A performance by 13th Hour is much more than a trip down memory lane. Although they play plenty of gems from singer-songwriters of earlier decades, you are just as likely to hear an original tune for the first time or a clever pop song that you thought you forgot years ago.

With more than 90 years of professional experience between them, these veteran West Michigan musicians will delight you with song favorites old and new, strong vocal harmonies, and a tight, energetic performance that reflects their considerable talents as instrumentalists.

Featuring Ken Bierschbach on acoustic guitar & vocals, Mark Swanson on guitar, mandolin, harmonica & vocals, and Jay Round on bass & vocals, 13th Hour represents the melding of three distinctly different musical backgrounds. Ken and Mark joined forces in 2001 after several years of solo performing. Jay joined the band in 2008 after many years of performing in various bands all over the world.

Ken Bierschbach, with three solo CDs to his credit, has been a singer-songwriter on the local scene for more than 25 years. His music is found at the place where pop, rock, folk, and country meet. Centered in his belief that all of us share a common thread, Ken writes lyrics with wit, insight, and biting honesty. Ken’s CD releases include "The Bold Type" (1998), "Somewhere Out There" (2001) and "Voyeur Constant" (2004). He was also a featured writer and performer on "Winter in West Michigan," a 2001 Christmas compilation CD featuring nine West Michigan songwriters and musicians.

For Mark Swanson, 13th Hour represents a loop back to where music first became a passion in his life. Although Mark has played electric guitars in much louder bands over the years, he was originally pulled into music by more gentle and contemplative artists. Mark was a founding member of the country-rock band "Horsefeather" in the mid-1970s, enjoying a great deal of local and regional success before he changed musical directions and "went solo" in the late 1980s. A nationally known maker of guitars and other stringed instruments, including clients such as Joel Mabus and The Dixie Chicks, Mark combines an encyclopedic knowledge of songs with an enviable talent for playing them. He also adds harmonica and mandolin flavors to 13th Hour’s eclectic stew of a song list.

Jay Round started learning the guitar when he was 4 years old and could play a number of stringed instruments before he was 10. Around 1970 he began his professional music career, and it was at the Arkansas Folk Festival in the early 70's where Jay met Grand Ole Opry star Grandpa Jones who took a liking to Jay's upright bass playing. Grandpa Jones invited Jay to Nashville in October 1973 during the taping of Hee-Haw and hired him to play bass with his band throughout the latter half of the 1970's. Jay recorded his first record album using the hammered dulcimer in 1974, and three others followed. During this time Jay was also the opening act for several Nashville stars including Hank Snow, Ernest Tubb, Crystal Gayle, Little Jimmy Dickens, and Dotty West throughout the United States and Canada. In 1984-85 the United States Department of Defense hired Jay to join the band Trans-Mason-Dixon Interplanetary Pickers for an extended concert tour of military sites throughout Asia, northern Africa, and Europe. From the mid 80's to the mid 90's Jay became more involved with audio production, working the sound system for such well known acts as the Marshall Tucker Band, Captain and Tenille, Neil Sedaka, Frankie Valle and the Four Seasons, and many others.

When the situation calls for it, The 13th hour is most pleased to be joined by drummer Tommy Davis. Tom has so many drumming credits attached to his name they are too numerous to mention but he has travelled the world playing for Gatemouth Brown, and Roy Clark. Tom has appeared on Austin City Limits and Hee Haw, and played locally with Grand Rapids notable Ronnie Fray.

Although they all took quite different paths into the same band, their shared passion for music and their uniquely special chemistry is what continues to drive them. 13th Hour shows feature a fresh-sounding mix of original compositions and songs from their favorite writers and musicians. Audiences have responded very well to the mix of classic and new material.

Here's a link to our complete schedule.

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