2023 Festival Performers

Like his father, Howard “Louie Bluie” Armstrong, Grammy-nominated bassist Ralphe Armstrong is an astonishing musical powerhouse. Ralphe began performing with his father by age 5. By age 13 he played with Smokey Robinson and the Miracles; by 16 he affiliated with Jean-Luc Ponty and Frank Zappa (which continued for many years). The original bassist in the Mahavishnu Orchestra with John MacLaughlin, Ralphe has performed and recorded with Aretha Franklin, James Carter, Sting, Roger Daltrey, Eminem, and many more artists in a wide variety of genres. Earlier this year, Ralphe was honored by his hometown and voted "Best Jazz Instrumentalist" at the Detroit Music Awards.

The trio's guitarist Ray Kamalay is a long-time professional musician who has shared the stage with many great performers, including Mark O'Connor, Doc Watson, Jethro Burns, Steve Goodman, Joel Mabus and Holly Near. Ray began performing with Howard and Ralphe in 1988 when the three of them formed the Howard Armstrong Trio.

Switching up violin and mandolin, John Reynolds is an old-time music whiz. Early on, as an ethnomusicology student at Kent State University, John was influenced by a number of traditional music masters including our own Howard Armstrong, whom John knew and performed with for decades.

This four-piece band from East Tennessee specializes in solid, spirited hard-driving traditional and gospel bluegrass with some powerful vocal harmonies that are second to none. They have five recordings which are “Out of my Mind,” “Where Does the Good Times Go,” “There is a God,” and “Is This For Here or To Go” and now their newest recording, “Hillbilly Big Shots.” CF Bailey & Shadow Ridge is an established and credible bluegrass band located around the Knoxville, Tn. Area. They have been playing shows and festivals on regional and national levels all over the country and making a name for themselves locally and abroad. They have enjoyed their success by sticking to traditional bluegrass but with just enough modern sound to make truly “pleasing to the ear music.

Band Website: www.shadowridgebluegrassband.com

The East Tennessee Demijohns are a showcase band representing the East Tennessee Bluegrass Association (ETNBA). Featuring members of the association they enjoy thrilling audiences with high energy traditional bluegrass. Lead by association President Evie Andrus this group will get your toes tapping and you face smiling.

Members include: Evie Andrus, Jodi Harbin, Kevin Love, Zach Mongan and Steve Potts

Look for East TN Bluegrass Association on Facebook and Instagram

Four Leaf Peat is Tennessee’s premier Traditional Irish Band and has been performing locally and regionally since 2004! Traditional Irish music ranges from vibrant dance tunes to soulful songs, and Four Leaf Peat’s performances are always marked by a keen sense of the tradition, mixed with just the right amount of influence from the rich musical history of East Tennessee. Four Leaf Peat's unique sound is a result of its members' various musical backgrounds, and their continued passion for traditional Irish music. By taking all of their years of musical training, and building on Irish influences like The Bothy Band, Planxty, Flying Cloud & Silly Wizard, to more modern twists on Traditional music such as Dervish, Open the Door for Three & Lunasa; Four Leaf Peat has built its own brand of Irish music which celebrates the musical bridge that spans the Atlantic.

Artist website: fourleafpeat.com

Ed ("Fudd") Light is a 50-year veteran of traditional jazz and bluegrass groups, all of which seem to morph into his true love - Jug Band Music. Fudd was heavily influenced by sitting in and hanging out with Martin, Bogan, and Armstrong in the 70's. He'll be appearing with his current ensemble. The All New Genetically-Altered Jug Band from the Baltimore/DC area. ANGAJB has been nationally recognized as in conjunction with winning the NPR Cicada Song Contest and featured on the Doctor Demento Show performing their original song, “Ben Laden’s Jazz Funeral”. In addition to Fudd on kazoo, banjo, guitar, vocals and English siren whistle, the band features "Bags" (Richard Howard) on cornet, harmonica and vocals, "Mr. Scratchy" (Ron Goad) on washboard, drums, and the Zydeco necktie, and "The Gutbucketeer" (Jim Bunch) on washtub bass, jug, and sound effects.

