Amy LaVere

Amy LaVere sings smart and sexy tales of spooky love, twangy ache, sultry jazz and gutsy blues. She coos and croons, stretching syllables and adding emotional flourishes to her lyrics while the band plays with a carefree joy perfectly complimenting her style. Though it's easy to call it Americana, they add ample doses of classic country, gypsy jazz and Southern soul to their sound, letting their edgier sensibilities set them apart. You've also seen Amy acting in movies including Walk the Line (where she played rockabilly queen Wanda Jackson) and Black Snake Moan.

Apple Chill Cloggers

The Apple Chill Cloggers were formed in 1975 to preserve, interpret, and teach the traditional style of Southern Appalachian Mountain clogging. The team performs for festivals, benefits and other events around North Carolina and beyond, inspiring audiences with high energy clogging to live traditional music.

Big Fat Gap

Big Fat Gap is a back porch bluegrass band that has no plans to take Nashville by storm. Some of them even have day jobs. These Chapel Hill natives just like to pick, they like each other, and it shows. Their shows are known to be excellent for those who enjoy sweet three part harmonies, smoking solos, and captivating stage dynamics. Their fun performances bring loyal fans back for more. They got their name from one of the few remaining stands of old growth virgin forest in western North Carolina located in the Big Fat Gap in Graham County near the Tennessee border.

Billy Two Rivers & David Reavis

Billy Two Rivers and David Reavis are two Native American artists from North Carolina bringing you the soothing sounds of a morning sunrise. Billy (Tuscarora) and David (Cherokee) combine the sounds of native cedar flutes, drums and acoustic guitar with soul-touching lyrics and melodies to awaken your day and the Spirit within. David is a lifelong musician who was the "NBC Star of Tomorrow" in 2006. Billy is a flutist, percussionist, poet, storyteller, Wolf Dancer, and performs Sound Healings with a Medicine Drum.

Birds and Arrows

Chapel Hill, NC's Andrea and Pete Connolly make up the folk rock duo Birds and Arrows. With Andrea on guitar and Pete on drums they create warm, emotional, poetic folk music with their voices wrapping together in rustic contentment and comfort. Andrea can also be seen at Shakori Hills playing with bluegrass outfit Sweet By and By.

Boulder Acoustic Society

Shredding guitar licks, soaring gypsy violin, a little ukulele and the thump of an old-time bass bounce around with a jazz accordion and creative percussion to create a new sound - American Roots music with the edge of punk rock and the grace of chamber music. Boulder Acoustic Society is what happens when four songwriters get together to mash up blues, folk, gospel, indie and world music to soothe their musical curiosity. They play everything from astounding classical pieces and jaw-dropping jazz to obscure jug band songs and cleverly reworked covers.

Butterflies

Butterflies is the newest musical project from singer, guitarist and trombonist Josh Kimbrough. Filled to the brim with nostalgia and instantly appealing songwriting, they prove that emotional music doesn't have to be painfully dramatic. With Kimbrough's signature guitar lines fluttering over the top, Butterflies celebrates the craft of pop songwriting.

Cane Creek Cloggers

The Cane Creek Cloggers are a performing dance troupe that have specialized in Appalachian clog dancing since 1980. Hailing from Orange County, the non-profit group choreographs all of their own routines, with innovations in the realm of old-time steps and figures. They share the goal of preserving the heritage of old-time clogging, flatfoot and buckdancing, while exuding the joyful energy and infectious rhythms at the root of it all. The Cane Creek Cloggers invite people of all ages and levels of dance experience to share the enjoyment of clogging.

Christabel and the Jons

From eastern Tennessee comes the sultry swing of Christabel and the Jons. Their music is a lushly orchestrated affair that mixes Big Band swing, old-timey torch jazz, greasy blues, European gypsy folk, and ragtime into a smoky performance all set in motion by Christa DeCicco's languid, sensual vocals. With nostalgic lyrics cloaked in a vintage velveteen purr, her misty romanticism mixes with retro costumes and a charismatic stage presence to give their show a uniquely elegant, speakeasy feel.

