High Mountain Hay Fever


2010 Festival Performer Profiles

Dry Branch Fire Squad, Festival Hosts In thirty-plus years of music making, Rounder recording artists Dry Branch Fire Squad have become an institution in American acoustic music. Inspired by a fierce and uncompromising loyalty to the most traditional aspects of bluegrass, old time and southern gospel music, Dry Branch Fire Squad is fueled by the musical vision and cultural commentary of Ron Thomason. Unlike most bluegrass groups, Dry Branch Fire Squad sells neither itself, its members, nor even particular bluegrass songs. What it markets are the emotions that stimulated the creation of bluegrass and mountain music as well as a taste of the culture in which this music evolved. A native of southwest Virginia, Thomason founded the Dry Branch Fire Squad in 1976. To date, the band has recorded over twenty-one projects and performed at the most prestigious acoustic music venues and festivals in North America. Most bluegrass observers agree that Dry Branch's current line-up is one of its strongest ever: in addition to Ron Thomason on mandolin, guitar and lead vocals, other group members are Brian Aldridge on guitar, mandolin and harmony vocals, Danny Russell on acoustic bass and harmony vocals and Tom Boyd on banjo and harmony vocals. This year, Dry Branch Fire Squad will once again tour from coast to coast, appearing at some of the most prestigious music events in North America and the group will also host the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, the largest bluegrass festival in the Northeast, as well as the High Mountain Hay Fever Bluegrass Festival. Dry Branch Fire Squad website Dry Branch Fire Squad record for Rounder Records

Sons and Brothers, Festival Hosts The Sons and Brothers Band continues to captivate audiences around the country with their fusion of bluegrass, gospel, and western music inspired by the band’s founding father Frank Wolking, who lost his courageous battle with cancer in fall 2008. Sons and Brothers has been described as one of Colorado’s most exciting acoustic bands, bringing a unique combination of energy, instrumental prowess and tight powerful family harmony to the bluegrass genre. Rooted solidly in the Mountain West, the band describes its brand of music as “Westgrass,” songs with western and Gospel themes, built around the bluegrass lead instruments of mandolin, fiddle, dobro and banjo. The band is composed of brothers and sons Mike (dobro, banjo and lead guitar), Aaron (lead vocals and bass) and Joe (mandolin and fiddle), with uncle Fred Wolking (guitar and vocals) and fiddle wizard Johnny Neill. The Sons and Brothers’ sound is fresh, exciting and vibrant. A typical performance will feature a dynamic contrast of songs and sounds ranging from stirring ballads and powerful gospel numbers to fire breathing instrumentals to poignant stories of family life to classic waltzes and tales of broken hearts. Between the songs Sons and Brothers develops a powerful connection with audiences by sharing the good natured relationship that exists within the family and by presenting the songs with insightful introductions interspersed with doses of Aaron’s irrepressible sense of humor. The Sons and Brothers band won the 2004 National Bluegrass Playoffs in Victorville, California and gave a bang-up performance at the prestigious Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in San Francisco in 2008. Sons and Brothers website

The Little Roy and Lizzy Show Having roots in the heart of the south, Lizzy Long was born on a farm in Lincolnton, Georgia. Her interests are very eclectic ranging from Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn to the Earl Scruggs Revue to Fleetwood Mac. While starting out on the piano, Lizzy soon took up the fiddle, guitar, autoharp, bass, banjo, and mandolin, and has become an accomplished musician, alternating between these instruments as part of her entertainment repertoire. Continuing her quest for success, Lizzy has paired up with Little Roy Lewis from the legendary Lewis Family. Lizzy finds that singing helps to express her thoughts and emotions—whether happy, sad, disappointed or angry—and, in her own words, “I don’t have to answer why, why not or even when….I can let it just flow”, and her extraordinary voice shimmers with strains of America’s musical roots. Lizzy has been nominated for three Dove Awards and has won several fiddle and talent contests. Little Roy summed it up the best, "pull a plank off the wall and she'll play it! Little Roy has won awards as an entertainer as well as for his banjo playing. Little Roy learned to play banjo when he was only six years old, and won a local talent contest for his playing when he was eight. USA Today called Little Roy 'a banjo master, truly a picker's picker'. Little Roy can also be found playing the guitar and autoharp. In fact, the song 'Good Time Get-Together' was written to highlight his instrumental skills. Little Roy is multi-talented - he sings, plays many instruments, tells stories, and acts. When you see this duo, you are sure to notice Little Roy, and he'll make you smile. Little Roy and Lizzy website

Lou Reid and Carolina Lou Reid and Carolina began in 1992, with its sound largely based in traditional bluegrass roots with emphasis on dynamic vocals. Lou Reid anchors the band with his lead vocals, arguably the most recognizable voice in bluegrass music. He began his career with his first professional job as bassist for Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, played with the Ricky Skaggs Band, before becoming the lead singer and guitarist with the legendary band The Seldom Scene. Lou has now been with the Seldom Scene for a combined total of 18 years, while he has managed to keep his band Carolina current and thriving. Lou is the consummate professional, a generous bandleader, and an all around entertainer. The band includes Christy Reid, who has been a member of Lou Reid and Carolina since 2002. She first joined the band as guitar player, moving to bass in 2005. Shannon Slaughter joined Carolina in 2007 and plays guitar, bringing a lot of energy to their stage performance. Rounding out the band is Trevor Watson, on banjo, who came from a musical family and was indoctrinated into the world of bluegrass at an early age. Lou Reid and Carolina website

