Acoustic Syndicate

Acoustic Syndicate is a rock/folk/bluegrass band from North Carolina formed in 1992. They have toured nationally in the US, including appearances at Farm Aid and the Bonnaroo festival. Their sound is characterized by three-part vocal harmony and complex polyrhythmic banjo playing. Lyrically, the group often discusses themes relating to subsistence, sustainability and quality of life.

The McMurry family comes from a small family farm in Cleveland County, North Carolina, near Shelby, North Carolina. They have been farming the same region that their ancestors settled over 200 years ago.

Acoustic Syndicate also has roots in Asheville, NC, where Jay Sanders is an active member of the local music scene. http://acousticsyndicate.com

Buffalo Creek Stringband is Jackie Burgess, Annie Griffey, Joy Moser and Scott Dixon.  They play string band music of the Appalachian Mountains.  Old-time songs, fiddle tunes,  and mountain ballads.  Songs influenced by early bluegrass and country music with a little hillbilly blues thrown in for good measure.  Timeless music sung with spirit and mountain soul.  Old-time music, a traditional style of American music, has roots in Irish, English, Scottish and African folk music.   At the center of this old time music is stringed instruments such as the fiddle, banjo, guitar, and bass.   This is the core of the mountain stringband and the symbol of early music for many Americans. Buffalo Creek continues a musical legacy that dates back to this early music, where fiddles could be found throughout the Southern Appalachians.  Fiddles were played in people's homes for dances and for pleasure, at community work gatherings and for special celebrations.  Songs and singing was also a mainstay in many of the mountain communities in Appalachia, where singing is as common and almost as widespread a tradition as spoken language. Buffalo Creek enjoys carrying on this rich musical tradition as they play for contra & square dances, schools and educational programs, private parties, cornshuckins, bean stringins and pretty much any concert venue or street corner. http://www.buffalocreekband.com/index.htm

Ann Caldwell & Roger Bellow

Ann Caldwell

Roger Bellow

The sideman of choice for a number of well-known artists, Roger Bellow is a multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, educator and performer from South Carolina whom Bluegrass Unlimited describes as “a member of the elite circle of superlative pickers.” He has taught at a variety of prestigious workshops, including the Swannanoa Gathering, the Augusta Heritage Center and the Greater Yellowstone Music Camp, and has recorded and performed with numerous artists including renowned fiddlers Kenny Baker, Dale Potter and Paul Anastasio. He has performed throughout the world, and in 1995, received the South Carolina Folk Heritage Award, that state’s highest honor for traditional artists.

Ann Caldwell with the Magnolia Singers

The Magnolia Singers preserve the rich tradition of Gullah music and spirituals. Concerts are held weekly on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. at the Circular Congregational Church at 150 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC. In addition to these concerts, the Magnolia Singers perform throughout the Charleston area. Appearances include singing at the Piccolo Spoleto and with the Long Bay Symphony Orchestra. The Magnolia Singers offer a glimpse into the roots of American music and are highly entertaining.

Dale Brittain grew up amidst the cotton fields and dairy farms near Fallston in western North Carolina. His father was a bluegrass fan and Dale’s first musical memory is hearing Flatt & Scruggs on some old 78’s his dad had.

Dale took up guitar at the age of eight but it was when he first heard James Taylor in 1969 that he became inspired to write his own material. Many years and many bad songs later he wrote his first “keeper”, a song called Homecoming, which was written while he was in the Navy.

In the late 70’s, Dale became involved the local bluegrass music scene in Shelby, NC and eventually joined a progressive bluegrass band called Smokin’ Grass. They were together for about two years on the never-ending “tri-county” tour.

Since leaving Smokin’ Grass in 1980, Dale has been a solo artist. He has played the River Rat Pub in Lake Wylie SC since 1992, which coincidentally, is the longest job of any kind he has ever held.

Dale’s first CD, Homecoming, was released in 2007 on Little King records. The music, something of a cross between John Prine and James Taylor, has been described as “timeless”. www.dalebrittain.com

Calvin Edwards

Calvin Edwards is an international artist born in Kings Mountain, NC, an accomplished musician, songwriter, and producer who has created his own sound. At the age of six Calvin began to play the guitar with the guidance of his father, a well known songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist on the gospel scene and his mother as they helped to shape his career. While in High School, Calvin won many talent shows and at 17, he joined the famous Gospel group Five Blind Boys of Alabama for many years. Edwards then moved to L.A. to play in his brother's band, The Jett Edwards Band, recording two albums, including one song recorded by George Benson. Currently, Calvin travels and performs with his band, The Calvin Edwards Quartet and is a producer for jazz shows in Okinawa Japan on various military installations. Edwards was producer for the performance prior to the arrival of President Clinton giving a speech to military personnel during his visit to Okinawa for the G-8 Summit. www.calvinedwards.com