Colors of Flying

Hailing from the NC Triangle, Colors of Flying have forged an intimate connection between distant musical cultures. These far-reaching world music performers play oud, kora, cello, fiddle, upright bass and percussion, creating an improvisatory energy focused into an original fabric of sound.

Des Ark (solo)

With angular guitar slashes and fractured rhythms, anachronistic Durham-based indie rocker Aimee Argote of Des Ark provides an intense burst of energy expressing her deeply felt politics and controversial life decisions. A little bit Southern twang and a little bit punk, Argote has no qualms about expressing herself and is no stranger to confronting her demons through song.

Donna the Buffalo

From Cajun to country, reggae to improv, zydeco boogie to roots-rock riot, Donna the Buffalo aims for the best of what music has to offer. Their singular sound features upbeat grooves, inspirational lyrics, memorable hooks, superb musicianship and an overwhelming sense of celebration. They're an American institution, socially conscious yet eternally danceable. Donna the Buffalo started the GrassRoots Festival 19 years ago outside of Ithaca, NY to raise money for local charities and showcase the sounds of their friends and inspirations from around the world. The band features multi-instrumentalist Tara Nevins, guitarist Jeb Puryear, keyboardist Dave McCracken, bassist Jay Sanders and drummer Tom Gilbert.

Eilen Jewell

Boston-based artist Eilen Jewell puts her own beautiful stamp on old country, folk and blues and comes out sounding like the time-traveling, sweet-voiced lovechild of Bessie Smith, Gillian Welch, and the Be Good Tanyas. Her thick, warm voice and authentic country songwriting have led the Boston Herald to name her "Boston's Americana gem." Her music weaves together threads of loneliness, homesickness, regret, sinning, traveling, dreaming, hope, and redemption.

Elikem African Dance Company

Elikem African Dance Company performs dances from West Africa - specifically Ghana, Senegal, and Guinea. Founded in Durham by Daniel & Kai' Appah, the company currently has eight professional dancers and musicians. Its members include veterans of the Ghana National Dance Company, African-American Dance Ensemble, and Collage Dance Company. EADC has toured extensively in America and throughout the world presenting performances, master classes and lecture demonstrations.

Firehouse Rhythm Kings

The Firehouse Rhythm Kings are a swing ensemble based in Carrboro, NC led by red-hot fiddler, powerhouse singer and uniquely visionary composer Joe Troop. Their thumping rhythmic foundation is guaranteed to make you jump and jive as they tear through inspired arrangements of swing classics alongside their own finely-crafted originals. Their classic 1930s sound includes piano, violin and rhythm banjo. Get ready to dance!

Greg Humphreys

Singer/songwriter Greg Humphreys is playing Shakori Hills not just with his band Hobex but also as an acoustic solo artist. His mad mix of stylistically diverse songs move from roots-pop and straight-up blues to country and bluegrass, using pop hooks and his soulful voice to showcase his spirit and sound. Disarming, personal and intimately engaging, it’s a document of one man‘s musical journey, with a well-known friend or two popping in for a visit.

Hobex

Hobex makes oh-so-sweet soul music with a healthy dose of screaming guitars. Singer/guitarist Greg Humphreys (who also has a solo set at Shakori Hills) assembled Hobex from the ashes of Dillon Fence, one of the biggest southeastern touring acts of the late '80s and early '90s. Inspired by Stax/Motown era funk and soul artists, Hobex hit on a unique sound - song-based grooves seasoned with various folk, rock and roll, and British Invasion influences. A strong jazz and hip-hop sensibility helps take their swaggering sound over the top.

Holy Ghost Tent Revival

Holy Ghost Tent Revival's rhythmic riot features throttling acoustic guitars and horn rave-ups, conjuring 19th century riverboat eclecticism, Stephen Foster-style songcraft, and latter-day ragtime and Dixieland hilarity. This rocking six-piece acoustic band calls Greensboro home.

