THE 2010 BANDS...

We introduced Jeanette Williams to our area four years ago and she won many new fans in the process. Jeanette has been the recipient of a number of awards including being named the Virginia Folk Music Association's "State Champion Female Vocalist," PICABO "Entertainer of the Year" (4 times), and PICABO "Female Vocalist" (4 times). She has garnered no less than 7 nominations for SPBGMA "Female Vocalist of the Year" -- and took home the honor this past year! She has recorded more than 10 projects, including the critically acclaimed 1999 Doobie Shea Records release, "Cherry Blossoms In The Springtime", which spent nine months on the Bluegrass Unlimited charts. She is featured on the "Daughters Of Bluegrass" projects which earned IBMA Awards for "Recorded Event of the Year" in 2006 and 2009.

The title track of her release "Thank You For Caring" is a duet with country music legend George Jones. Written by Dixie and Tom T. Hall, the song tells the true story of a little girl Miss Dixie met while gathering items for the relief effort in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. The new project also features Jeanette's song "Enough Of You", winner in the bluegrass division of the 2007 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at MerleFest.

Since the band's inception in 1975, Special Consensus has been THE bluegrass band in the Chicago area. This year they're celebrating their 35th anniversary! They've toured the US and abroad, and videos of their Traditional American Music Program have been sent to hundreds of schools by the IBMA. They were Bluegrass Unlimited magazine's August 2005 cover story and their music is often found on the bluegrass charts (including as of this writing). They appeared at our festival in 2006 and 2009 and we're tickled to have them back with us this year to celebrate their 35th Anniversary Tour. You can expect a great show from these guys!

Greg Cahill (banjo, harmony vocals) is the group's founder and his banjo playing can also be found on many national TV and radio commercials. In addition, Greg has produced four highly rated banjo instruction DVDs. In 2006, Greg was elected President / Board Chair of the IBMA. Ryan Roberts (guitar, lead & harmony vocals) is an award-winning songwriter and his solo CD was named "Bluegrass Album of the Year" at the Eastern Canadian Bluegrass Awards. David Thomas (bass, lead & harmony vocals) has performed with the award-winning band Roanoke. Rick Farris (mandolin, lead & harmony vocals) has his share of SPBGMA awards and is a talented guitar, mandolin and resonator guitar luthier.

With Hard Ryde, this year our festival goes "international!" We were lucky enough to snag this award-winning, six-piece band from Canada. It would take several paragraphs to list all the individual and band awards this group has amassed, both in Canada and the States. They're that good. Of their latest CD, Bluegrass Unlimited says their "precise instrumental chops complement their fine harmonies" and calls them "first rate." We're eager to present them to you.

Doug DeBour (guitar and vocals) is at the helm of the band and has reached Hall-of-Fame status with the Central Canadian Bluegrass Association for his vocals and guitar playing. Will Meadows (mandolin and vocals) and Chris Ricker (fiddle) are both award winners and seasoned veterans of the bluegrass scene. Rich Koop (bass) was the Central Canadian "Bass Player of the Year" for 2007 and nominated again in 2008, while hard-driving banjoist D'Arcy Campbell took "Banjo Player of the Year" honors in 2008. Described as an "instrumental genius" and "acoustic enigma," guitarist Marc Roy is a regular face on the bluegrass scene in both the U.S. and Canada. He was named "Guitar Player of the Year" in 2007 and has recorded with several artists.

Formed in 1996 and based in Romney, WV, Lonesome Highway has been a driving force on the regional bluegrass scene. Blending traditional and contemporary styles, plus a dose of original material, they've won numerous band competitions in Maryland and Virginia and placed 5th in the SPBGMA International Bluegrass Band Championship in Nashville in 2002. Their CDs have gotten strong reviews and they've opened for such "heavy hitters" as IIIrd Tyme Out, Marty Stuart, Kathy Mattea, Mac Wiseman and Ricky Skaggs.

Founding members John Arnold (banjo) and Jimmy Kountz (mandolin and vocals) have been playing music together off and on for over 20 years and are well established on the bluegrass circuit. Bassist Tom Suddath's musical background includes both drums and guitar, so he's well-equipped to provide the solid rhythm required for the band. You may remember Buddy Dunlap (guitar and vocals) from his appearance with the band Driving Force who appeared here in 2007. He's a fine songwriter and placed 3rd in the guitar competition at Merlefest this past year. Newest member Mason Wright (fiddle) is a master on both bluegrass fiddle and classical violin styles. He's performed for six years with his family's band and studied at the Shennandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA.We're pleased to feature this fine band both Friday evening and Saturday.

If some of the faces of West Virginia's Buck & Company look familiar, it's because several of these guys have been on the regional bluegrass circuit for a long time, honing their musical skills. Formed in 2002 in Parkersburg, WV, the band has been providing solid traditional bluegrass throughout the area. Their latest recording "This Old Barn" has plenty of original material and has gotten good reviews. If you like your bluegrass "straight ahead," this is the band for you.

