2022 Festival Performers

Carie Ferra, now Carie Ferra-Hale, is an aspiring singer/songwriter from Jacksboro, TN. Some might know her from season 16 of American Idol. She enjoys singing all genres of music from Folk, to indie, to pop.

Cutthroat Shamrock combines the speed of bluegrass with the drive and energy of punk rock and then tops it all off with a little Celtic influence. Fronted by dual vocals and backed by solid bass lines, the momentum gained by two drummers make this a combination to wake up any size of room. Each song sounds different from the last yet somehow familiar. Train-like rhythms are traded in for fingerpicking and the rockabilly slaps of the upright bass are replaced with long dark notes played with a bow. instrumental breaks introduce jigs and reels into almost every song, with guitar leads that would seem more at home on a fiddle or penny whistle.

Visit Cutthroat Shamrock on Facebook.

Drums Up, Guns Down was designed to help stop the cycle of gun violence in our communities in Knoxville, Tennessee. The program was conceived by Obayana Ajanaku following the deaths of three students who were killed by gunfire in East Knoxville.  All three students attended Austin-East Magnet High School and their deaths happened within a three-week period. One of the students who was killed was a student of Mr. Ajanaku.

One afternoon, following the deaths, Obayana noticed the best friend of one of the deceased students, in a room by himself, playing the drums with all he had in him. He was attempting to release his emotion and pain. At that moment, the idea of Drums Up, Guns Down was birthed.

drumsupgunsdown.com

Frog & Toad's Dixie Quartet focuses on Dixieland and early swing as well as their relentless dedication to authenticity, which sets them apart in the Knoxville music scene.

Visit Frog & Toad’s Dixie Quartet on Facebook.

The Jake Leg Stompers play their self-described “chicken-fried pre-war hokum-billy jug music” all over the region. They’re known for their spirited, eclectic, and wildly unpredictable street performances. 

In their live shows, the Jake Leg Stompers present Pre-War Roots Music on period instruments in lively, authentic styles. The Stompers capture the rebellious spirit of pre-1941 American music from Memphis Jug bands to Appalachian Hillbilly to Fats Waller when folk music was still considered dangerous.

Currently, the Stompers are cruising to stardom on the strength of their 3rd and greatest album, “Hill Country Hoodoo,” produced and recorded by Jimbo Mathus of Squirrel Nut Zippers fame at his studio in Como, MS. For this project, the Stompers were joined by Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars, Jimbo Mathus, the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band, Rev. John Wilkins (son of the late blues legend Robert Wilkins) and Mississippi cum Tokyo blues artist Steve Gardner.

“Hill Country Hoodoo” has received extensive airplay on XM satellite radio and is currently a top-selling album in both the blues and folk categories on CDBaby.com.

So long as they don’t owe you money, the Jake Leg Stompers look forward to seeing you soon at a club, festival or street corner near you.

jakelegstompers.com

Jeanine Fuller and the True Funk Soldiers is more of a concept than a one set band. Jeanine is the founder/leader/lead vocalist. Sam Adams plays keyboards/or guitar and music director/ arranger. The group can consist of anywhere from 4 to 9 players and singers.

Jeanine Fuller is from Brooklyn, but calls Knoxville home, where she chose to reinvent herself.

As Steve Wildsmith wrote in the Daily Times, “As a teen, her vocal talent began to emerge, and her mother enrolled her in the Manhattan School of Music conservatory. Although she was a featured vocalist with a number of groups that toured the country and Europe, she grew tired of the classical repertoire and moved to East Tennessee for a fresh start.”

jeaninefullermusic.net

If some of the players in New River Rising look familiar, it's not your imagination. This young bluegrass/bluegrass gospel outfit grew from the roots of The Beechfork Boys (who played Louie Bluie in 2016), founded in 2013 by guitarist Travis Wright and banjo player John Byrge. Lineups being what they are, the additions of bassist Curtis Maiden and rhythm guitarist Luke Marlow called for a brand new name. New River Rising echoes the classic bluegrass sounds of East Tennessee and the nearby hills and valleys these talented players call home.

newriverrising.com

The Roberts Sisters are 16 year old twins who write and sing their own music. They have appeared at the Blue Bird Café Nashville, WoodSongs Old Time Radio television program and are performing at Dollywood during the Harvest Festival. The are signed with SweetSong Nashville and are currently working on their first release. They also perform regularly at the University of Tennessee Basketball games and the Smokies.

Visit The Roberts Sisters on Facebook

Five years ago, Southern Grace began singing in church but now plays old rock, country, folk, gospel, bluegrass and a little of everything in between. Greg Jones, an excellent bass guitar player, played for groups like the Pinnacle Boys back in the 80's. Paul Brewster was also part of that group who went on to play with Ricky Skaggs for almost 25 years. Vickie Atkins is an excellent singer, comes from a family of singers, and is also a shape note singer and has performed at Dollywood. Carl Miller, prior to Southern Grace, played with a gospel bluegrass group called Thankful Heart for over 10 years.

Sparky and Rhonda Rucker perform throughout the U.S. as well as overseas, singing songs  and telling stories from the American folk tradition. They are internationally recognized as leading  musicians, authors, and storytellers. They accompany themselves with fingerstyle picking and bottleneck  blues guitar, blues harmonica, old-time banjo, piano, spoons, and bones.  