Howie DeWitt Band

Forged from the depths of the Deep Chatham Dance Party, Howie DeWitt is a neo-soul trio made up of members of Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band and McLaws Drive. Members include Ben Hite on keyboards and vocals, David Thornton on bass and Russell Harper on drums. Wear comfortable shoes because they don't want anyone to get hurt!

Jim Lauderdale

Singer/songwriter Jim Lauderdale is a Nashville treasure who helped lay out the blueprint for the Americana movement of the '90s. He earned high critical marks for an eclectic series of albums that spanned hard country, slick pop, rootsy rock & roll, blues, folk, R&B, and bluegrass. After his success as one of Nashville's most successful songwriters, Lauderdale has finally begun receiving more attention for his own records and concerts. Recent albums include collaborations with Ralph Stanley, Robert Hunter and Donna the Buffalo.

Jose Conde y Ola Fresca

Jose Conde's powerfully danceable music shimmies between such diverse sounds as old school funk, Latin music, NYC dance beats, Afrobeat, jazz, reggae, New Orleans swamp-funk, and jamband ballads. He breaks the mold by writing his own arrangements, so both the charts and production grow organically from the lyrics, which feature plenty of humor alongside the substance. Conde glides effortlessly between Latin and American storyteller traditions, sliding poetically from universal themes of nature's beauty to personal expressions of romanticism.

Justin Townes Earle

Justin Townes Earle comes from good stock - his father, legendary singer/songwriter Steve Earle, must have taught him well. He melds the qualities of a short story with the lyrical acuity of excellent songs, celebrating grand Southern traditions while using a base of acoustic blues and pre-war folk to build his own brand of American roots music. Hailing from Nashville, his honest voice perfectly reinforces his searing melodies and provocative lyrics.

Keith Frank & The Soileau Zydeco Band

Louisiana-based accordionist Keith Frank combines Creole and Cajun sounds with massive elements of funk and soul, putting his own singular spin on genuine American roots music and transforming it into a modern day dance party. Adding elements of R&B, blues, pop, rock, reggae, and even hip hop, the sonic gumbo he cooks up is known as "nouveau zydeco," and no one does it better. Keith Frank is forging his own urbanized and infectiously danceable style, with legendary shows that unleash an uninterrupted flow of positive, uplifting music. Together with the Soileau Zydeco Band, he's gained critical acclaim on the international festival circuit.

Kelley and the Cowboys

The music of Kelley and the Cowboys, based in Mt. Airy, NC, returns to the early country roots of Patsy Cline and Hank Williams. With the powerful voice of Kelley Breiding and the rich melodies of the Cowboys, it's a soulful trip through honky-tonk days gone by.

Lafcadio

Lafcadio is a quartet out of Carrboro, NC named after a Shel Silverstein story. Mixing Nick Drake-styled folk and Janis Joplin-flavored blues with local indie rock influences and undertones of country has led them to a distinct sound and infectious musical energy. Liz Ross is a sultry and powerful singer who can go from a swinging dance number with playful trills to a mellow Southwestern samba without batting an eye.

Lonesome Heart

Lonesome Heart is an exciting new collaboration between banjo virtuoso Stan Brown and multi-instrumentalist Tommy Edwards, both of the Bluegrass Experience. Joining on vocals is LaNelle Davis from the Shelby's and Big Medicine, one of the area's most popular female vocalists. Rounding out the quartet is talented guitarist and singer Ben Runkle of the Leroy Savage Group. The result is fresh but traditional sounding bluegrass that features the four singers in a variety of combinations performing originals alongside classic bluegrass, folk and country tunes. Heartfelt solos, great harmonies and powerful picking - that's Lonesome Heart!

Lost In The Trees

Chapel Hill's Lost in the Trees plays intensely lush orchestral indie pop with gorgeous textures and symphonic grandeur. This is melodic chamber-pop that's as musically ambitious as it is lyrically precious, with a big, sweeping sound that somehow remains intimate and folksy. Seductively scored with swirling strings underpinned by trip-hop beats, they mix a love of classical music with all the modern glory of 21st century pop. A truly cinematic musical endeavor.