Buck McCumbers (mandolin, fiddle and vocals) is the founder of the group and has performed with the likes of Red Allen and Mac Wiseman. He's also a former member of the Wheeling Jamboree. Jeff Somerville (bass and vocals) and Danny Murray (banjo and vocals) are both veterans of several notable local and regional bluegrass bands. Swanagan Ray (lead guitar) is a multi-instrumentalist who adds much to the band. Dwayne McCumbers (resonator guitar) has a long bluegrass resume, including performing with Red Allen, John Hartford, Hylo Brown, and the McCumbers Brothers with Buck. He, too, is a former member of the Wheeling Jamboree and currently also performs with Lillie May and the Whitaker Brothers.

This hot Poverty Hollow band is living proof that talent, hard work, and experience are the ingredients that elevate a band from merely "good" to truly "excellent." Blessed with five strong vocalists and solid, creative instrumental abilities, this group is turning a lot of heads on the local bluegrass scene. Their sound is a mixture of the old and new, with a variety of vocal blends and textures.

Most of the faces in the band will be familiar to local fans. Don and Pam Mulhollem (guitar and bass, respectively) have performed for years with the popular Mainline Gospel Band and Pam was the driving force behind the Bluegrass Club at Mount Pleasant High School. John Larimer (resonator guitar, guitar) played both bluegrass with the Pickin@bluegrass band and country/rock with Whitehorse. John also performs solo at various venues and is a talented songwriter. Gary Shaffer (banjo) has reemerged onto the bluegrass scene following the demise of the popular Jerusalem Ridge gospel bluegrass group several years ago. (We're glad he has.) Gary also functions as the band's "harmony mechanic." Newest member Frank Cackowski (fiddle) brings a wide background of bluegrass, old-time, country and classical influences to the band, further enhancing their sound.

Blue Shades is a south central Pennsylvania bluegrass music band formed in the summer of 2001 and has been a big hit at our festival in the past. It's great to have them back. This four piece group performs a wide variety of bluegrass music ranging from the "high lonesome" sound of traditional music, to the most modern songs of today's more progressive 'grass sound, to the ever popular "bluegrass gospel." Whatever the style, they play it bluegrass. Comprised of four veteran bluegrass performers with nearly 100 years of combined music experience, this band can play any venue -- from a Sunday morning Gospel show to Saturday night festival performance. Whatever your favorite style, they have something you'll like.

Brad Foust (lead and harmony vocals / rhythm guitar and mandolin) performed with "True Bluegrass" band on mandolin and was known for his high tenor work. In the early '80s he performed with the legendary Mac Martin and the Dixie Travelers on mandolin and tenor and lead vocals. Don Fronk (mandolin and guitar / harmony and lead vocals) also started pickin' at the age of eight, and over the years has performed with the bands "Sassafras," "Trade Secret," and "Ground Speed." Troy Wigfield (harmony and lead vocals / bass) has been playing music over twenty years, in bands ranging from country and country-rock to bluegrass. A strong vocalist, he has a wide range and the rare ability to sing bass, lead and tenor. Fairmont W. Va.'s banjo wizard Vince Bartlebaugh provides some of the most creative, tasteful banjo playing you'll hear. Bluegrass Unlimited calls their CD "Chasing Dreams" a "musical extravaganza that offers something for just about everyone." We agree.

From their humble beginnings of pickin' on the streetcorners of Pittsburgh in 2006, the Mon River Ramblers have demonstrated that "city boys" can play some mighty fine bluegrass music. Adding hints of non-bluegrass influences from their diverse musical backgrounds and a boatload of original compositions, this young, energetic band is quickly winning new fans throughout the area. They've shared the stage with several bluegrass notables and have even taken their show to the festival stage at Telluride, Colorado. Of their new CD "27," Bluegrass Unlimited magazine says, "they've come out swinging with a home run."

The band consists of the Kuzemka brothers, Jim and Jeff (guitar and banjo, respectively), with Jim providing lead vocals for the group. The sweet fiddling is provided by Paul Dvorchak and hot mandolin playing by Luke Stamper. Robin Brubaker holds down the "bottom end" on bass and all the band members provide solid harmony vocals. Expect to hear good things from this band in June and in the future!

Dan Schall is from Zelienople, PA and his ministry started when he was in his teens, as he endured a severe speech impediment. Being blessed with a fine singing voice, Dan now uses his music ministry to share how God has touched his life as he travels far and wide. His concerts include Old Hymns, gospel, bluegrass and country music, along with stories of his life and the people he's met.

In the 1990's Dan was presented with the "Harry Denman Award for Evangelism" by the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Dan will present his gospel service on Sunday morning.