“This is genuine kickass rockin’ roots music – I love their CD – it’s become my favorite CD!”
-Lester Chambers
“Great to hear really good roots music in this Britney-fied day and age. The guitar work is really good. The Kennedys like the U-Liners.”
-Pete & Maura Kennedy
The U-Liners play a wide variety of music in the roots-rock genre including bluegrass, country, swing, rock’n roll, folk, folk-rock, country-rock, blues, rhythm & blues, and more.
The U-Liners have a deep and eclectic repertoire ideal for dancing or listening. A rare specialty of this group is a wealth of songs—old and new—coming from the work and labor experience, including songs of hope, civil rights, peace, and environmental justice. The band is perfect for rallies, conventions, educational seminars, and more.
A new band, The U-Liners first two gigs were the Mercury Ballroom in New York City, and three-day stay in Las Vegas.
Joe Uehlein — Guitar, Vocals
Joe’s been playing in bands for 38 years and has played all across the US, as well as in Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Great Britain, and Venezuela. Joe’s music over the years has spanned genres from rock’n roll to bluegrass, folk to jazz, country to Motown, and more. From his early days working in an aluminum mill in Central Pennsylvania Joe developed a keen interest in working class music and has become a well known performer of songs of work, hope, and freedom. Joe’s former rock band, The Bones of Contention, performed with Billy Bragg. Joe is President of The Labor Heritage Foundation, a labor arts organization.
Avril Smith — Guitar, Vocals
A Washington Area Music Association (WAMMIE)-nominated instrumentalist, Avril began playing the guitar at age 8 and has played a wide range of styles over the years -- everything from jazz to rock to bluegrass. Avril also plays mandolin with the Celtic trio Tinsmith and with singer-songwriter Franklin Taggart. Avril also plays mandolin, bass, and dobro.
Larry Ferguson — Drums, Percussion
Larry plays percussion full-time for the U.S. Army band, Pershing’s Own. He also plays in the jazz trio, Meta, and in a rock band. Larry Ferguson is a Kentucky native who began playing percussion in 6th grade. He is a 1999 graduate of Western Kentucky University (BME) with a degree in music education and a 2001 graduate of the University of Michigan (MM) with a Masters degree in percussion performance. Besides currently being a member of the U.S. Army Band, Larry is a busy freelancer in the Washington D.C. area playing everything from jazz to symphonic percussion and everything in between. He currently lives in Alexandria, VA with his wife Carrie and their two rescue dogs Buster and Sadie.
Aura Kanegis — Vocals
A veteran of roots-rock band Cravin' Dogs and women's a cappella groups Quintessential and Oberlin's Nothing but Treble, Aura has performed for audiences at the 9:30 club, the Barns at Wolf Trap, the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the United Nations, the Supreme Soviet, and a range of venues throughout the mid-Atlantic region and the Southwest. In addition to her current band Zeala, Aura performs in an acoustic songwriting duo with Avril Smith for caffeinated audiences throughout the DC area.
Stefan Custodi – Bass, Vocals
Musically diverse, Stefan plays both electric and upright bass. He plays in the jazz trio, Meta, and in a variety of bluegrass bands in the Washington, DC area. Stefan also plays bluegrass guitar. Stefan developed his interest in roots music while living and studying music in South Carolina.