Lunch Money

Lunch Money began in 2003 when singer/guitarist Molly Ledford decided to try her hand at bringing the live music experience to young audiences. She enlisted Jay Barry (drums) and multi-instrumentalist J.P. Stephens (bass, mandolin, harmonica) to form Lunch Money, the name chosen to honor that first taste of childhood independence and power. The band soon accumulated songs about such things as wishing for a pet dog, getting up the nerve to ride a roller coaster, and twirling around in rain and sun beneath an umbrella. Lunch Money delivers a high-energy show that aims to get children and their parents dancing, thinking and laughing.

Mamadou Diabate

Raised in Mali, Africa into a musical lineage going back seven centuries, Mamadou Diabate plays a 21-stringed instrument called a kora. His passionate songs feature sparkling technique and soulful precision, fresh with melodic complexity, with compelling rhythmic grooves carrying the listener on an adventure that is exotic yet somehow familiar. His set at the Shakori Hills Spring '09 festival will be a scintillating solo performance.

Michael Hurley

Michael Hurley's music is often coined as "outsider folk" and he's been called "the last unreconstructed folkie-shaman in America." He mines the roots of American music, delivering warm and heartfelt original songs with an earthy twang. His music draws from the wealth of old American folk styles like country blues, bluegrass, and country. His songwriting tends to switch from the serious to the satirical at the drop of a hat, sometimes right in the middle of a song. Hurley is truly one of the last insiders keeping alive the traditions of the folk troubadour.

Midtown Dickens

Midtown Dickens is a folk punk-grass trio that's been fitting themselves into nonsensical categories for twenty years. This lovable, laughable, Durham-based band plays a hybrid brand of "Anti-folk / Naturalismo" that's more about having fun and singing from the heart than anything else. Their show features tambourines, horns, banjo, saw, guitars, drums, glockenspiel, an accordion and a fake rooster. Toss in poppy melodies, some singalong choruses, and a bucket-load of fun to top it all off.

Music Maker Review

Music Maker Relief Foundation is a Hillsborough-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the true pioneers and forgotten heroes of Southern musical traditions gain recognition and meet their day-to-day needs. Music Maker's aid and service programs improve the quality of recipients' lives, affirming to these artists that we value the gifts of music and inspiration they've delivered to the world. Music Maker’s mission is to give back to the roots of American music. This spring Music Maker will bring John Dee Holeman, Big Ron Hunter, Captain Luke, Whistlin' Britches and Bubba Norwood to Shakori Hills.

John Dee Holeman is a magnificent guitarist who uses both the Piedmont and Texas guitar styles in his playing. Born in Orange County, NC in 1929, he's been playing the blues since he was14 years old. North Carolina bluesman Big Ron Hunter sings his story while playing acoustic guitar, using it like a drum and bass to create almost a second voice. He has stories to tell and messages to deliver, pouring his heart out when he performs. Captain Luke was born in Greenville, SC in 1926, soaking in the music of the countryside as his uncle Jesse played harmonica on the evening porch. While rooted firmly in the African-American working class style of the Carolina Piedmont, his music showcases a wide range of influences. Winston-Salem's Haskell "Whistlin' Britches" Thompson hails from a long line of clickers. Along with singing, he makes clicking sounds, sort of like an old wind-up clock, but with syncopation. It’s unique and addictive. Carrboro, NC drummer Bubba Norwood began his caeer at age 14 with Ike & Tina Turner. He later toured with the Monkees during their peak and played for many years with blues legend Albert King.

Northwood Jazz Ensemble

Pittsboro, NC's Northwood Jazz Ensemble plays a wide mix of music covering swing tunes, bebop jazz, lush ballads, jazz standards, pop tunes and even some jazz rock fusion. Under the direction of Eugene Cottrell, the volunteer Northwood High School organization has received superior ratings at statewide and regional festivals.

