John Moore and Friends 2024

John Moore and Friends

In addition to having been the mandolinist, guitarist and vocalist for the internationally acclaimed band Bluegrass Etc, John Moore was also the mandolinist with the award-winning band California, the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Instrumental Band of the Year, three years in a row.

John’s musical performances have led him throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe and Japan, as well as into the studio doing radio and television commercials, along with movie soundtracks and sessions for other artists.

He has appeared in productions by, and done musical soundtracks for, HBO, Paramount Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and A&E Television Network. He most recently appeared in the HBO Series Deadwood, and has appeared on the cover of Bluegrass Now, Bluegrass Unlimited and Flatpick Guitar magazines.

He is also a sought-after teacher, having taught some of today’s hottest young musicians. John has taught, and continues to teach, at numerous music camps, including Wintergrass Academy (WA), Steve Kaufman’s Guitar Camp (TN), Bluegrass On The Beach (OR), Sore Fingers Music Camp (England), Rockygrass Academy (CO), Northern Bluegrass Circle Music Camp (AB, Canada), Levelland College (TX) and Northern Minn. Bluegrass Camp (MN), among many others.

Joining John with be Rick Faris, Todd Phillips, and Brian Wicklund.  Rick, formerly with Special Consensus, adds some amazing guitar playing and was named “New Artist of the Year” at the 2022 International Bluegrass Music Association’s awards ceremony. Todd is an American double bassist. He has appeared on a number of acoustic instrumental and bluegrass recordings made since the mid-1970s. A two-time Grammy Award winner and founding member of the original David Grisman Quintet, Phillips has made a career of performing and recording with acoustic music artists. Brian is a fiddler and mandolin player with Barley Jacks. Fiddle educator and author of the American Fiddle Method.

John Moore – mandolin, guitar, vocals; Brian Wicklund – fiddle; Rick Faris – guitar, vocals; Todd Phillips – bass

http://www.johnmoore4horses.com
https://rickfaris.com
https://www.toddphillipsmusic.com
https://barleyjacks.com

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Sweet Tidings Gospel Jam2

Sweet Tidings

Sweet Tidings Gospel Jam presents hymns and traditional gospel music with emphasis on Americana roots gospel done jam-style. Fans describe Sweet Tidings as “happy, joyful, charming, new and fresh.” When they played in 2014, due to some technical difficulties, the band decided to come off the main stage and play on the grassy lawn to the delight of the Summergrass fans. Their show was electric, and the crowd loved them!

Kimberly Conley – fiddle, vocals; Diana Hergert – guitar, vocals; Don Hergert – banjo; Marc Nelissen – bass

https://www.facebook.com/Sweet-Tidings-Gospel-Jam-172691089417201/

 

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Breaking Grass

Breaking Grass

Known for their high energy performances and original material, Breaking Grass delivers heartfelt music with haunting harmonies to match.  Now in their 14th year together, Breaking Grass has had multiple albums reach the Top 10 Billboard Bluegrass Charts, numerous songs in the Top 10 Bluegrass Today Charts (boasting multiple number one’s), and are acclaimed nationally after performing across the globe. With influences ranging from rock, gospel, country, and soul, this group of award-winning musicians brings something for everyone to each live show.  If you have never been a fan of bluegrass music, it might be because you haven’t heard it quite like this.

Cody Farrar – guitar, vocals; Britt Sheffield – bass, vocals; Tyler White – fiddle; Zach Wooten – mandolin, vocals; Jody Elmore – banjo, vocals

https://www.breakinggrass.com/

https://www.facebook.com/BreakingGrass

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Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road

Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road

LORRAINE JORDAN & CAROLINA ROAD

Back for their second time, Summergrass welcomes Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road. Pinecastle Music recording artists Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road have a distinct sound and charismatic show that “keeps the tradition.” Known as the “Lady of Tradition” in bluegrass, Lorraine has fronted Carolina Road for 15+ years and honed their distinct sound attributed to the bluegrass-rich area of North Carolina. Their stellar musicianship ensure award-winning powerhouse performances. Welcome Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road as they “keep the tradition.”  Don’t miss this band!

Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road have combined masterful musicianship and a creative sound to entertain audiences in 40 states and 13 countries while scoring multiple hits, industry accolades and collaborations with other legendary artists.

Since their beginnings in 1998, the band has achieved three No. 1 songs on the Bluegrass chart with “A Light in the Window,” “That’s Kentucky” and “True Grass.” “True Grass” also climbed to No. 1 on the Roots Music chart and topped the Bluegrass Unlimited National Bluegrass Survey for an astounding 16 consecutive months.

When the band isn’t touring, they host several events weekly at Lorraine’s Coffee House & Music in Garner, N.C. Down the road in Raleigh, Lorraine and the band are a crowd favorite at the city’s annual Wide Open Bluegrass Festival. The group also produces and performs at Christmas in the Smokies in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., the Willow Oak Music Festival in Roxboro, N.C., and the North Carolina Banjo Fest in Clemmons.

The band is working on two musical projects due out in 2020. “Patriotic Grass” features songs “devoted to what’s great about America and honoring our military,” says Lorraine, adding that additional noteworthy bands perform on the disc. A second project pairs Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road with multi-Grammy nominee Michael Martin Murphey (“Carolina in the Pines”).

Lorraine Jordan – mandolin, guitar, vocals; Ben Greene – banjo, vocals; Randy Graham – guitar, bass, vocals; Matt Hooper – fiddle; Allen Dyer – guitar, vocals

https://carolinaroadband.com/

https://www.facebook.com/carolinaroadband

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Virtual Strangers Bluegrass Band

Virtual Strangers

The Virtual Strangers, 2007 Arizona Bluegrass Band contest winners, bring a great mixture of traditional and progressive songs. Their sound is a mixture of the traditional with Stanley, Monroe, and Flatt & Scruggs material along with more progressive material from Blue Highway, Lonesome River Band and Del McCoury. They have shared the stage with Rhonda Vincent, Bluegrass Etc., California, the Dillards, Lonesome River Band, Nashville Bluegrass Band, and others. Virtual Strangers perform in numerous events & festivals in San Diego and throughout California, Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado, among others. In addition, Virtual Strangers lead the annual Cruise2Jam Carnival Line Catalina/Ensenada Cruise each February where they teach passengers about jamming etiquette and hold onboard jam sessions.

Virtual Strangers also has an alter ego – the Tatar Patch Bluegrass Buddies. Several times each year, the Strangers morph into this kid-friendly persona and go into classrooms to educate school-age children about bluegrass music and how to start playing it. They have performed in schools and kids camps at many festivals.

Mike Tatar Sr., on banjo, holds down the lead vocals. He’s played with In Cahoots, Snowy River, Full Deck, LeRoy McNees, and was made an honorary Piney Creek Weasel by the late Rick Abrams.

Dan Sankey plays mandolin and sings harmony/lead vocals. Dan is a fixture on the San Diego bluegrass scene – an accomplished musician on the fiddle, mandolin, banjo and guitar.

Kit Birkett

Kit Birkett plays guitar and sings lead vocals. His credits include the Scottsville Squirrel Barkers and Down the Road, 2001 Southwest Bluegrass Play-off Winners.

Yvonne Tatar plays the acoustic bass and sings harmony. She is a proud fourth generation string player and has accompanied many old time-fiddlers. She’s played with In Cahoots, Full Deck, LeRoy McNees, and sitting in with many other bands.

Jim Blakemore plays guitar and also sings lead vocals. Jim has played with nearly every bluegrass musician and band in San Diego and has hosted open jams at his home.

Mike Tatar Sr. – banjo, vocals; Dan Sankey – mandolin, vocals; Yvonne Tatar – bass, vocals; Jim Blakemore – guitar, vocals; Kit Birkett – guitar, vocals

http://www.virtualstrangersbluegrass.com/

https://www.facebook.com/virtualstrangersbluegrass/