2025 LINEUP
September 3, 2025
Jason Carter is a highly acclaimed fiddler from Lloyd, Kentucky. For three decades, he has been the fiddle player for the Del McCoury Band, a group that has earned him three Grammy awards. He is also a founding member of the Travelin' McCourys. Carter's love for bluegrass was inherited from his father, and he has been a professional musician since graduating high school. His forthcoming solo album, "Lowdown Hoedown," marks his first time singing lead and features collaborations with many celebrated artists.
Steve Hanson, Dave Miller and Jim Pipher are the Shucks Brothers. The Shucks shows involve some serious string tickling and great harmony vocals. They tip their hats to the great old bluegrass masters such as Bill Monroe and the Stanley Brothers, but they also feature country, swing and red hot instrumentals. These guys have been playing professionally since they were young pups yet they still manage to surprise each other and their audiences with dazzling improvisation, silly humor and a whole lot of fun.
September 10, 2025
Grammy-winning and two-time IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes is forging her own path as a bandleader and frontwoman. After years of captivating audiences as the fiddler for Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, she is now bringing her voice to the forefront. Her debut vocal album, "I Built a World," earned a Grammy nomination and is celebrated for its blend of fiery bluegrass with the soul of country and American Roots music. The album features collaborations with genre legends like Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas, showcasing her seamless transition from celebrated instrumentalist to an undeniable talent in her own right.
The Midnight Wanderers started over a decade ago when husband and wife, Matt and Jenny Richardson started to delve deeper into the folk tradition. Matt picked up the banjo and Jenny gravitated to upright bass. From here they slowly shaped their band and the old-time goodness of their setlists which draws from bluegrass to old time, to folk and blues their music covering the gamut of americana. Matt, who grew up the son of a Texas Western Swing fiddle player, has recently started bringing more Bob Wills and western swing tunes into the group. Jenny, one of the main songwriters in the band has been adding in original tunes that blend well into the mix.
Thad Miller, fiddler extraordinaire, joined the band in 2019. He has become an integral part of their sound, with his fiery fast fiddle runs and high lonesome harmonies and vocal leads. Joel Grenemeier, a bluegrass veteran of the Lincoln scene, brought his dulcet tenor and mandolin sound to the Wanderers in early 2022. Rounding out the Sound is Colten Welch with his lightning-fast guitar licks and rhythm, bringing a fun energy to the group.
September 17, 2025
The Henhouse Prowlers are a Chicago-based bluegrass band celebrating two decades together. Made up of Ben Wright, Chris Dollar, Jon Goldfine, and Jake Howard, the quartet is known for a sound that reveres tradition while embracing innovation. Their performances feature captivating storytelling and intricate musicianship. Their latest record, "Unravel," showcases their matured four-piece harmonies and a musical style that blends bluegrass with Americana and classic country. Beyond their music, the band actively works to create a kinder world through their nonprofit, BLUEGRASS AMBASSADORS, and extensive touring across 29 countries in partnership with the U.S. State Department. They use music to build bridges between cultures, spreading the message that people have more in common than not.
Husband-and-wife duo Kerry and Mike Semrad, known as The Bottle Tops, have a sound that blends rockabilly and honky-tonk, which they describe as "Midwest Music from the Heart." The Lincoln, Nebraska-based band recently released their "Sun Studio Session," a special project recorded in the legendary Memphis studio. The session was a deeply personal one, as Mike's father had also recorded with Sun Studio's founder, Sam Phillips, decades earlier. The band's music, a collection of original songs with a style inspired by sounds of yesteryear, is driven by a profound family connection, with Kerry lending gospel and blues-influenced vocals to the mix.