Nick Gaitan and The Umbrella Man

Headed up by local musician Nick Gaitan, The Umbrella Man is a quintessentially Houston band that mixes and matches a variety of Gulf Coast musical genres.

The group’s thumping bass, bright reedy accordion and ringing steel guitar blend in surprising but always recognizable ways. Country, rockabilly, zydeco and conjunto are all part of the sound created by this band.

If you’re looking to create a dance party, this is the band to do it. The Umbrella Man’s song choices have been referred to as a “gumbo” because of the mix they offer up.

Gaitan won the Houston Press Music Award for "Best Bassist" several years in a row. He’s also played bass and toured with country music legend, Billy Joe Shaver. Shaver recorded a song composed by Nick Gaitan titled "I've Found my Weakness in You" in 2008.