Artist Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/angajb.jugband/

This duo performed with Howard Armstrong for decades. They will also be playing with the Armstrong Legacy Trio on the Sounds Like Home Stage at 3:00.

Margherita Fava, born in Follina (ITALY), moved to the USA in 2016 and since then she earned a B.A in Jazz Studies at Michigan State University and a M.M in Jazz and Studio Music at University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

She is now a full time musician, educator, arranger and composer based in Tennessee and collaborates with numerous musicians including Gregory Tardy, Rodney Whitaker, Randy Napoleon, Gina Benalcazar, among others.

Her debut album “TATATU” featuring Greg Tardy and produced by Rodney Whitaker was released on all streaming platforms in March 2023 and received a 4-star review on Downbeat Magazine.

Artist Website: www.margheritafava.com

Various members of New Market Trainwrecks have been playing together as surf/rock band Mutations since 2012, but after not playing regularly for a few years, came together again during the pandemic with a few extra musician friends to play the classic country songs they missed singing at karaoke. They aim for a traditional honky tonk sound and tight harmonies, and sometimes they even get there.

Chicha ( pronounced CHEE- chuh) is a fermented corn drink from the Andes and Rica Chicha is the closest to it that you will find in this region.They will electrify you with originals as well as with genre-defying versions of many other songs from around the world. Original from the exotic lands of Knoxville, TN, this band takes inspiration from the psychedelic Peruvian cumbia groups of the 60's and Latin American folk, punk, rock, and ska from the ‘80s and ‘90s. From the jungles of Peru to the mountains of the Appalachians, Rica Chicha makes music with no borders.

Band members include: Jerry Issacs “Chicken Man”, Bill Woolet, Sue Clapp, Doyle Sowers, and Robert Allen

Shayla McDaniel is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist & producer, crafting music to soundtrack your life. The Knoxville, TN-based laid back artist's pristine vocals, breezy pop grooves, big hooks, and soaring melodies contribute to her pop allure. Her music has been featured on MTV, Disney+ and retail and dining spaces throughout North America, the UK, Europe, and Asia. Through both her music and inspirational speaking, McDaniel advocates for mental health awareness, especially in communities of color.

Artist Website: https://www.shaylamcdaniel.com

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.

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!!

Discover the magic of The Armstrong Legacy Trio, our headliners this year, whose musical journey once intertwined with the legendary Aretha Franklin.

This year, we're privileged to present a heartfelt tribute to Aretha, a collaboration between Jeanine Fuller and Ralphe Armstrong. This unique blend of talents will pay homage to Aretha's timeless legacy in a way that resonates with the soul.

Join us for a day that transcends the ordinary, celebrating the brilliance of Aretha Franklin through music that moves the heart. This isn't just an event; it's a heartfelt connection to a musical era that continues to inspire.

Don't miss out! Get ready to be moved.

This special tribute is organized and presented by Bobby Fulcher and has been an integral part of the Louie Bluie Music & Arts Festival since 2007. 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.

This year WLAF 1450 celebrates 70 years on the air. WLAF signed on to the airwaves in 1953 in the Piedmont Hotel building, later the Fleet Building. The present studio on North 5th Street was constructed in 1963. Managers over the years include Hillard Mattie, Dick Jones, Elmer Longmire and owner, Bill Waddell. Jim Freeman is current General Manager.

Tennessee Arts Commission Tennessee Folklife Program Director Dr. Bradley Hanson will lead the tribute to WLAF and the Tennessee Jamboree of which Dr. Hanson made the documentary Jamboree Time. Learn more about the documentary and the Tennessee Jamboree on the Tennessee Arts Commission website featuring Jamboree Time.