Djypsy Grass — The "D" stands for Django; the "Grass" is from bluegrass; the sound is contagious: "Laughter and/or dancing occurred in 100% of respondents." The high energy performances combine eastern European influences, bluegrass, and swing styles with Celtic and classical tunes, focused on Americana and Old Europe. Style changes are quick and surprising, due to the short attention span of the group's founders: Michi Regier and Sandy Reay.

Violinist Michi Regier was called a "musical force of nature" by author Barry Graham. She has played at Carnegie Hall and Tanglewood Institute, as well as countless venues across Asia and the Americas, but prefers smaller venues where she can take off her shoes.

On blues and Celtic bass, with vocals and original tunes as well, is webmaster Sandy Reay, who was called the busiest bass player on the Front Range. Proving that she can't hold a job, she played with several bands and performers and built and maintained many web sites for music and art.

Frequently, one or more of their talented friends joined them at gigs, so the band size varied from 1 - 8 members.

"I heard about a band that not only had different members for each gig, but different members for each set. I always wanted to be in a band like that. Sometimes we have different members for each song. Makes life interesting." — Sandy Reay

Djypsy Grass started a few years before it's initial performance in August, 2004. Michi and Sandy met at the Colorado Renaissance Festival and were in a band with Ky Hote, Owl Morrison, and Jem More. The group played 2 times at the Spur of the Moment in Larkspur. Later, Michi and Sandy joined Ky, Owl and some of their friends at a birthday celebration at the Cactus Cafe in Austin, Texas, and at the Texas Renaissance Festival.

On Aug. 11, 2004, a last-minute cancellation led to DypsyGrass opening for Open Road in Daniel's Hall at Swallow Hill.

On Aug. 22, they were on the Meadow Stage at the Swallow Hill Folk Festival at Four Mile Park.

A Labor Day weekend gig at Celtic Crossing followed, where they were helped by Gary Michaels, Paul Trunko, and Keith Frankel of the Swallow Hill House Band, and Mike Cleary and Cres "Tex" Almeria of Da Tinmen.

Michi moved to Lawrence, KS, and Gary and Sandy joined her for a concert in Kansas City on Oct. 23.

Michi moved back to the Denver area and on Nov. 5 & 6, they performed at the Denver Art Expo at Tamarac Square with Gary Michaels and Jeb Martin.

Concerts in 2005 included the Swallow Hill Cafe in January (with Julie Gussarof and John Darling, but not Sandy), and another Swallow Hill Cafe concert with John "Jake" Jacobs,

plus the Swallow Hill Shady Grove Concert Series at Four Mile Park in June (with Bob Turner, Ernie Martinez, Armando Zuppa, John Darling, Ky Hote and Julie Gussarof), and the Swallow Hill Folk Festival in August with Armando Zuppa and John Darling. Michi and Sandy also played with Red Molly, featuring B. J. Suter and Bill Farmer, at the Folk Festival.

They played at various events at The D Note and Celtic Isles Public House with Gary Michaels, Bob Turner, Steve Pierce, Bob Cooke, and Brandy Herbert.

In August, 2005, they played at the Oregon Trail Wagon Train Bluegrass Festival in Bayard, Nebraska. Michi, Sandy and Armando played three sets: a solo set on Friday, with Mark Merryman and Dave Willis on Saturday, and with Kyle and Maura O'Brien:

Then with Bob Turner on Sunday. In addition, Michi, Sandy and Armando joined Bob Turner during his set on Saturday.

Scottsbluff Star-Herald:

They spelled the name several different ways (GypsyGrass, Jypsygrass) before settling down with it's current spelling.

a portrait of the band, drawn by a fan

A benefit concert, Oct 2, 2005 (photo by Kim Davison)

The final Djypsy Grass concert was in Daniels Hall at Swallow Hill, on October 9, 2005. They were joined by Ernie Martinez.

(photo by Kim Davison)

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