Old 86

Old 86 venture from zydeco-influenced '50s rock and low down blues to intense psychedelia and smooth funk. This young Pittsboro-based band features hard-rocking keyboards, funky bass, smooth saxophone and violin, vicious guitar attacks and swinging vocals.

Orquesta GarDel

What do you get when you cross an accomplished ethnomusicology professor with a dynamic lead vocalist and a bevy of North Carolina’s finest salsa and jazz musicians? None other than the twelve-member salsa supergroup known as Orquesta GarDel! The band plays classic and modern salsa music rooted in the sound of the New York-Puerto Rico connection of the 1970s. With its powerful horn section and “hurricane-force” percussion battery, GarDel is sure to have the dance floor pumping!

Paperhand Puppet Intervention

Come explore the amazing world of Paperhand Puppet Intervention! NC's imaginative puppeteering troupe uses cardboard, papier mache', trash, and a variety of puppetry styles to help promote social change, peace and hope for a better world. Their magical environmental program includes giant puppets, masks, music and a question and answer session with the puppeteers. Be prepared to let your spirits soar!

Preston Frank

Accordionist Preston Frank, father of Keith Frank, has been laying down his blazing bayou boogie and unabashed, traditional Louisiana zydeco for decades. His trademark swamp groove is a combination of Cajun, funk and soul, a smooth and flowing Creole sound that instantly makes you start to move. The jumping rhythms and festive vibes rest in his hands while his fingers work magic on the diatonic accordion. Firmly planted in his musical roots for over thirty years, Preston Frank remains an important force in preserving traditional zydeco and Creole French music.

Pura Fe

Singer, composer, teacher, poet, dancer, actress, and lion tamer, the multi-talented Pura Fe has studied with the American Ballet Theater and Martha Graham Dance Company, and sung with the Mercer Ellington Orchestra. Besides appearing in three Broadway shows, she is a guest instructor at the Native Theatre School in Toronto, a Smoke Dance Competition Champion, and first prize winner at many other dance competitions, including the Kanatsiohareke Homecoming. She also does vocal workshops throughout the Americas, and has done studio work with numerous jazz bands, TV commercials, and jingles.

Rachid Taha

Algerian worldbeat artist Rachid Taha created a style of Arabic rock heavily influenced by Algerian rai music and Western styles including techno, rock, punk and Afro-pop. His show features prominent, danceable rhythms, strong melodies, and powerful vocals, all infused with a Middle Eastern flavor and lyrical themes ranging from spirituality to alienation. Politically engaged, he stands up to defend democracy, tolerance and altruism against racism and discrimination.

Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys

Without a doubt the finest first-generation bluegrass singer still touring, Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys have been spreading their poignant, mournful sound for over 60 years. Ralph and his older brother Carter formed the band in 1946, taking traditional mountain songs and weaving them into a sound of purity, simplicity, and astonishing beauty. They helped bring the mountain style of bluegrass music to mainstream audiences, with an edgy, almost desperate immediacy to their performances. Known for his distinctive singing and three-fingered banjo technique, the raw emotion in his voice cuts like a whipsaw and echoes like a stainless steel bell. Whether singing about God, sin, resurrection, love, family, misery or death, he always has the church in his voice while pouring out soulful American music of the highest order.

Ralph Stanley grew up in a musical family and learned to play claw-hammer banjo from his mother, whose 11 brothers and sisters all played banjo. Playing everything from gospel to honky tonk, his spirit shines through the rough-hewn charm of the old-time string band sound. His latest revival as a member of the O Brother, Where Art Thou? cast is just a reminder of his long string of amazing recordings dating back to the 1940s. Thanks to his long career and numerous musical milestones, Ralph Stanley is a bluegrass institution.

