Artist Bio's

  North Carolina can once again be credited for producing great bluegrass. Hailing from just east of Charlotte, Deeper Shade of Blue includes Jason Fraley (mandolin/vocals), Troy Pope (guitar/vocals), Frank Poindexter (dobro/vocals), Scott Burgess (bass/vocals), and Steve Wilson (banjo). The band has been together for 21 years, has self-produced six albums, had a very successful 2018 release with "Steam," on Mountain Fever Records, and are back in the studio wrapping up their next album now, due to release in 2021. A quick search on Facebook or YouTube will no doubt prove why this band has been a favorite in bluegrass for so long. With their signature tight harmonies, dynamic instrumentation and energetic stage show, they’ve been lauded as one of the best touring groups in the industry and one that festivals have added to their lineup year after year.

Bringing together the meaningful lyrics of country music with the traditional musicianship of bluegrass, The Caleb Daugherty Band has emerged as one of the most promising groups on the acoustic festival scene. Blessed with an expressive and resonant baritone, Daugherty was born and raised near Connersville, Indiana, and still calls it home. He grew up playing in his family’s band and cites his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather for his love of bluegrass and country music. Daugherty’s career highlights include performing at an all-star tribute to Keith Whitley in Nashville and playing guitar with Rhonda Vincent at the Grand Ole Opry. Additional members of The Caleb Daugherty Band, who also live in Indiana, include Zion Napier on mandolin, Kyle Clerkin on banjo, Zach Collier on bass, and Kyle Ramey on fiddle. Following a 2019 album, Burnt the Sawmill Down, the band returned in 2020 with the single, “Daylight’s Burning.”

  Junior Sisk is widely recognized as one of today's top bluegrass vocalists, and a constant reminder that traditional bluegrass is still alive and well. A longtime resident of the Virginia Blue Ridge, his bluegrass pedigree runs deep. Influenced by a father who wrote songs and played guitar and a mother who sang, Sisk first learned to play around age 14. His early influences included The Stanley Brothers, Larry Sparks, and Dave Evans, but he often credits the Johnson Mountain Boys with inspiring him to pursue bluegrass professionally

Fans of acoustic guitar music should be well acquainted with the name Wyatt Rice. He was first spotlighted as an original member of the Tony Rice Unit. He has been featured on numerous recordings and videos, including his solo album "Newmarket Gap" and "Picture In a Tear" with his own band, Wyatt Rice & Santa Cruz

Second Chance Bluegrass is a Bluegrass Gospel group from Lexington, NC with soaring harmonies, exceptional musicianship and driving sounds of traditional bluegrass with all the dynamic harmonies and style of today’s sounds. Band Members are Jon Essick (Bass), Jerry Tysinger (Guitar), Randy Dally (mandolin), & Blake Lanning (Banjo). In 2019 the band released the long awaited self-titled album Second Chance Bluegrass. 

Richard Bennett and Wyatt Rice perform together it's always something special, a magical musical experience that everyday acoustic music fans, and musicians as well, will appreciate. The two guitarists go way back and enjoy bringing the music to us they learned from Wyatt's brother Tony Rice.  Many of these songs will be ones they played while Tony while simply jamming. Bennett & Rice will be bringing back this music as a tribute to the inimitable Tony Rice. 

  Jake Goforth is a 17-year-old powerhouse Bluegrass flat picker with a baritone voice from Troy, NC. He has performed with such music notables as Dan Tyminski, Rhonda Vincent, the Gibson Brothers, and Sideline. “The future of Bluegrass music is in great hands!” stressed Rhonda Vincent on these teenagers’ abilities. The style of music he will bring to Bluegrass First Class will definitely be true to the genre!

Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass play powerful, unadorned, and intense traditional bluegrass. There is no hybrid or genre-bending music here. Their combination of instrumentation and vocals convey the energy and emotion of classic bluegrass and country music. Danny’s lead vocals will captivate your senses, so much so that many prominent musicians, including Alison Krauss, have considered Danny as one of their favorite singers. His voice combines powerful range and soulful blues with a sound like no one else in bluegrass today. With Danny Paisley on guitar, Southern Grass continues the family tradition adding Danny’s son Ryan on mandolin, the next generation of up and coming pickers. Ted Lundy with Lundy’s sons T.J. (Fiddle) and Bobby (Bass and Vocals). T.J. Lundy is a highly respected fiddler bridging the gap between old-time fiddling and bluegrass music. Bobby Lundy is also a renowned multi-instrumentalist who has gained attention for his unique bass style. Southern Grass also includes Mark Delaney (formerly with Randy Waller and the Country Gentlemen, and Darren Beachley & Legends of the Potomac) on banjo.