In February of 2016, Mike Gridley and Susan Coleman decided to experiment with a musical idea: On a cold winter afternoon, Susan, a non-musician (but a diehard fan), wrote what became the first of many lyrics to a song that began to take shape in her head. Husband Mike, an accomplished local musician and songwriter himself, took her lyrics and basic ideas and brought them to life! Amazed and energized by the creation, they collaborated on another song…and another. Many others. They began sending rough tracks to their close friend and fellow musician Taylor Bucci, who immediately felt the potential for a real collaboration. Further encouragement and songwriting approval by other friends and musicians gave Susan the confidence to continue.

Before long, Susan and Mike completed a repertoire of dozens of songs, the best of which were selected for their debut album Anthracite. The new group, Harmonic Dirt, recorded at Greywood Studio in Jamesville, NY. With mastering at Subcat Studio in Syracuse, NY and the album was released in December 2017. A SAMMY award winning live album followed in mid-2020; a second studio album “Rhode Island Street”, dropped in January 2021, and EP, “Blame the Horizon” in September 2021.

Beginning in 2018, James DaRin joined the band as a percussionist, and the band has performed live as a quartet ever since, with Mike on lead vocals, guitar and mandolin, Susan on bass, Taylor on banjo and harmony vocals, and James on drums and percussion. The group has performed at the Center for the Arts in Homer, NY, the Brewerton Center for the Arts, the Nelson Odeon, the Westcott Theater, Chevy Court at the NY State Fair, and a variety of other local venues in CNY. This endeavor is a testament to the power of confidence, the magic of compatible musical visions, and blind faith!