About the Mamas
From John’s Island SC, the heartland of the Lowcountry, the founding members of the Marshgrass Mamas came together in 2001 and have been creating their own form of swampy music for over two decades.
While they are at home among the marshes and songs of the shorebirds, the roots of their music stem from the heart and soul of traditional Bluegrass and Appalachian Old-Time classics. The Marshgrass Mamas have not only stuck to their roots, but have also evolved a unique sound of their own from their talents and time together.
The Mamas are known not just for playing music but also for being more than entertaining on stage, all the while stomping out their signature sounds. Beautiful harmonies mixed with a good splash of ridiculousness are sure to melt your heart and keep you coming back for more hence their consistently sold-out shows. If “girls’ weekend” was a band…it’d be the Mamas.
KRISTEN MEIERER plays acoustic bass and much of the Mama’s hilarious songwriting. She was born and raised in Eustis, Florida on a lake where they spent most of their time on the water. Kristen’s Uncle John played guitar and sang in various bands, and because of his influence Kristen picked up the guitar at a young age. After marrying her husband Jeff, they decided to use their wedding money to buy an upright bass and formed a band called YeeHaw Junction. Kristen has performed bluegrass music throughout the South and as far away as Great Britain. She resides on Johns Island, SC and is self-employed as a CPA.
CARY ANN HEARST was born in Mississippi and raised in Nashville until she attended the College of Charleston in 1997. Hearst is married to Michael Trent and together they tour as Shovels & Rope. Her influences are rooted in the soulful, gritty sounds of Townes Van Zandt, Bob Dylan, and Loretta Lynn, among others. They have played big stages from the David Letterman Show to the Grand Old Opry and all points in between and continue to tour extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe. They record and reside on Johns Island, SC.
DOLORES “DEE” PAYNE plays the five-string banjo for the Mamas. She was born and raised on Johns Island, where she lives with her husband, Gary. Her love of music and dance began at home and stemmed from her father'’s Czech heritage and her mother’’s love of music. She learn to play organ and guitar, which later sparked an interest in bluegrass. Dolores learned a unique style of banjo from friends with an interest in folk and bluegrass. She also learned the Appalachian clogging dances. Dolores is a lover of plants, animals and all thing Johns Island.
CHANDLER MARBURG plays guitar and fiddle, and also provides lead and harmony vocals. Chandler is the daughter of folk/bluegrass musician Bill Clifton and was born in Charlottesville, VA. She grew up in England where she attended school until the age of sixteen and then returned to the US to finish school in New Hampshire. Her enthusiasm for traditional folk and bluegrass music grew from listening to her father and traveling with him to various music festivals and concerts around Europe and in the United States. She has been a Montessori educator for over 30 years and lives on Wadmalaw Island, SC.
GINA PEREZ was born and raised in South Carolina. Her love of the fiddle began in her twenties when she began learning Appalachian Old-Time Fiddle tunes. Her joy of playing fiddle tunes led her to eventually play in bands like The Butterbeans, The Brillers, and Cane Creek String Band. During those years Gina also began playing upright bass and currently performs with local group The Yum Yum Boys Old Time Jazz Band. She enjoys playing music with her daughter, Rayna, who is also becoming an accomplished fiddler. When not playing music they are surfing, grow indigo, and cruise the Lowcountry waterways.
CAITLIN CAHILL plays the banjolele and adds harmony and lead vocals to the Mamas. Growing up in Nashville, TN, she went to art school in Chicago for photography and web design. She ended up in Charleston after visiting family there her entire life and wanting to make a move from LA. Once there she started singing professionally with cover and wedding bands, and then took a 3 year trip to NYC. Finally returning to the south, she was introduced to the Mamas by her sister-in-law, Lauren Bevins, who was their mandolinist at the time. She currently spends time (when she has it) as a quilter and textile artist, the Mamas’ web/social media gal, and lives on Johns Island with her son.
SKYE PAIGE grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and started playing in the clubs at the age of 18. She has an extensive catalog of original songs and is known for her upbeat bluesy rock style. She plays slide guitar with the Mamas, but is also well known for her cigar box guitar and also plays lap steel, ukulele, banjo, and auto harp.
Skye has toured all over the USA fronting her own band and won guitar competitions at the House of Blues and other prestigious festivals, as well as being awarded Best New Artist and Best Song by the Charleston City Paper. She’s the mom of two grown sons now resides on Folly Beach SC.
BECCA SMITH is a native of Columbia, South Carolina. She grew up in a musical home and, as legend has it, she sang in the crib as a baby. Becca began playing guitar by the time she was 10, and shortly afterwards began her journey as a songwriter. She also attended College of Charleston, where she double-majored in German and Arts Management. After college, Becca released her self-produced debut album, entitled I-26, in July of 2018. She was also awarded Charleston City Paper's "Best Singer-Songwriter" of '18. She currently plays with her husband Coty Hoover as Admiral Radio.