The Storytellers is a progressive bluegrass ensemble whose repertoire represents a unique blend of traditional bluegrass, country-blues, folk and jamgrass music.

The Storytellers is a prominent progressive bluegrass ensemble on the Southern California Roots music scene. The band’s extensive repertoire draws from the rich canon of traditional bluegrass, country blues, old time, and folk music as a basis for inspired improvisations and intrepid vocal harmonies.

They took just one year to go from busking on street corners of Los Angeles to gracing stages of bars, taverns, regional fairs and music festivals throughout the state. The Storytellers’ strong musical chemistry allows them to bring soulful and joyful harmonies, delicate acoustic sensibilities, soaring grooves, tight rhythms, substantive storytelling, and their own hippie, bluegrassy vibe to every stage they stand on.

Legendary folk music promoter Bob Stane stated: “The Storytellers are wonderful singers, and energetic, passionate players. We’re thrilled to have them spin their tales on our stage.”

The Bluegrass Standard wrote: “This outfit is as steeped in values of the past as they are keen on keeping things fresh for today’s listening ear.”

Bluegrass Today said: “The Storytellers seeks to bridge the gap between the traditional bluegrass and jamgrass worlds and have become known for their grassy covers of Grateful Dead songs.”

Founded in the Fall of 2017 as a duo, the complete band formed in February of 2018, performing more than 30 Los Angeles-area shows through the end of the year. This intensive schedule included defining performances at historic venues such as The Mint, Molly Malone’s, Coffee Gallery Backstage, and a spellbinding set at the Laurel Canyon Love Street Festival, sharing the bill with Micky Dolenz, Wilson Phillips and Chris Stills.

The Storytellers have performed at the June Lake Jam Fest, the Huck Finn Jubilee, the Prescott Bluegrass Festival, the Calico Bluegrass Festival, the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival, as well as at numerous other regional fairs and festivals. They have performed at the Orange County Fair and Ventura County Fair. The band recently completed a year-long residency at Gilley’s Dancehall & Saloon at Treasure Island Casino and Resort in Las Vegas, and has earned residencies at several prominent venues. In April 2023, the band became the first bluegrass band to perform on the large stage at the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) trade show in Orange County, CA.

The band consists of Scott Diehl (Guitar, Vocals), Lance Frantzich (Bass, Vocals), Tyler Emerson (Fiddle) and Steve Stelmach (Washboard, Percussion).