The Ghost Light Revue

The Ghost Light Revue was formed in 2014 by husband-and-wife song-writing duo Ryan and Lisa Timmons.  Their aim was to create an act that floated freely between the various genres of Americana music that inspired them:  Rockabilly, Classic Country-Western, Ragtime, Jazz, Blues, Gospel and Folk.  The couple assembled an ensemble of friends and former bandmates to help them realize their vision but faced a major setback early on when successive guitar players bowed out of the project.  With no rhythm instruments remaining in the band and few prospects of finding replacements, Lisa- who had previously performed exclusively as a lead vocalist- took up the ukulele to fill in the gap.  Though initially considered a temporary solution, the ukulele fast became a defining characteristic of the group’s sound and, thus, the Ghost Light Revue, in all its quirky glory, was born. 

Over the years Ghost Light Revue has seen a number of line-up/ format changes.  The project began life as five-piece that leaned more into folk influences and incorporated both an accordion and mandolin.   Years later it was scaled back to become a guitar-driven four-piece that focused more on early New Orleans jazz  and classic country  before being scaled  back one final time to become a three-piece with a similar focus. 

As a three piece, the Ghost Light Revue has been performing regularly since 2021 in both Phoenix and Bisbee, Arizona.  The trio has taken the stage at various Phoenix -area venues including, the Yucca Tap Room, Chopper John's, Pho Cao, and  the  Blooze Bar.  In Bisbee, they have performed at The Bisbee Grand, The Courtyard, The Hitching Post, The Bisbee Social Club,  Gene's Place, The Bisbee Royale and also appeared on the 2023 edition of Bisbee's Side Pony Express Music Festival.  

The current line-up consists of Lisa Timmons on lead vocals, tenor guitar and ukulele; Ryan Timmons on upright bass and Fender bass VI; and Steve Westmoreland on drums and lap steel.   The ukulele has all but given way to tenor guitar these days (only turning up on the trio's namesake song “Ghost Light”), and the  group's sound has steadily evolved in a more haunting-moody  direction with classic country-western still well represented.  As result, they have played alongside a quite diverse cross-section of bands, from classic country acts, to rowdy cowpunk and psychobilly outfits, to darkwave-goth ensembles.  This quirky little trio seems to exist somewhere between Patsy Cline, Chris Isaac, and The Handsome Family.  Suffice to say, they have a sound all their own.