NU-BLU
We are Nu-Blu, a bluegrass and Americana band hailing from Siler City, North Carolina. Over the past two decades, we've dedicated ourselves to crafting music that resonates deeply with our listeners, blending traditional sounds with contemporary storytelling. Our journey began in 2003, founded by the husband-and-wife duo of Carolyn and Daniel Routh. Carolyn leads with her powerful vocals and bass playing, while Daniel brings versatility with guitar, vocals, and as our band's manager and tour coordinator. Alongside us are Austin Hefflefinger on vocals, banjo and guitar, and Justin Harrison on mandolin, fiddle, and percussion each contributing to the rich tapestry of our sound. | NEVER COME DOWN
Weaving together modern and traditional styles of American music, Never Come Down is a Portland, Oregon based band composed of Joe Suskind (guitar), Crystal Lariza (vocals), Lillian Sawyer (fiddle), and Kaden Hurst (mandolin). Their dedication to thoughtful songwriting and dynamic arrangements highlight polished technical skills and a commitment to listening to each other. Formed in 2018, the band began touring extensively- steadily cultivating a passionate fan base at home in the Pacific Northwest, and eventually around the country. NCD released their first studio album “Better Late Than Never” in 2021 and their second LP “Greener Pastures” is slated for release late 2023. They’ve toured internationally and have found acclaim at festivals such as Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Iceland Airwaves, John Hartford Memorial Fest, Americanafest, FreshGrass and RockyGrass. | THE BADLY BENT  The Badly Bent has been entrenched in the bluegrass music scene since 1998. Based in Durango, Colorado, The Badly Bent has proven its musicianship through the winning of prestigious music competitions and receiving accolades from many of its peers in the bluegrass industry. These band members are not newcomers to either the bluegrass scene or performing in front of large audiences. The Badly Bent does not present itself as one of the new bluegrass jam bands. Although their musical prowess allows them to explore the edges of traditional music, the listener will find that the music never strays far from the roots established by the fathers of the genre. Their love for the genuine bluegrass sound is so evident every time they take the stage. And, that emotion is totally contagious with the audience. Everyone has a good time. But, don’t be surprised when they pull a song out of the hat that everyone says, “Now, where have I heard that before?” Their repertoire will please even the most discriminating listener Members Patrick Dressen Guitar, vocals Mark Epstein Banjo, vocals Alex Read Bass Joel Denman Mandolin/Fiddle vocals | THE SONORAN DOGS
The Sonoran Dogs formed in Arizona in 2011 to play a series of shows with Japanese Guitarist Maro Kawabata in Arizona. After these performances they continued to tour around the Southwest, and overseas in Australia and New Zealand. Over the years "The Dogs" have developed a unique style, incorporating a mix of traditional, progressive, and original music. Singer-songwriter Peter McLaughlin won the 1988 Winfield National Flatpicking Guitar Championship. Mark Miracle, an Arizona native, is an outstanding lead and harmony vocalist, as well as being an accomplished mandolin player. Tyler James is the 2008 Rockygrass Banjo Champion and a 2012 Winfield National Banjo Finalist. The newest addition of talent to the band is Joelle Tambe-Ebot, who plays bass and sings lead and harmony vocals. |
CISCO & THE RACECARS
