2024 Festival Performers

Ada became a professional musician at 12. Her first band Shiloh was the youngest ever placed with Houston's premier talent agency. Diane started playing guitar at her brother’s knee. After decades of sharing songs around campfires, she picked up the bass.

And now... Together, and with friends, they play mostly original songs ranging from folk, rock, country, Americana and jazz.

Band Website: theadakhouryband.com

I'm 77, and have been studying Blues and Jazz since I was a kid. His Howardness and I played the Shawano Festival as a duo one time. During the closing number, John Henry, Howard flipped his mando. Next chorus I flipped my guitar. Howard's eyes got big, and he leaned down saying, 'When I say go, put it behind your head!'

GO!

The crowd went nuts. There's a picture of it around here somewhere, if only I could find it...

Artist Website: andycohenmusic.com

The Bearded are an old time string band with brand new songs from East Tennessee. They specialize in traditional dance, old-time, bluegrass, jug and blues music. Also, a sundry collection of original songs and contemporary favorites round out their infectious and upbeat sound. The Bearded have performed on stage with The Carolina Chocolate Drops and Dom Flemons. As well as openers for bands like The Reel Time Travelers and The Steel Drivers.

Band Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/thebeardedmusic

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. CF Bailey & Shadow Ridge 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

Evelyn J. Jack is a professional vocalist, a mother of three, and a grandmother of three with one on the way. She is a native of Memphis, TN (home of the blues) and presently a resident of Knoxville, TN. “Blues, to Me, is the Real Deal. It's Singing about a Life I've Personally lived and that of my Parents. Blues evolved from the Civil War Era, Ragtime and that Old time Gospel Music and Classic Folk and Popular Music. It shares that Serious hardcore feeling that no other Music shares. Even though Jazz comes close.... Gospel and Blues cut to the Core.”

For the first time since Covid, teaching artist Sean McCollough is returning to a Campbell County School to share the story of Howard Armstrong and teach a group of students some of his songs. After McCollough’s residency at Jacksboro Elementary, students will perform with him and a professional band at the festival. Sean McCollough is a National Parent's Choice Award winner, a children's radio host, a multi-instrumentalist, and a seasoned performer. He also teaches musicology at the University of Tennessee and is a teaching artist in the schools through the Tennessee Arts Commission. More info at seanmccollough.com.

Lawnmower was born in the basement of the UT College of Music (room G07 to be exact!) Several of the members are currently part of UT Appalachian Strings, and band-leader Cade Botts of Oneida, TN is an alumnus of the program. They play traditional and original bluegrass music and named themselves lawnmower because “we cut grass (bluegrass that is).” They released their first EP of all-original songs this past summer.

Band’s Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/lawnmower_bluegrass/

Mal Nombre is a vibrantly improvisational and progressive jazz/rock ensemble from Knoxville Tn. They make refreshingly enigmatic and groove based instrumental music tinged with shades of psychedelic rock and free improvisation that manage to strike a balance with various prog rock elements subtly illuminating from deep within their music. They are a reflection of the exciting musical eclecticism currently flourishing in the Scruffy City.

Band Facebook Page: facebook.com/p/Mal-Nombre-100063809233177/

Mike McGill has been a full-time singer/songwriter and musician for the past 15 years. The founding member of the classic county band The Drunk Uncles, he Honky Tonk band the Barstool Romeos, and the lead singer and electric guitar player for The Cat House Profits. He has shared the bill with noteworthy acts such as J.D. Crowe and the New South, Doyle Lawson, Junior Brown, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Southern Culture on the Skids, The Head Hunters.

M.S.G. Acoustic Blues Trio performs traditional Piedmont Blues. A typical performance ranges from humorous roof-raisers to the deepest expression of the blues, with a whole lot of musical stops in between. M.S.G.'s repertoire includes original songs, traditional blues, gospel/spirituals and ragtime influenced tunes, as well as a number of surprising covers.

Band Website: acousticbluesmsg.com

Formed in 2018 by two brothers and their best friend, the Sequatchie River Band began life as a haphazard acoustic jam trio. Over the years, they have added a third brother and another close friend, and refined their sound, while maintaining a diverse repertoire of classic rock, folk, country, blues, and sacred music covers, with a contemporary spin. When playing modern alt/indie rock, their alter ego is Interval.

Band Facebook page: TheSequatchieRiverBand

Southern Grace plays old rock, country, folk, gospel, bluegrass and a little of everything in between. Bass guitar player, Greg Jones, played for groups like the Pinnacle Boys back in the 80's; Paul Brewster played with Ricky Skaggs for almost 25 years; Vickie Atkins is also a shape note singer and has performed at Dollywood; Carl Miller played with a gospel bluegrass group called Thankful Heart for over 10 years.

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

Sparky and Rhonda Rucker deliver an uplifting presentation of heart-rending, soulful songs spiced with humor, history, and tall tales. They have long been ambassadors of cultural heritage, accompanying themselves with bottleneck slide guitar, old-time banjo, harmonica, piano, spoons, and bones. Over fifty years of performing, Sparky and Rhonda have performed at the Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival as well as NPR's On Point, 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.

Artist website: sparkyandrhonda.com

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!!

Tee Dee Young, a native of Lexington Kentucky, has been performing and playing for audiences for many years!

Kentucky's best kept secret, Tee Dee Young, a blues legend in his own time, has definitely got the blues and he loves "firing down on that guitar." While playing his own unique style of the blues, his dynamic stage presence, exciting harmony and energy will put you in the mood for dancing! What makes Tee Dee Young unique is the style in which he plays the Blues. Tee Dee released a new single Love me no more in which can be downloaded from his website

Artist website: TeeDeeYoungBlues.com

The Tribute to the LaFollette Old Fiddlers Convention returns again in 2024 with more of the fun fiddlin' and big personalities you love! Celebrating the historic Campbell County turn-of-the-century string music, this Tribute hits all the right notes on the Sounds Like Home stage.

Fiddlers include Nate Dodson, Jeff Kales, Tater Caruthers, Michael Klug, and Jeff Swan

After performing on stage, the fiddlers will stroll over to the Jam Tent, becoming "gatekeepers" jamming with other musicians -- playing to the feel. Bring your own instrument and "free flow" at the Jam Tent with some of the finest local musicians ever to play!