The Chicken $#!t Gamblers formed in 2017 when Luke Maddux (Guitar) and Neil Mangrum (Guitar) with Aaron Meader (Mandolin) met at Friends picking circles. The trio brought Jaimie Meldrum (Fiddle) and Bassist Jess Kunze (also of Countryside Ride) into the group and the chemistry of the unit congealed. Over the next year, they honed their harmonies, and sounds and pushed harder into melting bluegrass pickin’, rhythmic jams, pop culture-inspired bluegrass medleys, and smooth 3 part vocal harmonies. Longtime band friend Rory Johnson (Banjo) joined in 2019, the group has locked into a steady rhythm of performing rowdy and explosive shows around the Pacific Northwest. Ronnie Ontiveros jumped into the Bass slot in 2022 after Jess left to pursue a Bakery/coffeeshop business in Trout Lake. 

The band is happy to be back on the touring and festival circuit again in 2022 following some weird 2020-2021 live music juju that saw them recording, performing at PDX couch tour, and several outdoor, limited attendance gigs.