Carolina Gator Gumbo

This friendly mix of high spirited musicians brings positive energy and good times as they celebrate this rich music & culture in the Carolinas! The band's journey into the unique Cajun & Creole culture of Southwest Louisiana began in the early nineties...the band has been bringing this distinctive music and great times back to the Carolinas ever since! They have sought and studied Cajun/Creole music, dance and culture with masters at various settings including jams, festivals & workshops in Louisiana, North Carolina, Georgia and West Virginia. www.carolinagatorgumbo.com

Darin Aldridge & Brooke Justice

Lord have mercy music fans, get an early seat, you want to make this one. Darin Aldridge from the Circuit Riders teams up with Brooke Justice, a winner of pageants and singing competitions throughout the Southeast, to entertain with a can't miss variety acoustic music show. The vocals are tight, be it Darin's soaring tenor or Brooke's sultry solos, and the musicianship is unmatched. One tune might be from Bill Monroe, then some jazz mandolin, the next from Broadway or the blues, and then they could follow up with a bluegrass breakdown that has Darin nailing a banjo solo. For acoustic music fans seeking variety, you just don't what might happen next. Will it be a gospel number that sets you to thinking, or the dead-on Everly Brothers duet “If I Could Only Win Your Love?”- one that makes you want to take your best girl out to the drive in? Where did these kids learn all this music? Darin and Brooke alone would be a plenty, but they usually are accompanied by some of the best musicians in this area, people like Jaret Carter and Billy Gee of the Circuit Riders or the Harris Brothers. It all adds up to be the best acoustic music in the Carolinas.

Flint Hill

Frank Love Orchestra

Get ready to take a walk down memory lane with hits from the big band era with the Frank Love Orchestra. Love, a trumpet player, organized his group in 1990. As a youth in Shelby, he studied with John Best, who played with Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller, and Benny Goodman. The present group includes trumpets, saxophones, trombones, keyboard, bass, percussion, and vocalist. The group has a repertoire of 400 classics from such composers as Duke Ellington, Tommy Dorsey, and Glenn Miller, and appeals to listeners of all ages. www.frankloveorchestra.com

Gael Warning

Serving up a blend of Historic bagpipe tunes, traditional Scottish and Irish folk music, American blues & rock ‘n roll Gael Warning is what you get when you combine two veterans of the Grandfather Mountain Highlanders, a long-haired, vegetarian folk singer, and a carnivorous Southern rock guitar slinger. Something for everyone! This band of seasoned musicians creates a brand of upbeat Celtic music that features raging bagpipes and guitar, thunderous drums, and tasty fiddle and mandolin. You will find Gael Warning at Highland Games, festivals, pubs and community concerts everywhere. Gael Warning proves that you can dance to bagpipes...and NOT just the Highland Fling! Gael Warning consists of champion bagpiper Dave McKenzie, multi-percussionist Jeff Chester, singer/songwriter/guitarist Trip Rogers, and multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Tom Eure.

Harold Williamson and the New Wondering Souls

Harold Williamson is the manger, Lead singer and song writer for the group. Harold was born in Shelby, NC. He decided at a early age to pursue his dream and develop his gift of singing. Harold started singing with a group and named the group The Wondering Souls. In 1960, Harold moved to the great city of New York, where he continued to sing the songs of Zion. In 1968, The wondering Souls recorded their first record with Savoy Records. The Wondering Souls sang their way to stardom. In 1985, they were selected Gospel Group of the year by the United Gospel Association and the New York State Music Association for the song, "The Ground is Level at the Foot of The Cross." They have appeared in places such as the Apollo Theater in New York and numerous places through out the United States. In 1993, Harold returned to his roots in Shelby, North Carolina and reorganized the group. The members of the group have changed over the years but the talent and uplifting spirit remain the same. The Wondering Souls has released a new CD titled "Hooked on God's Love." Harold believes God's Love inspires him to write songs of praise. Harold sincerely hopes this CD will inspire others to get Hooked on God's Love. It's a good thing to have Jesus living in the house with you. http://cdbaby.com/cd/hwtnws

Jack Lawrence

Jack Lawrence has been called a "flat-picking powerhouse." His recordings and performances combine exciting, high spirited and innovative guitar solos with tasteful phrasing in his own inventive style. Well known as Doc Watson's partner since the early 1980's, Jack's inspired playing and smooth vocals provide listeners with performances that span musical traditions.

