Northbound Train sprung up in early 1997 from an extended family of musicians who had been playing together in various different formations for some time. Ben Kauth (Bass), Dylan Heckman (Guitar & Vocals), and Tom Clasen (Drums) had played together in two working bands: The Backpage, with guitarist Tim Scheutz (who is now Northbound Train's soundman, producer and technical guru) and the psychedelic trio known as Liquid Sunshine. Matt Brinkman (Guitar & Vocals) and Dan Allwarden (Vocals, Harmonica & Percussion) had been playing and writing songs together on and off since high school. Both Dan and original lead guitarist Brian Jagodzinski had jammed with Liquid Sunshine on a few occasions in the past.

In January of '97 Tom began jamming with Matt, Brian and Dan, while still gigging regularly with Liquid Sunshine. Mike Kinney soon joined on bass and Northbound Train was born. After only a month or so of rehearsals, and one gig, Mike left the band to join The Boilerhouse Blues Band. Ben stepped in on short notice, and the chemistry seemed to be incredible. An unwillingness to commit to the band led to Jagodzinski's dismissal as lead guitarist, and in April Dylan took up guitar duties.

The band’s repertoire is a diverse and unpredictable combination of original groove rock and cover songs. Their cover material is drawn from such a diverse group of artists as to include Bill Monroe, Jimi Hendrix, Willie Dixon, Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, Talking Heads, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Otis Redding. Their original material is a genre-bending brew with ingredients ranging from foot-stompin’ blues tunes to improvisational groove music, to full-on psychedelic jam songs, to bottom heavy funk, all with a good handful of relatively simple, but highly memorable country-rock and alternative-rock songs.

Currently, Northbound Train has released one EP-length CD and are preparing to release their first full-length project. It is expected to be out in the Spring/Summer of 2000 and will consist of all original material, recorded live in the moment during the Spring and Summer of 1999. Recording is underway for a full-length studio album which may also be released before the end of the year 2000.