Sparky and Rhonda are sure to deliver an uplifting presentation of toe-tapping music spiced with humor,  history, and tall tales. They take their audience on an educational and emotional journey that ranges from  poignant stories of slavery and war to an amusing rendition of a Brer Rabbit tale or their witty  commentaries on current events. Their music includes a variety of old-time blues, Appalachian music,  slave songs, Civil War music, spirituals, work songs, ballads, civil rights music, and their own original  compositions. 

You will hear soulful blues licks, heart-rending gospel, knee-slapping good rhythms, and bottleneck guitar  slide. Over fifty years of performing, Sparky and Rhonda have performed at the Kennedy Center in  Washington D.C. and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival as well as NPR's All Things Considered, Prairie  Home Companion, Mountain Stage, and Morning Edition. Their recording, Treasures & Tears, was  nominated for a W.C. Handy Award, and their music is also included on the Grammy-nominated  anthology, Singing Through the Hard Times.

The Ruckers have been featured tellers at the International Storytelling Center and Festival. Visit them on Facebook.

The Sunshine Ambassadors enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities through dance! They use choreography techniques that keep in mind balance, focus, sensory, processing, cognitive, and other issues that may delay or hinder a student from regular dance class moves. Their dance numbers are choreographed with additional time between movements. Movements are also adapted for those who have physical limitations, including those who use wheelchairs, braces, or gait trainers. They use teaching techniques of modeling, repetition, verbal cues, and some hand over hand as needed. Who can dance? EVERYONE!!!!!

Sunshine Ambassadors is always looking to meet new dancers, volunteers, instructors, and sponsors! If you would like to get involved or for more information about the Sunshine Ambassadors please visit our website at sunshineambassadors-dance.org. We hope you will come see and enjoy our performance...I know our dancers do!!

Growing up on Flint Hill Rd., musician Trajan “Tray” Wellington was destined to be attracted to the 5-string banjo. Tray’s love for music bloomed at an early age while he listened to his grandpa play diverse styles of music.

He didn’t start playing stringed instruments until he received his first electric guitar at age 13. Soon, he became interested in learning how to flat pick guitar, which led him to hear the banjo for the first time. His interest piqued, he began practicing, and his playing and musicianship have since flourished.

From learning traditional bluegrass to studying diverse genres such as jazz, progressive bluegrass, blues, rock, and more, Tray has gone on to play with some of the most accomplished musicians in the world. Before reaching the age of 21, he has received a number of awards and accolades, including two awards from IBMA — 2019 IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year and 2019 Momentum Band of the Year (with Cane Mill Road).

In 2019 he ventured out to start his own project which started with recording his first EP “Uncaged Thoughts” which was recorded, and co-produced by banjo legend Scott Vestal. From there he decided he wanted to start his current band Tray Wellington Band which currently features Josiah Nelson, Nick Weitzenfeld, and Katelynn Lowe. The band has performed at many premier festivals, and venues across the country including a set at the Red Hat Amphitheater during the IBMA World of Bluegrass Street Fest in 2021. In 2020, Tray signed to Mountain Home Music Company where he plans to release his first full length solo album in 2022. Tray has been featured on several TV shows including an episode of David Holt’s State of Music, as well as a 2022 feature on Kamau Bell’s CNN show United Shades of America. 

Tray is an experienced teacher of the banjo as well. Tray teaches many private lessons, as well as has taught at many premier camps including MidWest Banjo Camp, Augusta Heritage Week, and assistant teaching at the 2019 Bela Fleck Blue Ridge Banjo Camp.

traywellington.com

The UT Appalachian String Band is an exciting new student ensemble at the University of Tennessee that plays bluegrass and other Americana styles. They are directed by long-time musicology faculty and local Americana musician Sean McCollough.

Virginia West is comprised of two Appalachian born-and-bred musicians Toni Doman and KT Vandyke. They specialize in a mix of original material along with Country Western, Folk, Swing and Americana music styles and bring a uniquely vintage approach to their musical escapades. Fresh with colorful harmonies, vibrant rhythm and melodies, their music is simple yet captivating, emotive and catchy.   

Visit Virginia West on Facebook.

Launched in 1913 and lasting for over a quarter century, The LaFollette Old Fiddler's Convention was perhaps the longest running and largest event of its kind in the Southeast. At its peak, the convention boasted dozens of fiddlers and string-bands from Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Alabama, Virginia, and Tennessee. An array of the finest string musicians of the period came to LaFollette to compete for the top prizes. Due to its popularity among locals, the event's organizers were often forced to turn away many in the overflow crowd gathered at the LaFollette High School auditorium. Amplification was required by the mid-1930s to provide the enthusiastic patrons (each of whom paid 25 cents for admittance) a fair chance to hear their favorite fiddler render and old-time tune. Though the annual event ended in 1940, the hot-gut music of the LaFollette Old Fiddler's Conventions will be rekindled at this year's Louie Bluie Music and Arts Festival. Just as they did during the event's heyday, musicians from throughout the region will descend upon LaFollette to present the traditional styles.