Steep Canyon Rangers have been on a journey that is uniquely their own. The band started in college at UNC-Chapel Hill, then dove head first into bluegrass in its most traditional form, and over the years have risen to the top of the bluegrass genre headlining top festivals such as Merlefest and Grey Fox Bluegrass. … Continued
The Ozark Highballers are a four piece string band from Fayetteville, Arkansas. Since 2014 the Ozark Highballers have brought their music to square dances, farmers markets, festivals, workshops, as well as plain old street corners and front porches. Their music reflects the spirit and drive of the rural Ozark string bands of the 1920s and … Continued
Smokey & The Mirror is husband+wife duo Bryan and Bernice Hembree. Based out of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Smokey & The Mirror have toured nationally and internationally over the past decade. The band has supported tours for Old Crow Medicine Show, The Wood Brothers, I’m With Her, Elephant Revival, John Fullbright, and many of their musical heroes. … Continued
Leyla McCalla finds inspiration from her past and present, whether it is her Haitian heritage or her adopted home of New Orleans, she — a bilingual multi-instrumentalist, member of Grammy-nominated collaboration, Songs of Our Native Daughters (with Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, Allison Russell) and alumna of Grammy award-winning African-American string band, the Carolina Chocolate Drops … Continued
Having performed at Coachella and a NPR Tiny Desk Concert, the Latin Grammy Award winning, New York-based ensemble Flor de Toloache is one of the finest all-female mariachi groups on the planet. The group began as a trio named for the delirium-inducing Mexican flower used as a love potion for generations. As it has grown … Continued
Noam Pikelny has emerged as the preeminent banjoist of his generation. He is a founding member of Punch Brothers, a 3-time Grammy Nominee and was awarded the first annual Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass in 2010. We’re so excited to welcome back Noam to the FreshGrass stage!
Berklee College of Music is a presence every year at FreshGrass, with students and faculty in its American Roots Music Program on stage, giving workshops, popping up in the galleries, and generally running wild all over the museum. The artistic validity of a wide range of American roots styles — including blues, gospel, folk, early … Continued
Come on out, as we honor the godmother of rock ‘n’ roll, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, with the help of guitarist extraordinaire Felicia Collins — best known as the guitarist and vocalist for the Late Show with David Letterman. It’s a uniquely FreshGrass moment and always a highlight of the weekend.
North Adams native CJ Field wasn’t born with a guitar in his hand — but he could have been. Field carved out a place for himself on the Nashville scene as a frontman of the edgy rock-and-roots collaborative Delta Riot and as a chart-topping songwriter. He’s back in his hometown for a set of spirited, … Continued
Willi Carlisle is a poet and a folk singer for the people, but his extraordinary gift for turning a phrase isn’t about high falutin’ pontificatin’; it’s about looking out for one another and connecting through our shared human condition. Born and raised on the Midwestern plains, Carlisle is a product of the punk to folk music … Continued
