Marty Raybon and Full Circle (Saturday) Marty Raybon “The greatest singer on the planet to this day!"---Gary LeVox, Lead vocalist of Rascal Flatts. "One of the best soul singers in music. He gets inside a song and turns it inside out. When you listen to him sing, he makes every word sound important and makes you feel as though he is singing straight to you. I love everything he's done. He's a great singer, a great artist, and a great man."---Josh Turner, GRAMMY® nominated vocalist.  Rarely is a voice heard that is not just unforgettable, but it is undeniable. A voice filled with emotion and compassion that not only comes from a melody or a great lyric, but from the heart. A voice that draws you in with trepidation and makes you laugh at the shear elation of hearing it. And when you do hear that voice, you realize that God has placed a precious gift in someone’s life. From the very first time you heard Marty Raybon, as the lead singer of the award winning country music group Shenandoah, singing “Mama Knows”, “Ghost In This House”, “Two Dozen Roses”, “Church On Cumberland Road”, and “Somewhere In The Vicinity Of The Heart” you knew he was one of those gifted vocalists. He can take a lyric and put heartbreak into the melody like no other singer before him. After hearing his work, you will understand that Marty Raybon is not just one of the greatest singers there has ever been, he is also a man of unwavering faith and extraordinary vision.

Kenny and Amanda Smith Band (Saturday) The Kenny and Amanda Smith Band are winners of the International Bluegrass Music Association's prestigious Emerging Artist of the Year award in 2003, the Kenny and Amanda Smith Band combines gutsy, heartfelt vocals, brilliant instrumental talents and a powerful, contemporary sense of song choice and arrangement into one of the most compelling new sounds in bluegrass today. Originally from Nine Mile, IN, Kenny Smith is widely considered one of the most important and influential flat-picking-style guitarists of his generation. A two-time IBMA Guitarist of the Year award winner, his professional credits include 6 years with the popular Lonesome River Band  and an exceptional solo CD, Studebaker, released on Sugar Hill Records in 1997. Kenny is in great demand at guitar workshops and master classes, teaching at the renowned Roanoke Bluegrass Weekend series and at guitar workshops at major events such as IBMA. He has just released a two-DVD instruction set on AcuTab Publications. Born in the small town of Davisville, WV, Amanda Smith grew up singing in church choirs and participating in talent contests at local fairs. "I always sang, my mom and dad said, even before I can remember," she says today. She started playing guitar in high school to accompany herself, and soon discovered bluegrass music through female artists such as Claire Lynch, Rhonda Vincent and Alison Krauss. She met her future husband at a Lonesome River Band concert, and the couple began dating and playing music together almost immediately. "I wouldn't say it was love at first sight, but there was definitely something there," she explains. Their shared Christian faith, love for bluegrass and desire to perform together led them to record a debut CD, Slowly But Surely in 2001. The band's second release, "House Down The Block," further solidified its position as one of the best new bands in bluegrass. The third album, a 2005 release is titled  "Always Never Enough." In 2007, the band's first-ever all-gospel project, "Tell Someone," was released on Rebel Records. The Kenny & Amanda Smith Band also include Aaron Williams of Blacksburg, Virginia on mandolin, Zachary McLamb from Benson, NC on bass, and newest member Trent Callicutt of Asheboro, NC on banjo.

