Press:

“Pepper Laing and the Lonestar Killers are set to sizzle at the Old Fire Hall at Watson Art Centre (WAC), Feb. 5. Described as a bluegrass band, “with blazing fiddle, banjo, and mandolin breaks and soaring three and four-part harmonies,” Pepper Laing and the Lonestar Killers is slightly different than the average bluegrass band. “Some hard-driving bluegrass, lots of great fiddle playing,” said lead vocalist and banjo player Darcy “Pepper” Laing. The five-piece, all acoustic band plays vintage traditional tunes, he said, as well as original music. The Winnipeg-based band is Laing on lead vocals, banjo, with Matthew Contois on fiddle, John Forbes on guitar and vocals, Rod Christie on standup bass and vocals and Dan Simpson on mandolin and vocals. Laing is familiar with Dauphin, as he used to have family in the area and has performed at Dauphin’s Countryfest with a previous band and at WAC a couple of years ago.”
M.A. Nyquist - The Dauphin Herald

“While he founded successful Vancouver band Opium Underground in the ‘90s, Laing has returned to his roots. “As a kid, I had a lot of family, uncles and stuff, that played more old country and acoustic music. My mom is the oldest of 13 kids,” he explained. “So we had a lot of big family gatherings and there was always a lot of acoustic music around the corn roasts and the Christmas parties.” After six years in Vancouver, Laing returned to the prairies. “Just kind of started getting back into playing by myself acoustically and that progressed to where I’m at now with other people that are likeminded and wanting to do the same thing,” he said, adding it took a while to find a bluegrass circle in Winnipeg. “But once you tap into it, there’s a lot of good players out there. And a lot of people that are in those styles, whether it’s folk roots, old country, bluegrass, that kind of stuff,” he said.”
M.A.Nyquist - The Duphin Herald

“ According to Laing, a lot of former metal and punk musicians have gravitated to the bluegrass scene, as the music has a lot of similarities. “Some bluegrass stuff is very up-tempo and fast. Faster than anything I’ve ever played as a rock guitar player,” he said. “And the beat for a lot of the up tempo bluegrass is very like punk rock, but without drums and screaming vocals.” Doors to the Old Fire Hall open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 each and are available at Dauphin Music and Electronics, Fiddlelore Store and WAC. For more information call 638-6231 or look for the WAC event on facebook. Check out Pepper Laing and the Lonestar Killers at www.reverbnat ion.com/pepper laingandthelonestarkillers. A14 THE DAUPHIN HERALD TueSDAY, jAnuArY 26, 2010”
M.A. Nyquist - The Dauphin Herald

“Pepper Laing & The Lonestar Killers blister through two sets of dirty fast Bluegrass!”
Eugene Osudar - Guttersnipe

"You Guys are GREAT!! and we love your cd, strong strong playing and fine songwriting"
Liz Clayton - Tiger Hills Arts Association

“The Manitoban recommends up coming events in Winnipeg, top ten. Number ten "Pepper Laing & The Lonestar Killers" at Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club feb.26th.”
Tessa Vanderhart - The Manitoban