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 dvds 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.

A mix of Saturday Night Bluegrass and Sunday Morning Gospel, Julie Nelms and the Bluegrass Partners present a mix of iconic bluegrass classics ranging from the music of The Country Gentlemen to Roy Accuff and many more! Along with the comedy and musical talents of Sonny Reighard.
Born and Raised in Robbinsville, North Carolina, Julie Nelms studied traditional Appalachian Music not only at Berea College, but also abroad, getting a masters degree in Irish music and literature, the roots of Appalachian music at the National University of Ireland - Galway. Along with Sonny Reighard and friends making up the Bluegrass Partners, this band promises to bring a smile to the faces of not only Bluegrass purists, but also those who are new to the genre, presenting tunes and songs for all to enjoy

Mike Clem, Andy Kruspe, and Garrett Smith have been playing Celtic music together in one form or another since 2010. During this time, they kept a running tab of cool band names and even better album names. When it came time to form a trio, "Black Market Haggis" became the clear choice for a band name. So they did what every new band should do when starting out- they searched their band name on the internet to see if it had already been taken. Predictably, no band has ever used that moniker. However, they did find that there is a demand for such a product since the USDA will not allow real haggis in the United States.

Then in the fall of 2015, the band lucked out. The band had been looking for vocalist, and Chenoa Clark's schedule was finally able to accomodate our musical shenanigans. She joined the band, and the boys have had to watch their language ever since.

Special Thursday Night Concert.

Born in the coalfields of Southwest Virginia, Jim Lloyd now makes his home in Rural Retreat, Virginia where he operates Lloyd's Barber Shop, a local gathering spot for collecting and trading tunes, stories, and songs. His musical roots extend back through at least four generations of fiddlers, guitar players, dancers, and singers from the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia. Jim is known especially for his skills on guitar and banjo. He has won prizes for many years in both guitar and banjo competitions at notable fiddler's conventions such as Galax and Fiddler's Grove. He has performed at many regional shows, as well as West Virginia's Mountain Stage, Seedtime on the Cumberland (Appalshop), the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance, and the Minnesota Old-Time and Bluegrass Festival. He has two solo recording projects and has performed on numerous recordings by other musicians.

Jim will be joined on stage by Geraud Barralon on the stand up bass.

http://www.blueridgeautoharps.com/jim_lloyd.htm

Lorinda Jones grew up in a musical family in a small town in South Central Kentucky. She began performing at an early age, and has pursued music through a wide range of instruments including piano, oboe, dulcimer, tin whistle, psaltery, zither, autoharp, and guitar, as well as Celtic harp. In Lorinda's performance, her audience gains an appreciation for the historical development of the harp and for the Celtic music she presents. With five CD's and five books to her credit, Lorinda is nationally recognized as an outstanding performer, recording artist, teacher, and publisher.

Sue Richards is an internationally known performer, teacher, composer and author. Sue has recorded dozens of CDs, and has entertained audiences throughout the U.S. and Europe. Sue has sat in with The Chieftains and has appeared on A Prairie Home Companion. She has performed in Scotland at Celtic Connections in Glasgow and at the Edinburgh International Harp Festival, and she recently toured Norway and Sweden with the Harpa ensemble. In addition to multiple Wammie awards, Sue has won the American National Scottish Harp Championship four times, and is now a Scottish Harp Society of America (SHSA) Distinguished Judge. She has also served as president of SHSA, as well as of the Washington, DC, Folk Harp Society.

http://www.lorindajones.com/about_the_artist.htm

From Warren, RI, award-winning musician, singer, clog dancer, writer, teacher and public radio commentator, Aubrey Atwater presents captivating programs of folk music, dance, and narration. Aubrey has performed throughout the United States and beyond, singing and playing dulcimer, banjo, guitar, mandolin, and whistle, and thrilling audiences with her highly percussive freestyle clogging. In a scholarly, yet humorous way, Aubrey conveys the heritage behind traditional folk music and dance, showing deep passion and understanding of folk history and key players. Aubrey and her husband Elwood Donnelly have thirteen recordings and eight books to their credit.

www.atwater-donnelly.com

Since 1980 the Lilies of the West, an all-woman, old-time string band has been entertaining enthusiastic listeners with their lively renditions of American traditional, Celtic and Bluegrass music. The Lilies combine their talents to bring the music of our land to life with their spirited instrumentals featuring the banjo, fiddle, hammered dulcimer, guitar, penny whistle and stand-up bass. Their harmony singing gives new vitality to old songs and can be heard on their digitally-recorded CD's entitled Seeds of Tradition and Silver Jubilee. A compilation of the CD's is available on CD Baby.
Part of the Lilies charisma and charm is their personal enjoyment of the traditional music they play and their delight in sharing it with others. In their shows they encourage audience participation, tell funny stories and sing songs with an animated flair. The Lilies of the West can be the picture frame of any event that involves good old-fashioned, toe-tapping fun.

"Theo & Brenna are a brother-sister led bluegrass band who perform originals, bluegrass and old country favorites. Theo & Brenna is made up of phenomenal young musicians and together they have tight bluegrass harmonies and intricate instrumentation. Their heartfelt songwriting touches each listener and onstage comical banter entertains every audience. Theo and Brenna MacMillan are originally from Eastern Kentucky and now reside in Nashville, Tennessee."

The Jones Brothers are an exciting group comprised of stellar musicians ranging in age from 14 years old and up. Johnathan and Josh Jones participated in the renowned Junior Appalachian Musicians program and thanks to the dedicated instruction of Bill Pruitt (who played with Bill Monroe in his past) have really grown into their music.

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.

Johnathan and Josh will be joined by Larry Garrett on upright bass and Betsy Blankenship on vocals and guitar.

Blue Eyed Girl is a dynamic group of three young women whose roots are deep in traditional music and dance. Their high-energy dance numbers, sweet Appalachian vocal arrangements, and old-time rhythmic flair draw from the music passed down to them from their families.

Pearl Shirley grew up in Black Mountain, NC, soaking up traditional Appalachian music and dance from her two fiddling parents. She picked up a tiny violin at age 5, and since then has fiddled her way through hundreds of foot-stomping contra dances and folk concerts.

Laurel Willoughby grew up right along side Pearl in Black Mountain, NC with musical parents as well. Laurel and Pearl started singing old-style harmonies together at a very young age which has resulted in a wonderfully seasoned sound now that they are grown. She plays stand-up bass and is known for her versions of old favorites like "Your Cheatin' Heart"

Annie Fain Barralon was raised in Cherokee County, NC, where as a small child she often fell asleep under the piano at the John C. Campbell Folk School while her parents played for square dances. She is the former Music & Dance Coordinator for the Folk School and teaches banjo, book arts, clogging and French Bal Folk Dance workshops.

http://blueeyedgirlnc.wordpress.com/