Randy Kohrs and the Lites (Friday) Randy Kohrs grew up on a farm in the rural town of New Virginia, Iowa.  At the age of eight his uncle introduced him to an acoustic guitar, which Randy soon purchased from his uncle. Around age ten, Randy became more fascinated with his Uncle Jack's main instrument, the resophonic guitar, or dobro. In his typical industrious style, he raised a feeder calf and purchased his first dobro when he was eleven. He soon began playing full-time with the Missouri-based band, Possum Trot, and stayed with them for ten years. At fifteen, he began playing country music with a local band in the Des Moines area. Throughout this time, Randy had been developing his soulful and powerful tenor voice, along with his repertoire of other instruments, including guitar, mandolin, banjo, pedal steel, and bass. Despite his busy schedule, he also worked at his father's auto machanic shop, and earned a degree in Automotive Collision Repair. Soon, Randy was running his own business and still playing music on the side.  In 1994, shortly after the passing of his father, a grieving, yet hopeful, Randy headed to Nashville. In 1995, Hank Williams III hired Randy for his own band. But on days off, the diligent Randy could be found playing music on Lower Broadway.  1n 1996, he was hired by the legendary Tom T. Hall, as a multi-instrumentalist.  In 1997, Tom T. retired from the road and Randy found himself back on Lower Broad playing regular gigs at the Turf, a local hotspot.  Later that year, Randy joined David Parmley and Continental Divide, singing tenor and some lead and playing dobro.  Two years later, he toured with Holly Dunn, and in late 2000, joined John Cowan's band playing dobro and singing tenor.  In 2003, he accepted a gig with the infamous Dolly Parton and sang and played dobro with the "Blueniques" for two years. While grateful to be working with so many great acts, it was always Randy's dream to have a solo career. In 2001, he released his debut solo recording "A Crack In My Armour."  It was followed by a traditional country album, "Now It's Empty."  The success of this project, along with a budding career as a session player in Nashville, proved to be a catalyst in Randy's solo career. To date, he has played on over 500 CD's, ranging from legends such as Hank Thompson and Jerry Reed to current chart-topping artists including Dierks Bentley and The Wreckers, not to mention the countless bluegrass recordings he's played on for such well-known acts as Larry Sparks, Rhonda Vincent, Mark Newton, Bradley Walker, Lou Reid, and 3 Fox Drive, and many more. Moreover, his reputation as a producer and engineer is growing rapidly. Randy wrote or co-wrote, nine of the twelve tracks on his fourth solo album, "Old Photograph", including the single, "Rockwell's Gold."  His previous album, "I'm Torn," released in 2004, spent seven months on The Bluegrass Unlimited National Bluegrass Survey Top 15 Albums chart.  The success of this album, along with a budding career as a session player in Nashville, proved to be a catalyst in Randy's escalating solo career.

Audie Blaylock and Redline (Friday) Audie Blaylock was born in Texas into a family whose roots go back to Virginia, Audie learned to play guitar, sing and perform with his parents and siblings, and then played locally in the Lansing Michigan area where he grew up. In 1982, at age 19, Audie Blaylock joined Jimmy Martin and The Sunny Mountain Boys and spent nine years on the road learning the craft of bluegrass from one of the music's first-generation legends. Audie has also performed with other distinguished acts including Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Red Allen, The Lynn Morris Band and songwriting great Harley Allen. Audie is a four-time IBMA Guitar Player of theYear nominee. Blaylock is excited about what the future holds now that the reformation of Audie Blaylock and Redline is in motion. “We're excited about this band and are ready to get out there and play every day of the year if we can and entertain audiences with some great music,” he says. In 2005 and 2006, the band had the honor of being nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Association's Emerging Artist of the Year award. Audie Blaylock and Redline brings the energy of the early days of bluegrass to every show.

David Davis and the Warrior River Boys (Saturday) David Davis had a burning desire to sustain his family's heritage, drawing on childhood influences from his uncle Cleo (an original Bluegrass Boy), his father Leddell Davis and his grandfather J.H. Bailey, who played the drop-thumb style banjo and old-time fiddle. In 1984, bandleader Garry Thurmond handed the reins of the Warrior River Boys over to then 23 year-old David Davis. The band was one of Alabama's oldest traditional groups, with more than a thirty-year history. In the mid 1980’s David and the boys toured extensively, taking their music to a national audience. Since then, David and the WRB have traveled over one million miles performing at a majority of the major Bluegrass venues from coast to coast in the United States and the Canadian provinces. David says, "My hope is that, as long as people desire an honest heartfelt music, there will always be a place for our kind of music." The band members include Owen Saunders (fiddle), Daniel Grindstaff (banjo), Marty Hays (bass), and Adam Duke (guitar).

