About Greg Ziesemer

Greg Ziesemer is no stranger to the Indiana music scene. For over forty years, his pioneering work in jam bands, bluegrass outfits, and Americana singer-songwriter projects has cemented his status as a key figure in Central Indiana’s live music community.

With his wealth of experience and a renewed outlook on music and life, Ziesemer is in the midst of a full-blown creative renaissance. Having overcome a decades-long battle with addiction, he’s never been so determined to follow through on the clear-minded vision that sobriety has brought into focus.

His revitalized songwriting is bearing fruit, with plans to record and take his compositions on the road. After several bleak years, it’s a new beginning filled with hope, spirit, and positivity.

Ziesemer is busier than ever. From remastering past albums to unearthing turn-of-the-century acoustic demos, a wealth of legacy material is poised for release. Crowning these efforts is an upcoming EP of new songs, recorded with the help of his talented son, Jack.

He explains, "I see my songs as prisms, more than lenses, through which I reflect and refract the common, and exceptional, experiences of life. Through music, I believe, we can all heal and grow."

HISTORY

Based out of Indianapolis, Ziesemer first appeared on the scene in 1982 as a founding member and bassist of the legendary Central Indiana psychedelic jam band The Spirtles. Famous for their Grateful Dead covers, The Spirtles left little room for Ziesemer’s own creativity.

After leaving the group in 1988, he formed a series of jam bands, including Cheshire Grin, EarthTones, and Jam Sammich, which gave him the artistic freedom he had long sought. The EarthTones enjoyed a colorful eleven-year run that culminated in the release of their Earthbones album in 1998, a lively showcase of infectious energy and standout talent.

In the early 2000s, Ziesemer followed a new path, channeling his love of roots music into his debut solo album, Baptism of Fire (2001), a diverse collection of bluegrass, traditional singer-songwriter fare, and fiery rockers.

He then formed the bluegrass group Spud Puppies, who released two albums. Around the same time, Ziesemer began a musical partnership with his soon-to-be wife, Kriss Luckett. Together they released the acclaimed Americana album Virginia in 2007, showcasing the songwriting and vocal talents. A decade later, their young son Jack joined the duo, becoming the aptly named Jack Z & The Legal Guardians.

With a nod to the past, Ziesemer is planning to reissue both Earthbones and Baptism of Fire in newly remastered form, along with the archival set of acoustic tracks, National Road, named after his award-winning song.

Today, flying completely solo, Greg Ziesemer is breaking new ground once again. His passionate view of humanity shines through in revealing artistry, all delivered with a twist of humor and a playful wink. A natural-born storyteller, Ziesemer has long enthralled audiences and continues to do so in his recordings and on the road, sharing performances that are heartfelt, witty, and unforgettable.