MEET THE BAND!
Raising River Band is a community of seasoned musicians brought together by original songs, rich harmonies, and a shared love of Americana, bluegrass, folk, blues, and roots music. Together, we create performances that invite audiences to laugh, reflect, sing along, and feel at home.
Raising River Band performs in several flexible configurations, from its core regional lineup to an expanded ensemble featuring longtime bandmates and guest musicians for festivals, concerts, listening rooms, community events, and private celebrations.
Now booking festivals, venues, community events, and private performances for Fall 2026 and the 2027 season.
Meet the Musicians
Sharis Swartley
Guitar • Lead Vocals • Songwriter
Sharis Swartley is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and storyteller whose original music blends Americana, folk, blues, and heartfelt storytelling. Her expressive voice, love of harmony, and natural connection with audiences are central to the sound and spirit of Raising River Band.
A lifelong songwriter, Sharis has created an extensive catalog of original music exploring hope, resilience, love, remembrance, freedom, and the beauty of everyday life. Whether sharing a moving original song or bringing laughter and warmth to the stage, her greatest hope is to help people feel more connected through music.
Steve Burr
Guitar • Banjo • Lead Vocals • Songwriter • Band Leader
Music has been part of Steve Burr’s life since he began playing guitar at nine years old. His wide-ranging musical background includes early opera training and years of performing bluegrass, country, folk, blues, classic rock, and heavy metal.
Time spent growing up on a dairy farm nurtured Steve’s love of nature, country life, and roots music. His original songwriting draws from those influences while reflecting the many people and musicians he encountered during his 20 years of military service.
As a co-founder and band leader of Raising River Band, Steve brings strong vocals, instrumental versatility, original songs, and a deep appreciation for the band’s signature harmonies. For Steve, the greatest reward is seeing the music bring joy to the people listening.
Brian Rauch
Banjo • Mandolin • Vocals
Brian Rauch is a multi-instrumentalist, music educator, and former music therapist who has studied and played music since childhood. Beginning with piano and trumpet, he later added guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, and harmonica.
Brian has performed as a solo artist and with several musical projects. During his career, he has opened for artists including Commander Cody, Savoy Brown, and Annie Haslam. He also teaches five-string banjo and harmonica at the New Jersey School of Music in Medford.
Brian’s banjo, mandolin, vocals, and deep musical experience have helped shape Raising River Band’s sound through many years of performances and friendship.
Vince “Fireball” Farabaugh
Harmonica
Vince “Fireball” Farabaugh has been part of the Northern Virginia music scene for more than 20 years. A longtime student of the blues and the harmonica, he has developed a soulful, high-energy sound through years of performing with local and regional musicians.
Originally from Gilroy, California, Vince found a deep connection to the vibrant music community surrounding Leesburg, Virginia. He is also a harmonica teacher and active collaborator whose playing brings texture, drive, energy, and unexpected color to every performance.
With Raising River Band, Vince’s harmonica adds a fiery blues and roots voice to the group’s original songs and harmony-rich arrangements.
