Van Ghost is a band from

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

, Illinois, formed by concert promoter Michael Harrison Berg and featuring vocalist Jennifer Hartswick. In 2007 after building up a solid repertoire of folk ballads, gritty Americana tunes and classic rock laced jams, Berg assembled an all-star cast of musicians and named the project Van Ghost. With a six-piece band flavored with pedal steel and psychedelic guitars, rhythm section, and haunting guy/girl harmonies, the band played its debut show before a packed audience at Chicago's revered Metro in January 2008. Following up their debut record, “Melodies For Lovers“, on Split Red Records, the band headed down to Nashville, TN to begin the tracking of their next release. With 2009 Grammy award-winning Producer/Engineer/Mixer, Justin Niebank at the helm the band's sound continues to develop and expand. Featured vocalist Jennifer Hartswick inspires audiences all over the world with her powerful voice and commanding trumpet playing. She exudes confidence and joy and brings her own refreshing spirit to the stage every time she performs. Jennifer's live performances are renowned as spontaneous, joyful and contagious. At the age of 20, having already recorded on two albums with

Trey Anastasio Ernest Joseph "Trey" Anastasio III (born September 30, 1964) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Phish, which he co-founded in 1983. He is credited by name as composer of 152 Phish o ...

(Story of the Ghost, Phish, 1998, and One Man's Trash, Trey Anastasio, 1998), Jennifer was asked to join Anastasio's new band. She has been an integral part of the band for the last ten years touring internationally and sharing the stage and studio with such legends as Carlos Santana, Dave Matthews, The Rolling Stones and Herbie Hancock. She has also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Austin City Limits, and many more. Van Ghost's sound, categorized as

Alt-Country Alternative country, or alternative country rock (sometimes alt-country, insurgent country, Americana, or y'allternative), is a loosely defined subgenre of country music and/or country rock that includes acts that differ significantly in style ...

, is comparable to

O.A.R. O.A.R. (short for Of A Revolution) is an American rock band, founded in 1996 in Rockville, Maryland. The band consists of lead vocalist/guitarist Marc Roberge, drummer Chris Culos, guitarist Richard On, bassist Benj Gershman, saxophonist/guitar ...

and

Widespread Panic Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Duane Trucks, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and g ...

. With a revolving line-up of guest musicians, Van Ghost tours regularly at music festivals across the country including

Summer Camp Music Festival The Summer Camp Music Festival is a multi-day music festival created by Jay Goldberg Events & Entertainment and held annually on Memorial Day Weekend at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, Illinois. The event typically attracts around 20,000 visi ...

Mountain Jam "Mountain Jam" is an improvised instrumental jam by The Allman Brothers Band, based on Donovan's 1967 hit song "There Is a Mountain". The first known recording of a performance was done on May 4, 1969, at Macon Central Park. "Mountain Jam" was ...

, Bear Creek, and the Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival. Van Ghost made its recorded debut in 2009 with the CD ''Melodies for Lovers'' on Split Red Records. Van Ghost is: *Michael Harrison Berg: Lead Vocals/Guitar *Jennifer Hartswick: Vocals *Rocco Labriola: Pedal Steel *Grant Tye: Guitar *Klem Hayes: Bass *Greg Marsh: Drums The original line-up on "Melodies For Lovers" (through 2009): *Michael Harrison Berg: Lead Vocals/Guitar *Jennifer Hartswick: Vocals *Rocco Labriola: Pedal Steel *Dan Wean: Guitar *John Cwiok: Bass *Cory Healy: Drums Guest Musicians: *Mike Poupko: Guitar *

Greg Spero Greg Spero (born February 22, 1985) is an American pianist from Highland Park, Illinois. He has toured with Halsey and the Miles Electric Band and has composed music for film and television. He leads the jazz band Spirit Fingers. He also runs a ...

: Keyboards *Allie Kral: Fiddle *Nick Cassarino: Guitar *Jeff Greene: Bass

References

{{reflist Musical groups from Chicago American alternative country groups