the name Moonshine immediately conjures two images. One is that of the light coming from the celestial body that illuminates the night, and the other being that of the bootlegger spreading intoxicating joy. This is Moonshine in a nutshell, though our story goes much further. Moonshine was founded in Macon,Georgia in the summer of 1996 when the spontaneous jam sessions of Scott Basten, Ray Petren, and Jeremy Marin crossed paths with the drive and ambition of the fourth founding member,Steffans Hardin. Between the four members, there was a wealth of original material to explore, and began as hopeful as parents giving birth to their first new born child. The group began in the three bedroom house shared by at the time Petren, Marin, and soon after, Hardin. In the following winter, the foursome was joined by a fifth member, Will Robinson who plays the mandolin, drums, percussion, and the harp. Without hesitation the band began working hard to fine tune the moonshine sound. A blend of blues, rock, jazz, and bluegrass with overtones of all type of world music. With the addition of Robinson came the strengthening of four part vocal harmonies over strong melodies, and an able addition to an incredible creative force. Within six months Moonshine dad already completed 30 original songs, and we had several others which we did not have the time to explore. Just as we thought things were going well our next stroke of bad luck literally crept up on us, " Like a thief in the night". Jeremy came home to find $7,000.00 worth of equipment missing. Determined to carry on, we contacted every music store and pawn shop in the area. Our relentless efforts paid off as most of the lost equipment and the suspect were apprehended in a local music store. With the fury of 10,000 men scorned we hit the Macon Music Scene hard playing to large crowds at O'Nealeigh's Pub and The Downtown Tavern. These shows were followed by an opportunity to open for Col. Bruce Hampton and the Fiji Mariners at Macon Music City Bar&Grill where we received a standing ovation from a 400 plus crowd. unfoutuniately, shortly following this high point, Steffans Hardin was force to split with the band due to various irreconcilable differences. The Band found that once more they were left one step behind. However, remaining creative as ever, constantly rising above. The loss of a key member of our group has turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as we have grown to become more tight than ever, both musically and creatively. We have, since then, realized that this is the time in which we really became Moonshine. Fortunately, we have been blessed by being well rounded. personally and musically, and have managed to fill in the space quite comfortably. You can often find us switching instruments on stage to accommodate for different styles and arrangements. We are also working with a host of other musicians and artist in an effort to revitalize the artistically stunned Middle Georgia Community. Moonshine is notorious for playing with special guest. This includes Berklee graduate Newton Collier(Sam&Dave,Otis Redding Jr.), Elbert Durham(Top Grade), and Tim Potts (formally of Gypsy Train). moonshine,by providing meaningful songs with a multitude of influences has become a mainstay in the Southern Music Community. Through all of our trials our character grows stronger and our vitality only increases. Together, the four of us can not even keep up with our own creative impulses and often find ourselves with a back burner boiling over with new material. We are constantly striving to make new and better music, thus breaking the Generation x/garage band mold so often ascribed to young bands. Moonshine continues to write soulful, intelligent songs ranging from the , deep down bluesy "Cotton Street" to the snake like Arabian style "Spindle" to the spiritually uplifting African rhythms of "They say the People". We have recently played at the Georgia Allman Brothers Association(GABBA) Annual Festival and placed 2nd at the 1997 Mercer University's Battle of the Bands. Also, on December 10th,1997 moonshine held a benefit for the Georgia Children's Home that raised more than $700.00 to buy Christmas presents for troubled teens. Most recently, we have been working in the studio at the legendary Phoenix Studio on our first album, and we expect to to have a release in mid-May. In the meantime, Moonshine continues to build a large grass-roots following with spectacular live shows throughout the South. Ray Petren,Moonshine circa 1996