The Jones Brothers are an exciting group comprised of stellar instructors and students of the renowned Junior Appalachian Musicians program.

The vision of the JAM program is that all children throughout the Appalachian Mountains have access to the joy of participation in the music of their heritage.

Stecoah School music teacher Bill Pruett will perform with some of his most talented young students who also happen to be brothers; Jonathan Jones (16 yrs old) on banjo and Josh Jones (13 yrs old) on mandolin/fiddle.

Band leader, Bill Pruett coaches the kids on everything from learning tunes by ear and singing harmony to being dependable band members, using a microphone and having a good attitude. He claims that these are some of the best students he has ever worked with, “They have great attitudes and they love the music. It’s students like this that make you want to keep teaching.”

Bill Pruett performs regionally with the Wilson Family and brings years of experience playing bluegrass music, including a stint with Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys.

http://regionaljam.org/wordpress/

Lon and Elisabeth Williamson, musical partners and sweethearts for 35 years, are well known around the Sunshine State and the Southeast for their artistry as a duo, blending eloquent harmonies with accomplished musicianship. Their instrumentation includes upright bass, guitar,
tenor guitar and banjo. Add to that their dynamic repertoire of award-winning originals, old-time, jazz, swing, and bluegrass tunes and you'll have a show that you're not likely to soon forget.

When not on the road, the Williamsons spend time at their home in the Sandhills, where they write and record their own music as well as produce and record music of artists from all over the southeast.

This fall they are touring with native Californian Christian Ward, recently relocated to Gainesville, Florida. Christian is recognized as one of the best young fiddle players in the country. Since his professional debut at the early age of twelve, Christian has toured the world with numerous bands including Chris Stuart & Backcountry, Sierra Hull and Highway 111. He has also shared the stage with some legendary musicians including Ricky Skaggs, Earl Scruggs, and Bela Fleck. In 2012, Christian was honored with the “Momentum Award” by the International Bluegrass Music
Association, which recognizes key up and coming contributors to the music industry. In 2013 he was named the winner of the Florida State Fiddle Contest. He currently tours regionally and nationally with The Amanda and Scott Anderson Band, Rebecca Frazier, Hit & Run and The Williamsons.

www.thegatorboneband.com

Husband and wife duo, Bob & Amy Buckingham are regular instructors at the Folk School for mandolin, fiddle and banjo.

Bob Buckingham started playing guitar and banjo in the 1960s. By the '70s, he had branched out to fiddle and mandolin. Bob has played in several old-time and bluegrass bands and on more than a dozen recordings under his own name, as a sideman.

Amy Buckingham sings and plays guitar, banjo and fiddle. She and Bob specialize in close harmony duets and hard driving dance tunes.

*Special Thursday Night Performance*

In her work as a humorist, storyteller, singer and songwriter, Kim Weitkamp has taken home an armload of awards. She has performed at major theaters throughout the US and Canada and has toured the country for the last 5 years as 1/3 of the comedy group, The Uncalled for Triofeaturing Bil Lepp (of Comedy Central) and Andy Offutt Irwin (of Disney).

Her list of accomplishments is lengthy, but what she is most known for are the characters, comedy and songs she brings to the stage. She has mastered the craft of blending humor and heartache, seriousness and silliness...all linked together by music.

She currently has 8 award winning audio collections, has made numerous television appearances, hosted a successful morning show and has authored articles for periodicals and magazines.

http://www.kimweitkamp.com/

The Asheville Aces are inspired by the era when blues music was going from the country to the city, a time when the electric guitar was getting more popular. Band member Cary Fridley explains the sound as still having that “Southern, old-style beat, but it also starts to sound like rock and roll.�

Asheville Aces include acoustic bassist/vocalist Cary Fridley, guitarist/vocalist Scott Sharpe and drummer Dave Perkins. They draw from both Delta and North Mississippi blues musicians such as R.L. Burnside, Memphis Minnie, Junior Kimbrough, and Muddy Waters.

https://www.facebook.com/AshevilleAces/

Geoff Hohwald has been playing banjo for over 40 years. He has played with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra, the Alliance Theatre Orchestra, and has been with the Greater Atlanta Bluegrass Band for the last 18 years. He is known in the bluegrass world for authoring five banjo instruction books and DVD's through Watch & Learn Inc.,

Rick Taylor has been performing with various bands, singing and playing banjo, guitar, and mandolin for the past 30 years. As a session player, Rick has played on recordings by Bob Dylan and the Black Crowes. He has been featured in three productions of "Cotton Patch Gospel" and most recently in Woody Guthrie's "American Song" at the Alliance Theater in Atlanta.

Larry Teems will join in on dobro. Larry is a lifelong resident of Brasstown, NC. He carries on a long Folk School tradition - his father worked at the school for many years. Larry is an experienced cabinet maker and a member of the Brasstown Volunteer Fire Department. He serves as Resident Artist of the Folk School's Woodworking program.

Brasstown Ringers, the community handbell group of western North Carolina and north Georgia continues to challenge its ringers and its audiences with new and exciting music, as well as old favorites.

The concert's repertoire is full of fancy bell-ringing techniques that thrilled audiences every time.

Brasstown Ringers are a group of 14 from northern Georgia and western North Carolina. They will be joined by guest artists Josanna Sherman on flute and Cody Killian on piano. Pat Meinecke is their director.

https://www.facebook.com/brasstownringers