Ray Abshire

Ray Abshire is a Cajun accordion master from the old school who delivers pure, joyful, energetic fare straight out of Lafayette, LA. One of the most awe-inspiring accordionists you'll ever hear, he's loaded with technique, impeccable timing and an attacking drive that emanates the fullest sounds possible. Recognized as a master musician, his accordion style is authentic and he sings in the classic Cajun tenor high voice. Ray has assembled an astounding collection of emotions that will hit you right in the heart.

Rootzie

Chapel Hill's Rootzie provides a rattle of rock and roll, a jolt of jazz, a burst of the blues, a cut or two of country, grand moments of gospel, a blast of bluegrass, and roots reggae revelry. The brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Gregory Blaine, Rootzie combines all this and more on a grand scale.

Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers

Hailing from Oklahoma, Samantha Crain writes with brazen conviction and unflinching creative ambition. Her shadowy arrangements and razor-sharp lyrics sound deeply rural and Southern, while also itinerant and urban. Hers is a folk tradition indebted to Radiohead as much as Bob Dylan. Like the classic seekers before her, Crain is lost on the subway, sleeping in boxcars, leaving lovers behind, and dining in small town obscurity all within a few short days.

Sarah Shook

Sarah Shook is a young self-taught singer/songwriter from upstate New York who now calls Pittsboro home. Her music is described as bluesy, rocky, folksy, indie-y and lots of other 'y's.

Scatterbones

Randy Whitt and Jamie Sneeringer grew up on the Deep River in High Falls, NC playing guitar and writing songs. Alongside Susie Hicks on fiddle and keyboards, Josh Sokal on bass, and Matt Brown on drums they make up Scatterbones, an eclectic mix of rock and Americana with hints of old school R&B and British psychedelia.

Shannon Whitworth

Western North Carolina's Shannon Whitworth plays a mix of country, bluegrass, and folk music. She made her mark with her captivating voice and definitive songs as a founding member of The Biscuit Burners. With songs steeped in Southern elegance, her smoky singing voice rolls lazily over the lyrics as she adds gorgeous accompaniment on clawhammer banjo and guitar.

Songs of Water

From the woods of North Carolina comes Songs Of Water, an experimental musical fantasia based half in impressionism and half in realism. With a sound both ancient and modern, they dive into an ocean of exotic instruments to create their gorgeously contemplative instrumental vignettes. Utterly beautiful and meticulously presented, they draw deeply from the pool of World music including folk, Celtic, African, Middle Eastern, classical and jazz influences. Founded upon both composition and improvisation, no two performances are exactly alike.

Steep Canyon Rangers

Steep Canyon Rangers are a band of young souls who play old-time bluegrass music, churning out foot-stomping bluegrass with enthusiasm and fervor. Their powerful sound and razor-sharp musicianship continue to draw crowds of eclectic listeners as well as traditional bluegrass enthusiasts. Their songs offer fresh insights and twists on hard living, sweet love, moonlit mountains and the joys of the music itself.

stephaniesĭd

stephaniesĭd plays indie pop with soaring vocals, catchy hooks, odd and thoughtful lyrics, and clever musical gymnastics. Hailing from Asheville, NC, their songs feature angst and sorrow swirling with dramatic hope and joyfulness - childlike and grown-up sounds mixing with poetry and pop. If a Scandinavian pop princess got lost in the American South and was rescued by a jazz quartet, it might sound something like this emotional yet buoyant band.

Sweet By & By

Chapel Hill's Sweet By & By weaves captivating three-part vocal harmonies and traditional instrumentation into old-time bluegrass standards and contemporary originals. The result is a fresh take on the all-female string band that is both pure and simple in its approach and rich in its ultimate effect.

The Beast

Based in Durham, The Beast infuses jazz composition and improvisation with hip-hop poetry and soul grooves. Beautifully rebellious and refreshingly conscious, they create passionate music to engage/enrage your mentality.