The Ebony Hillbillies Whether they're playing for thousands of people at Carnegie Hall or a handful of curious passersby on the subway platform at Grand Central Station, The Ebony Hillbillies bring history alive with the still vibrant sounds of Americana. As one lf the last black string bands in the US - and the only one based in NYC - the Hillbillies keep an important legacy alive with a rootsy, homegrown style that many forget was a key element in the genesis of all the music we cherish as uniquely America -jazz, blues, bluegrass, rockabilly, rock and roll and country. Bringing fresh urgency to the genre for a 21st century world in need of some deep musical education, the four-piece band led by Henrique Prince (fiddle, vocals) and Norris Bennett (banjo, mountain dulcimer, guitar, vocals), featuring William "Salty Bill" Salter on acoustic bass and A.R. on washboard and percussion, creates an untamed and joyful vibe that echoes across the generations and transcends all racial and cultural boundaries. The Ebony Hillbillies website

The Wronglers The Wronglers (Warren Hellman, Nate Levine, B Martin, K Martin, Colleen Browne and Chris Hellman) made their stage debut at the world famous Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in 2006 and quite literally had so much fun on stage that they couldn’t help but accept when The Attic in Santa Cruz offered them a gig that December. Since then they have been invited to play all sorts of things from festivals (Good Old-Fashioned, Far West, SF Bluegrass & Oldtime, SF Folk Festival), to private events, from opening for Robert Earl Keen and Dale Anne Bradley to The Great Chicken Coop Revival, as well as our own High Mountain Hay Fever Festival. Also of note is the fact that Warren Hellman of The Wronglers is the founder of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in Golden Gate Park– his love of bluegrass and old-time music permeates every aspect of his life, and his excitement at playing on stage for an audience brings him a huge sense of involvement and satisfaction. The Wronglers' website

The Gary Waldrep Band The Gary Waldrep Band’s live shows are high energy, entertaining, and feature a variety of singing and instrumental styles that offer something for everyone to enjoy. Vocally, the male & female lead, duet, trio and quartet singing allow the band to cover a broad range of traditional and original material. All the band members are seasoned, skilled musicians who pull together to form a solid instrumental unit, and Gary's versatility on the banjo, playing both three finger and lightning fast claw-hammer style, rounds out the sound that has become the hallmark of the band. They've been fortunate to play host to two of the largest festivals in the South, and have hosted their own annual festival back home since 1995, Gary Waldrep's Festival on the Farm with an attendance of 2,000 music fans. Their studio recordings have showcased their talents with projects ranging from bluegrass to all gospel and old time claw-hammer. Driving the sound with Gary are Mindy Rakestraw, who has become one of the most recognizable female lead singers in bluegrass, Stan Wilemon, a fearless musician and showman, Donna Townsell on bass, Kenny Townsell on fiddle. The Gary Waldrep Band website
Eddie and Martha Adcock Partners in music and life for over three decades, the dynamic duo of Eddie and Martha Adcock has become known as "the Biggest Little Band in Bluegrass". Award-winners and multi-Grammy finalists, this lively team of two are called "stellar musicians and vocalists" by 'Cashbox' Magazine; and 'Billboard' names them "one of the Bluegrass circuit's top acts" because of their dazzling delivery. Dubbed "the Sonny and Cher of Bluegrass", they enjoy taking their warm and witty high-energy show everywhere from family-style bluegrass festivals to the Kennedy Center, from sea cruises to the Hot Club of France, venues as cross-cultural as their music and their appeal. Eddie and Martha feature their own original songs and instrumentals, showcasing their strong, expressive duet, and somehow sounding like much more than two. Together since 1973, the spirited couple married in 1976 and now make their home near Lebanon, Tennessee, not far from Nashville. Eddie and Martha Adcock website

Bluegrass Patriots In history and tradition, for 28 years the Bluegrass Patriots, from Fort Collins, Colorado, have faithfully represented the unbroken circle that is bluegrass. But longevity is a reward reserved for those bands with the talent, drive, and class to sustain the highest levels of musicianship and entertainment. And like an old instrument, their sounds have grown sweeter through the years. Present as always in their show are the stunning lead and harmony vocals by all five members, the bluesy and punchy picking, well-penned originals, and folksy charm on stage. The band originally came together as most bands do, just some guys wanting to pick a bit. It was in the late 1970’s. Ken Seaman, banjo, had recently relocated to Fort Collins from Missouri and knew Danny Rogers, bass, from the weekly jam Danny held at his bar, the Town Pump. Willie McDonald, mandolin, and Glenn Zankey, guitar, had already been playing in a bluegrass band that wanted to move to California, but Willie and Glenn did not. The initial blend of voices, instrumental firepower, and flair for great material proved to be a winning combination, sustained through the years. The "new" member of the band, Dan Mitchell, had been a friend and pickin’ partner of the Patriots for the last 25 years. Bluegrass Patriots' website

