Magnolia Street String Band started in 2013 as an informal project between Matthew Backes and Sheila Shukla and friends in Highland Park, NJ. Paul Prestopino, Bobby Baxmeyer, Ron Greenstein, Gary Olyear and Nick Conte later joined the group, bringing rock solid, driving rhythm, sweet harmonies and hot pickin’. 

Since 2014 the band has played a steady stream of shows to ever larger and more appreciative audiences. They have played festival stages, state fairs, weddings, parties, hootenannies, honky tonks, and more refined events as well. Their music is grounded in traditional bluegrass with elements of cosmic Americana, country, and old-time as well as original compositions to round out the group’s repertoire.  The band’s sound features powerful three-part harmonies and compelling instrumentals with virtuosic fiddle and banjo, driving mandolin, guitar and bass. Overall, their take on bluegrass feels old but relevant, traditional but personal, and well crafted but soulful and direct. Their first full-length album, Wrong Side of the Rain, was released in June, 2019.

Look out for “By the Light of the Moon”, a bluegrass album for children. The album was written by Sheila Shukla and family and arranged, produced and performed by Magnolia Street String Band and Bob Harris.