The early 1970's found him playing with pioneers of modern bluegrass, the Bluegrass Alliance and New Deal String Band. After stints in electric bands, Jack began a partnership with Joe Smothers, playing in a relaxed duo format which led to meeting and playing with one of his major influences, Doc Watson. That professional and personal relationship has continued to this day. He has recorded with Doc, Sam Bush, David Grisman, Brian Sutton and many others. In addition to playing on Doc's Grammy winning "On Praying Ground", he has two solo albums to his credit, "About Time," and "I Don't Need the Whiskey Anymore."

www.jacklawrence.com

Michael Reno Harrell

Michael Reno Harrell was born on the Tennessee side of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. His family migrated there from Western North Carolina the year he was born and he spent his youth traveling back and forth between the two states on winding mountain roads through places like Del Rio and Hot Springs. With mountain roots running many generations deep, it's not hard to see where much of Michael's love for story telling arises. His songs have been described as "Appalachian grit and wit" but, as his writing shows, Michael's awareness is much broader than the bounds of his boyhood home or even the Southern experience. Having toured throughout the British Isles and much of Europe, as well as most of the USA, the songs he writes reflect an insight into people's experiences that catch the ear like an old friend's voice. www.michaelreno.com

Ned Lucas Band

The NED LUCAS Band is a 3 piece, high-energy band that plays original blues rock & roll. With 2 critically acclaimed CD's that have received airplay worldwide and a list of venues from Ottawa, Canada, to Columbia, SC and from Detroit to New York City , this band knows how to please a crowd. Ned Lucas is a polished songwriter and has been invited back to The Bluebird Café in Nashville on 8 occasions. As such, The Ned Lucas Band mixes in a healthy dose of dynamically arranged, highly danceable originals, some fresh versions of classic Swing, Chicago, Texas, and Delta blues, and a few Classic Rock covers. People talk about this band long after they've left town.

NED LUCAS has been doing this a while. Playing a Fender Stratocaster, the workhorse of the electric blues, through an old tweed tube amp and a Leslie cabinet, the sound is instantly recognizable. As soon as you hear The Tone, you know you're in for something special. NED LUCAS also plays a Hammond B3 with a 2 nd Leslie cabinet just to spice things up.

One Leg Up

One Leg Up, from Asheville, NC, plays gypsy jazz in the style of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. This Parisian style of jazz is an upbeat acoustic swing with a repertoire of 1920s, 30s, and 40s jazz standards, originals, modern jazz tunes, and of course, music from the book of the virtuoso guitarist Django Reinhardt. Their show is lively, intimate, danceable, and brings about the atmosphere of French café music before World War II. The musicians are John Stineman (guitar & vocal), Jim Tanner (guitar), Daniel Coolik (mandolin), Mike Guzalak (clarinet & vocal), Cary Fridley (bass & vocal), and guest violinist Steve Trismen. www.onelegupjazz.com

Slate Mountain Ramblers

The Slate Mountain Ramblers have been a mainstay of the dance and festival culture in central and western North Carolina and southwest Virginia for 24 years and are still going strong. Headed up by fiddler, Richard Bowman from Ararat, Virginia, the Ramblers started as group of friends and morphed into a family band over the years.

Tater

Tater resides somewhere in the gray area between musical genres and categorizations, which often spawns some of today's most interesting and adventurous music. Hailing from the foothills of Western North Carolina, Tater has cultivated a sound and style, which are uniquely unconventional. Tater's talent lies not only in the skill with which they play their songs, but with their ability to cross musical boundaries while still retaining a signature sound. Not bluegrass, but at home at a bluegrass festival. Not a jam band, but able to jam with the best. A little country, a little rock, and all good! Impeccable musicianship delivered with intensity and confidence that can only be gained through the individual band member's combined years of touring and live performance experience. Now on the road in support of their newest release “High-Test Hillbilly”, on the Little King Records label, Tater is prepared to deliver Hi-Test Hillbilly Grass N' Roll to the masses! www.tatertime.com

The Near Misses

The Near Misses are an all-female quartet featuring some of North Carolina's finest vocal & songwriting talent. The group performs an eclectic blend of originals, drawing upon American roots, rock, pop, contemporary folk, country, and jazz influences. Each member is a gifted songwriter and musician in her own right - Shana Blake (bass), Reeve Coobs (acoustic guitar, djembe), Eva Gael (acoustic guitar), and Etta Lea (electric guitar, mandolin) - but when these four young women come together with their songs and harmonies, something truly magical happens. The Near Misses have recently completed their first full-length studio recording, Marigold, and will continue touring along the East Coast to promote the new CD. The Near Misses have been the recipient of the "Best New Band" Award in the Arts & Entertainment category of the Creative Loafing Readers' Choice Awards, and in 2006, Creative Loafing named the group the "Best Band" (Readers' Choice) in its "Best of Charlotte: International Edition." http://www.thenearmisses.com/