The Swanson Family An up and coming band from Florida with a hard driving bluegrass sound, The Swanson Family musical style has influences from the classic bluegrass era, all the way to the progressive genre, appealing to audiences of all ages. The Swanson Family is Rick Swanson on bass and his wife Lynn on guitar, featuring their sons Travis, 14, on fiddle, Tyler, 16, on banjo, and Eric, 20, on mandolin. They feature traditional bluegrass, bluegrass gospel, and instrumentals. The newest addition to the group is Megan Bradley, 19, contributing lead and harmony vocals. The Swanson Family website

Heidi Clare and Lonesome Cowboy Hobo Wyoming Slim ????????????? Let's just keep this simple. Heidi Clare is widely acknowledged as the best old-time fiddler on the stage today. “What you get here is MUSCLE, pure and simple, powerful and purposeful, seemingly limitless and untiring,” says Ron Thomason of Dry Branch Fire Squad. “Heidi Clare plays like she's defining 'bearing down.' This is athletic fiddling done by an athlete. To find fiddle chords and drone notes like these you'd have to listen to John Carson, Ray Cline, or G.B. Grayson. There comes a time in modern convention when even those with the strength, taste, and talent to muscle through a tune tend to lighten up for the sake of melody, clarity, or finesse. But Heidi just refuses. Once she's in her "groove" (her word) it would take an old-time southwest Ohio bluegrass bar fight to dislodge her. And those are as gone as the fiddlers who defined the standards that Heidi Clare emulates." Heidi recently played on the NAFTA tour this fall, a troupe that not only included her band but also bands from Canada and Mexico and was built around the theme of North American music and dance. Heidi will be teaming up with Lonesome Cowboy Hobo Wyoming Slim. Little is known about this singing cowboy other than rumors that he is the same person who used to go by the nom de plume of Lonesome Cowboy Hobo Colorado Slim until there was some trouble with horses in that state where it's rumored that he went to sleep and the horses tried to eat him. The duo has a new album release due in the spring. Website? Um, well, no....

Anne and Pete Sibley For Anne and Pete Sibley, it is the simplicity of the music: the words, the vocals, the harmonies. The storytelling and intimate nature of their original songs has drawn fans and encouraged the husband and wife duo to keep delivering. They aren’t afraid of making music that is personal, paring it down, staying true to their instincts. Raised in New England singing in choirs, studying all types of music except folk and bluegrass, Anne and Pete stumbled upon their true calling when they moved west to Jackson Hole. They consider folk and bluegrass the people’s music, nature’s music, and they sing it freely and graciously. In April 2009, the Sibleys took top honors in the ‘Great American Duet Sing-Off’ on NPR’s A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor. This prestigious accolade has helped launch them onto the national music scene. Anne and Pete Sibley website

The Ackermans 1946 saw the birth of bluegrass, a new musical genre that generated as much excitement as the creation of rock'n roll would just a few years later. Today, led by Aaron Ackeramn, The Ackermans carry that same musical thrill forward into a new century. At a time when most top bluegrass bands are smooth, tight and virtuosic, The Ackermans retain some of the rugged, roughhewn dynamism, and emotional impact of traditional bluegrass to new audiences. From the moment they hit the stage until the moment they leave, the audience is going to be entertained! The Ackermans' website

Palmer Divide Their individual and collective resumes include such highlights as; multiple performances at the White House, the Grand Ole Opry, and The Nashville Network, winning the SPBGMA Mandolin Player of the Year, the Deer Creek Fiddlers Convention Dobro competition, and the Rockygrass Bluegrass Band competition. Palmer Divide's featured songwriter, Jody Adams, routinely has tunes being featured on CMT, MTV, Access Hollywood, A&E, Fox Sports, the WB Network, ESPN, as well as, having written the theme song for Bill Bennett's Radio Show ”Morning in America”. Several of his songs have also been featured on NBC’s “Friday Night Lights.” Palmer Divide formed as a band with the single goal of not being just another bluegrass cover band. Palmer Divide offers up their brand of acoustic music with well crafted lyrics, innovative and rock solid instrumentation, and tight three-part harmonies. Their unique yet hauntingly familiar sound pulls from their deep respect of traditional bluegrass music and well as their desire to create a modern acoustic sound that is all their own. Palmer Divide is comprised of Jody Adams, Greg Reed, Dustin Reed and Mickey Stinnett. Palmer Divide website

Don Belveal, Emcee Don Belveal will return to significant emcee duty at the 2010 High Mountain Hay Fever festival. Don does his homework and knows more about some of the bands than they may know about themsleves. Allegedly, Don is a highly regarded attorney with practices in Canon City and Colorado Springs. It is rumored that he once played guitar and knows so much about the Martin company that his initials could have been C.F. He is best known amongst his friends for his fine cooking and a rapier wit that is actually worthy of the cliché and has been appreciated by those who have attended our previous festivals. And he and his wife Janine have been especially appreciated by the performers as well who are grateful for the Saturday evening BBQs that she and Don and friends have prepared for them the past several years.