Anvil Theatre Presents John Reischman and the Jaybirds, December 7, 2025

New Westminster, BC. Listening to John Reischman and the Jaybirds is like finding the sweet spot between bluegrass and Appalachian-style old-time music. With master-class musicianship, the band is celebrated for its tasteful and polished sound, balancing instrumental brilliance with exceptional harmony singing. Join us for an enchanting evening of music and harmony as the Anvil Theatre Presents Grammy-winning and Juno-nominated mandolinist John Reischman and the Jaybirds, December 7, 2025.

Like the powerful mandolinist and composer at its helm, John Reischman and the Jaybirds fashion a stylish take on bluegrass that seamlessly blends original songs and instrumentals with Appalachian old-time music for a truly unique band sound. Now in their 20th year, with seven acclaimed albums and two Juno nominations, the Jaybirds are simultaneously innovative and unadorned, sophisticated and stripped-down, happily old-fashioned and 21st-century contemporary.

Bluegrass Unlimited calls John Reischman “one of the world’s undisputed masters” of the mandolin, famed for outstanding tone and taste. Many of his dozens of original instrumentals have become popular favourites for sessions and covers, such as the jam standard Saltspring. He has three critically acclaimed solo instrumental albums and has recorded on many other projects, including the Grammy-winning True Life Blues: The Songs of Bill Monroe. John also plays Latin-based jazz and choro music with highly regarded finger-style acoustic guitarist/composer John Miller; the duo has released three superb albums.

John began his career in the San Francisco Bay area in the early ’80s with the eclectic Good Ol’ Persons bluegrass band. He was an original member of the legendary “new acoustic” quartet, the jazz-influenced Tony Rice Unit, renowned for highly skilled instrumentals. John moved to Vancouver in the early ’90s and in 1999 formed the Jaybirds. Of their latest album, Folk Radio UK said “On That Other Green Shore showcases an accomplished, experienced band at the peak of their powers, with musicianship of the very highest order.” Peghead Nation called it “one of the most beguiling bluegrass-rooted recordings of 2017.”

In addition to his solo career, as leader of John Reischman and the Jaybirds, John and his talented U.S. and Canadian bandmates – Nick Hornbuckle, Trisha Gagnon, Patrick Sauber and Greg Spatz – have toured extensively throughout North America and abroad for two decades, bringing a uniquely Pacific Northwest sound to their brand of bluegrass and melodic fiddle tunes. They’ve earned two coveted Juno Award nominations for the best performances in the Canadian organisation’s “Roots and Traditional” category, and have released seven albums during their 20-year tenure.

Nanaimo, BC-based Nick Hornbuckle has developed his own voice on the five-string banjo – a two-finger roll unlike other contemporary banjo players. “Nick Hornbuckle’s banjo can be downright spine-tingling,” said the L.A Daily News. Chilliwack, BC-based Trisha Gagnon is portrayed by Sing Out! as “one of the most versatile” and “irresistible” lead vocalists in bluegrass, her strong and distinctive style ranging from “mournful and plaintive” to “hopeful and yearning.”

Los Angeles, CA based guitarist Patrick Sauber joined the Jaybirds in 2017. The veteran performer has played with, among others, Doc Watson, Richard Greene, John Jorgensen, Peter Rowan, Tim O’Brien and John Fogerty. Spokane, WA-based Greg Spatz is hailed as a “world-class bluegrass fiddler” by Fiddler Magazine. Audiophile Audition says Greg’s “virtuosic playing is flawlessly delivered time after time,” while Bluegrass Unlimited says he “lays down some seriously fine bluegrass fiddle” on the latest

The 2025/2026 Anvil Theatre Presentation series is a celebration of artistic excellence. No bells and whistles. Just artists at the height of their craft showcasing their art at its purest form. The series features artists of incredible calibre. This season, prepare to discover the performing arts again.

About the Anvil Theatre: (www.anviltheatre.ca)
Anvil Theatre is a state-of-the-art performance space, thoughtfully designed to offer a vibrant and engaging audience experience. The flexibility of the theatre allows for a diverse offering of performances and genres, from intimate music encounters to dynamic multidisciplinary theatre happenings, immersive dance shows and plays. The Theatre hosts productions from a range of producers including Patrick Street Productions, Vancouver Chamber Music Society, Laughter Zone 101, Arts Club Theatre, Royal Canadian Theatre Company, PuSh International Performing Arts Festival and an array of community arts and celebrations. The theatre has a mandate to provide exciting performance and cultural opportunities for the community to enjoy in the years to come.

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