Bluegrass as a musical style has survived its first fifty years, seemingly in pretty good shape. Bands can be found playing this musical form around the world now. Out here in the American West, we find quite a range of substyles in the music. As the music changes, it is the challenge of the performer to bring something of his own to the style, while keeping the basic form intact.

Peter Feldmann has been studying, performing, and collecting the music for more than 40 years. He has been delighting audiences with folk, old time, bluegrass and what he call "neo-classic country music" throughout the West. His activities have encompassed music tours, the founding of an established music club (Santa Barbara's Blue Bird Café), 21 years of radio and TV production, creating a record company (Sonyatone Records), and producing countless concerts, workshops, etc., along with the founding of the Santa Barbara Old Time Fiddlers' Convention, now in its 31st year. His website, BluegrassWest.com, is a center of information on the music as performed in the Western US.

Peter Feldmann and the Very Lonesome Boys have been performing together since 1996, and include David West, banjo; Tommy Marton, fiddle; and Mike Nadolson, guitar. Their approaches to the music range from traditional bluegrass to much more progressive sounds. Other musical activities of the VLB include David's "Play Ball Productions" studio, Mike's "Tricopolis Records", and Tom Lee's activities as a traditional jazz bassist.