting Brewery to The Frisco Rail Yard. Filled with bluegrass classics, high energy, and witty stage banter; you won’t want to miss this talented group of musicians.

  • Matthew Lyons

    MANDOLIN, FIDDLE, VOCALS

    Matthew’s bluegrass journey began in a dark theater watching a Chris Thile performance in 2014. Inspired and wasting no time, Matthew purchased his first mandolin that following weekend. The incredible adventure that followed led to helping found Burnt Orange Bluegrass in Austin, The Space City Nomads in Houston, and now The Grackles Bluegrass Band in his hometown of Dallas.

  • Kevin Gore

    BANJO, VOCALS

    Kevin is a seasoned musician and has been playing banjo, touring, and recording for many years. He’s recorded on projects he’s been part of with bands such as The Witcher Brothers, Silverado, and Freewheelin’; as well as a number of demo projects for other artists and songwriters. He has influences from both traditional bluegrass banjo players as well as the melodic and Newgrass side of the music. Kevin’s banjo solos bring excitement and energy to the band.

  • April Sellers

    VOCALS, GUITAR

    April’s been singing since before she could talk and started writing songs soon after that. She’s been a music minister, a vocalist for special events and has sung with the professional a capella group, Uptown Carolers, for seven years. Along the way, she picked up the guitar and refuses to put it down. She especially loves singing those sweet bluegrass harmonies with her bandmates, including her bass-playing husband, Les.

  • Ben Childress

    GUITAR

    Ben is a singer and songwriter from Denton, Texas. He has been a part of the local music scene in Denton for three years and has seven years of experience playing guitar. Ben draws his inspiration from the Blues, Bluegrass, Americana, and traditional folk music of any kind.

    You can find Ben playing in any of these projects: The Grackles, Bluegrass; Blues Dream, Psych/Blues Rock; Tone Chasers, Bluegrass; Danny Conrad Jamboree, Folk Rock.

  • Les Sellers

    BASS

    Les has been playing upright bass for dang near 30 years. In the past couple of years he’s developed a love for folk music and enjoys singing with his wife, April Sellers, and playing mandolin in the Denton bluegrass jam as often as he can. Les is a middle school orchestra director in Carrollton, TX and loves helping the next generation of musicians find their inspiration through music.