Gypsy Wind is Florida's premiere acoustic newgrass, swing and gypsy jazz ensemble. Like gypsies traveling on the wind, this versatile band's sound carries its listeners across borders and through time. A musical journey from the Kentucky bluegrass of Bill Monroe to the gypsy swing of Django Reinhardt to the Cosmic American Music of Gram Parsons.

Gypsy Wind has shared the playbill with such bluegrass greats as The Rice Brothers, Tim & Mollie O'Brien, Mark Johnson, The Waybacks, The Greencards and the John Cowan Band. They have opened for the legendary Norman Blake, Del McCoury, Dan Hicks and performed live with fiddle virtuoso Vassar Clements at the Florida Folk Festival.

Gypsy Wind's unique style and fine musicianship has captivated audiences everywhere from Key West up to the home of bluegrass in Kentucky, and all over the Southeastern US. The band’s diverse sound and energetic performances make them the ideal group for any occasion.

Michael Godwin

Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, Vocals

Michael's musical roots were seeded by his father, Walter. He began playing banjo at age 13 and continued to study a wide range of musical instruments. Today, Michael teaches and performs various instruments including guitar, bass, mandolin and the low brass family. Throughout high school, he played with local string bands, school ensembles and toured with the Suncoast Sound Drum and Bugle Corps. During college he performed with Mr. John Fadis and the Bob Hope Show Band. Michael and Billy Sandlin, a guest performer on the Gypsy Wind CD, played with Bill Monroe at his final show in Tarpon Springs, Florida. His pursuit of a musical career has also enabled him to participate as an opening performer for bands including Crosby, Stills, & Nash, the Pat Metheny Group, Little Feat and Jefferson Starship. Michael and Gypsy Wind had the pleasure to accompany the legendary violinist, Vassar Clements, at the 2001 Florida Folk Festival. Today he shares his talents with a host of regional bands and teaches music locally.

Kristen Holloway

Flute, Guitar, Vocals

Kristen began playing the flute at age ten and continued her musical training in high school and college. Her exposure to music at a young age paved the way for the formation of their family band, "Grass with Class," and later their album, Friends, as well as other rewarding projects. The influence of David Grisman and the "Dawg" movement opened the door for Kristen to explore another realm of her musicianship. Her vocal influences include Emmylou Harris, Claire Lynch, Nancy Griffith and Shawn Colvin.

Mark Robertson-Tessi

Mandolin, Vocals

Mark has been playing music on various instruments since the age of six, a journey that has taken him through classical and jazz piano, organ, guitar, bass, and violin. In college, he studied audio recording and music theory, and met his wife, harpist Jennifer Robertson-Tessi. He picked up the mandolin about 10 years ago and it has since become his favorite instrument. He has played and toured with a number of acts, including banjo player Tim Weed, singer-songwriter Nathan McEuen, Irish band Round the house, and newgrass band the String Figures. His influences are many and varied, including Tiny Moore, JS Bach, Mark Knopfler, Anibal Troilo, Barthelemy Attisso, and Thelonius Monk.

Rob Williams

Bass, Vocals

Rob first started playing the bass while in his teens when his grandmother bought him a bass and lessons for his birthday. Rob's earliest musical influence came from his grandfather, who was a self-taught musician; playing everything from the tuba and trumpet to the ukulele and guitar. While living in Cincinnati, Ohio after graduating from the University of Colorado, Rob wandered into the Old Time Music Shoppe and purchased a 1946 Kay Bass. This led him to start spending more time in Bluegrass and acoustic music circles. His interest in Bluegrass flourished when Rob began discovering acts such as The Del McCoury Band, Newgrass Revival, as well as the traditional sounds of Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs. Rob continues to be influenced by all types of music from Django Reinhardt to Jerry Garcia, Talking Heads to Tony Rice, and Beck to Bob Dylan among many others.