The Lost and Nameless Orchestra channels music that moves dancers' feet and provokes smiles and raised glasses, no matter where they play. Equally at home in a bar, at a contra dance, at a banquet reception, or on a concert stage, their rich sound fills hearts and souls all around.

Founders Chris E. Peterson and Patrick Conway have been playing together since 1993, when they met in St. Louis, Missouri. They formed an immediate bond, playing traditional fiddle tunes and writing and recording their own compositions. Their obvious path was to become a busking duo in Europe in 1994 - hey, why not? Their travels together took them as far North in Europe to Karlstad, Sweden, to Prague, to Amsterdam, and all over Germany. Upon Patrick's move to Austin in 2006, they determined to form an insanely great live band, one that could easily handle Americana / Folk-Rock / Traditional Fiddle Music / Singer-Songwriter styles, and more. They expanded the group, and expanded again, and have stabilized for now on seven key musicians... but guests do show up from time to time! Yet their sound and style holds true, whether performing as a trio or as the full "orchestra."

Raised in Arkansas, Chris E. Peterson has been playing the fiddle since the age of 7. In addition to the fiddle, you'll hear him playing resophonic slide guitar, mandola, glockenspiel, and guitar... and sometimes singing!

 

Patrick Conway (The Quiet One) plays guitar and sings.

 

Harmoni Kelley has played bass in various bands in and around Austin, but she loves The Lost & Nameless Orchestra best of all! (We had to bribe her with coffee and shoes for her to say that.)

 

Nathan Quiring, player of various keyboards, was raised in Plainfield, NJ, where he started learning to play the piano as soon as he learned to read. Equally comfortable playing melodica or pipe organ, Nathan enjoys providing the texture for the orchestra.

 

Kimberly "Kaz" Zielnicki, said to be Round Rock's finest young bluegrass fiddler in a band or group of five or more players, has learned many things in the past few months: From Chris, fiddling; from Patrick, showmanship; from the rest of the group, restraint.