Hailing from Phoenix, Arizona, Cisco & the Racecars is an award-winning bluegrass band featuring diverse vocals and instrumentation. Their energetic style and creative arrangements of traditional tunes create a memorable balance of old and new. Founded by Francisco Briseno (banjo) in 2013, the band includes Chester Carmer (mandolin, vocals), Giselle Lee (fiddle, vocals), Joelle Tambe-Ebot (bass, vocals), Katie Carmer (cello, vocals), and Mark Hickler (guitar, vocals) . | TEN DOLLAR WEDDING  Born and raised in Arizona’s vibrant bluegrass scene, Ten Dollar Wedding is a 5-piece band with a love of tradition and an eye toward the future. While the lineup (banjo, guitar, fiddle, mandolin, bass) and tight harmonies are something Bill Monroe might recognize, the band’s original material and arrangements mark Ten Dollar Wedding as a thoroughly contemporary act. Born in 2022, the band is rapidly gaining fans and recognition. Ten Dollar Wedding won the band contests at the Wickenburg Bluegrass Festival and Grande Fiddle Championship. In 2023, the band played spirited sets at the Prescott Bluegrass Festival, Hassayampa Music Festival and the Wickenburg Bluegrass Festival, and brought a toe-tapping good time to bars and backyards across their home state. | PICK & HOLLAR
Pick & Holler is a spirited, fiddle-driven, old-time string band from Phoenix, Arizona. We play traditional Appalachian fiddle and banjo tunes, love songs, murder ballads, and throw in a few originals just to keep us honest. Pick & Holler features Carolyn Camp on fiddle, Matt Minjares on banjo, Lindsay Cates on upright bass, and Mike Wolfe on guitar, with everyone pitching in on the hollerin'. Playing everywhere from square dances to fairs and festivals, to barns and boxcars, Pick & Holler strives to keep the toes tapping and the faces smiling! | WHOLE HOG BAND
Whole Hog wows audiences with instrumental mastery and lush, vocal harmonies. A playful comradery is present throughout their performances of traditional Bluegrass, Irish, western swing and progressive originals. Whole Hog has performed at the Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival, Huck Finn Jubilee, Gilley’s Saloon Las Vegas, the Coffee Gallery Backstage and was the featured bluegrass band in Dark of the Moon - the Musical. This Ventura-based eclectic bluegrass quartet is comprised of Seth Andrey Oster, contest winning guitarist, singer & yodeler, Charletta Erb, CA State Adult Division Fiddle Champion, Keith Frankel banjo extraordinaire and the marvelous Corey Highberg on upright bass. |
FRESH APPLES TRIO
FRESH APPLES' toe-tapping feel good music features. Doc Rolland & Meryl Brown's tight vocal harmonies and stellar fiddle & guitar playing. FRESH APPLES performs an eclectic mix of originals and fresh arrangements of traditional folk & country, bluegrass, humorous, and old-time music. Doc and Meryl's playful synergy, good old-fashioned humor, lively audience participation and just plain having fun make each FRESH APPLES performance special. FRESH APPLES also performs as a 3-5 piece band, partnering with top area musicians on mandolin, banjo and upright bass. | JAM PAK
In 1994, Anni Beach serving as a substitute teacher in Chandler, Arizona, took her mandolin and new-found passion for bluegrass music to every classroom in which she taught. Following a day of teaching at Galveston Elementary a block from her home, two little boys knocked on her door asking if she would play and sing some more with them. She wanted to do something good for her bread and butter, immigrant- filled neighborhood and with the support of her husband Vincent, Jam Pak was born the very next week with six little kids in the front yard. No bluegrass festival is complete without Anni and Jam Pak! | FAIR BLACK ROSE
Fair Black Rose is a young band whose members have grown up in the Jam Pak Blues 'N' Grass Neighborhood Band of Chandler, Arizona. They love and play traditional bluegrass but also incorporate old-time, gospel, and popular songs into their repertoire. Although all in their teens, they are polished and unique performers bringing lovely harmonies and solos to their sets and are always pleasing to the audience. Fair Black Rose plays their own gigs as well as playing with Jam Pak in all performances. The band won first place in the Arizona State Bluegrass Band Contest in Wickenburg, AZ in 2018. Band members from left to right. Lucy Tanyi, banjo and vocals, Carlos Parra, fiddle and vocals, Alasya Zelweldi, mountain dulcimer and vocals, Maxwell Klett, mandolin and vocals, Rosy Lopez, guitar and vocals, Justin Mizer, bass and vocals. |