The Blue Ridge Road Gang

THE BLUE RIDGE ROAD GANG: Working the contra-dance highway since 1997. Coming to a work release program near you. This band has been making music together for 12 years. Featuring Ron Cole on fiddle, Brett Riggs on banjo, Pan Riggs on guitar, and Nancy Mamlin on bass, the band has traveled all over the country, playing for dancers with a repertory that is exciting and unique to contra-dancers everywhere. Ruth Pershing will be the caller for the gang's contra dance set! Ruth has been calling square, contra and community dances for over 20 years, locally and at festivals and camps. She also performs with the Cane Creek Cloggers, and has worked with Mike Seeger to produce the dance documentary, Talking Feet.

The Deer Clan Singers

Ambassadors for modern Native American ways of life and Tuscarora Indian traditions, Deer Clan Singers make their music and dance charming, funny, mysterious, graceful and participatory. Presenting the culture of the Tuscarora Native Americans of Robeson County, NC, Dave Locklear, Mark Deese, Pura Fe, Jennifer Kreisberg and Chad Locklear are strong singers, harmonizers, and traditional Messengers.

The Horse Flies

One of the earliest bands to bring truly inventive ideas and energy to traditional American fiddle music, the Horse Flies have created a unique sound that remains fresh, powerful and captivating. Artful original songs, a wild groove-oriented approach to fiddle music, esteemed instrumental skills, and emotive singing come together as old-time fiddle music meets alternative rock, minimalism, modern songwriting and world percussion.

The New Familiars

From the foothills of North Carolina, the New Familiars grew from the seeds of the folk rock, country blues, and bluegrass found abundant in their native land. They combine a passion for harmony and dissonance with a visceral intensity in their raucous live shows. With honky-tonk elements of dobro and harmonica, mountain touches of banjo, and rough-hewn harmonies made for '70s-era Southern rock, they play Americana with a grand heartbeat.

The Old Ceremony

The Old Ceremony is a "pop-noir" group from Chapel Hill playing rootsy, American rock that's both faintly exotic and surprisingly intimate. They play cinematic, theatrical, and moody music, with baroque arrangements that electrify the supple cabaret jazz outfit at their roots. They're led by Django Haskins, an eloquent wordsmith able to embrace both the pizazz of romance and the love-skunk blues of the common man in arresting three-minute vignettes.

The Overtakers

The spirit of original roots rock reggae culture is live and direct from The Overtakers. They sing with pure spirit and enthusiasm as they convey the blessings and hardships of being Jamaican. Their unique and original sound is mashed up with a dancehall lyrical style as they perform a vast assortment of traditional Caribbean and original songs filled with humor and knowledge.

The Red Hots

From the Roundpeak area of North Carolina, the Red Hots feature Joe Thrift on fiddle, Tom Riccio on banjo, Kelley Breiding on bass, and Nick McMillian on guitar. As if fueled by a mystic music elixir, they play the most rockin'est old-time music you may ever hear!

Todd Snider

Nashville's Todd Snider is a satirist, class cutup and the rare artist who understands and celebrates the connections between the Stones, Dylan, Bill Hicks, John Prine, Mitch Hedberg, Kris Kristofferson, Hunter S. Thompson and Randy Newman. His satirical wit incorporates bluegrass, blues, country-rock, and folk-rock, and his songs have been recorded by artists including Jimmy Buffet, John Prine, Guy Clark, Jerry Jeff Walker and Roseanne Cash.

Town Mountain

Imagine a band that occupies the common ground between traditional bluegrass, outlaw country and pure old-time mountain music. Imagine a group that harnesses the frantic energy of the modern punk string band, yet remains respectfully rooted in the tradition of Bill Monroe. This is Asheville, NC's Town Mountain. Great original songwriting, tight vocal harmonies, a charismatic stage presence, and instrumental expertise place this group in the upper tier of contemporary acoustic bands.

Woodwork Roadshow

Offering a fresh feel to time-honored music such as traditional, old-time, blues and rock, Woodwork Roadshow delivers a unique variety of original and classic roots music. Featuring mandolin, guitar and upright bass, their sound has a jazzy, bluegrass feel alongside elements of country-rock and reggae layered with soul. They create an exhilarating musical experience for audiences every time they take to the stage.