Sid Omasta Raised in New England, Sid Omasta began guitar lessons at age 10, and played
in high school rock/pop bands when the Beatles were still new. A bass guitar
was the weapon of choice then. The folky seeds were probably planted by the
likes of Peter, Paul and Mary back in the hootenanny days. The Scottish group
The Incredible Stringband has also been a profound influence. Being a
multi-instrumentalist was attractive so many strings were acquired. (a.k.a. mandolin,
fiddle, balalaika, banjo) Then there was contradance music in the 70's. Along
with a move to Ohio, the 80's ushered in a period of jazz (upright bass) that
is still a mainstay of Sid's musical diet. Saturdays usually find Sid playing
jazz standards on bass in a trio at the Capital Club in Columbus. Some Mondays
he plays bass in Vaughn Wiester's Famous Jazz Orchestra at the Columbus Music
Hall. He's recorded and performed with composer/pianist Bradley Sowash and
also with Columbus diva Michele Horsefield-Carney. As a member of the Irish
group Stark Raven he holds down the positions of fiddler, bassist, mandolinist,
and backup vocalist. He and musical partner Beckie Boger have been providing
acoustic original and folk music for weddings, coffee houses, and churches for
over 15 years. Most recently he's joined the Timbre Wolves and returned to
some of those folky stringband roots that just won't quit. (Since 1985 Sid's
real job has been repairing instruments at the Loft Violin Shop in Columbus.)