Silver City originated in the D.C. area, where the band had a popular ten-year run and released their first CD, Somewhere in These Hills. The California version of the band has been taking the stage in Northern California since 2023. Their new EP, Train at the Station, was released in August 2025 and is available on popular streaming platforms. Leta Simons (guitar, vocals): When Leta was twelve years old, her mother pulled out an old guitar from the closet and strummed a few chords. Leta took it from there and has been singing and playing ever since. She honed her songwriting skills in Nashville, where she was a featured singer/songwriter at writer’s nights in the round. Leta was living in Alaska when she met bass player and future husband Dan Pollak. In her new hometown of Folsom, she spends her artistic time playing and writing music and developing the repertoire and arrangements for Silver City. Dan Pollak (bass, vocals): Dan began his music career playing saxophone in jazz ensembles, but his love of bluegrass eventually inspired him to take up the upright bass. A temporary job in Juneau, Alaska, led to the formation of his first string band with Leta in 2008. In addition to Silver City, Dan has played bass in a variety of string bands in D.C. and the Sacramento area, and he still picks up the sax occasionally to play with area jazz ensembles. Giorgi Khokhobashvili (fiddle): Originally from Georgia (the one on another continent), Giorgi moved to Sacramento in 2005 and quickly became an integral part of the Northern California music community. In addition to Silver City, he performs with a variety of bands, including Jazz Gitan, Jessica Malone Band, and The Sky Kings. For his day job, he teaches strings at the Cedar Springs Waldorf School. Tom Shewmake (mandolin): Tom has performed for over 25 years and has shared the stage with Keith Little and Dan Crary. As a teenager, he started his own family band and participated in the CBA’s Kids on Bluegrass program. More recently, he has been seen all around the West Coast as a member of the string band One Button Suit. Tom’s unique style of playing is crafted from a blend of traditional and modern techniques, as heard on his album of original material, Blindside.