Special Consensus (Friday and Saturday) The Special Consensus is a four person acoustic bluegrass band that began performing in the Midwest in the spring of 1975. Fronted by Chicago's Greg Cahill on banjo, the band currently also includes Ashby Frank (mandolin), Justin Carbone (guitar), and David Thomas (bass). Greg Cahill has been a leader in developing bluegrass educational programs, and in addition to his busy touring and teaching schedule, he also currently serves as president of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA). The band released its first recording and began touring on a national basis in 1979. Since then, they have released twelve additional recordings. In 1984, The Special Consensus initiated the Traditional American Music (TAM) Program in schools across the country and began appearing on cable television and National Public Radio shows.  A video production of Special C's TAM Program has been sent by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) to hundreds of schools throughout the United States. In 2000, Pinecastle  Records released the band's first video, and The Special Consensus "25th Anniversary" recording.  In 2003, The Special Consensus received a standing ovation after their first performance on the Grand Ole Opry at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium.  The band was featured in the August 2005 cover story of Bluegrass       Unlimited magazine, and Greg Cahill was featured in the September 2006 cover story in bluegrass Now.        In 1993, the band performed the first of many concerts with a symphony orchestra, complete with orchestral arrangements of songs from the band's repertoire. In addition to performing throughout the US, international tours have taken The Special Consensus to the United Kingdom, Canada, Europe, Ireland and South America.

Pine Mountain Railroad (Friday) Pine Mountain Railroad --Fresh off their first ever number one single and first ever top-5 bluegrass album, this award-winning national touring band has been busy entertaining at festivals, concerts, and other performance venues in the United States and abroad. Now into their tenth year, this exciting and entertaining five piece bluegrass band is led by Cody Shuler, the eight-year veteran performer.  Cody has brought together the best in bluegrass vocalists and instrumentalists to form this outstanding band. His leadership has seen the band return to and perfect the high-lonesome sound and place it in a contemporary setting. Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine, in a highlight album review in 2007, may have said it best about this new version of the band: “This band really has everything you could ask for .... but their vocals are truly something rare.” The band features: Cody Shuler on mandolin and vocals, Bill McBee on bass and vocals, Matt 'Scooter' Flake on fiddle and vocals, Jerry Cole on guitar and vocals, and Dale Thomas on banjo.

Hickory Hill (Friday and Saturday) Hickory Hill includes John Early (guitar), Don Eaves (banjo), Bob Stegall (bass), Wes Perry (mandolin) and Steve Auburn (fiddle).  Celebrating their 28th anniversary in September, 2007, Hickory Hill has proven to be one of Texas' most popular and enduring acoustic groups. Hickory Hill’s music is characterized by uniqueness. The website for Uncle Calvin’s, a renowned music venue in Dallas, described Hickory Hill as follows: “Garnering many awards and ‘Best Of’ titles, HHB infuses its own energetic originals with influences of rock & soul, old-time gospel sounds and progressive country, bringing an alluring diversity to their bluegrass based music. Their unique, smooth, laid-back sound, infectious humor and youthful verve blend with vocal harmonies, guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass & fiddle on tastefully arranged standards and lyrically astute, deeply spiritual originals.”  Hickory Hill has been recognized nationally over the years for its originality and the quality of its recordings.  In 1993, Hickory Hill was named "Band Of  The Year" by the Arts and Entertainment Committee of East Texas, and in 1996 was selected for a showcase performance at the International Bluegrass Music Association's annual World of Bluegrass in Owensboro, Kentucky.  The group serves as host band for two well known Texas festivals, the Overton Bluegrass Music Festival, as well as the Argyle Bluegrass Festival.  Hickory Hill’s seventh and most recent recording, Old School, was released in January, 2007.  It includes two original songs written by the band’s mandolinist Wes Perry, as well as Steve Earle’s Pilgrim, and many fine traditional bluegrass tunes.  The band recorded its newest release at Studio 117, a division of Auburn Music Group of Longview, which is managed by Hickory Hill’s newest member, Steve Auburn.  Auburn played fiddle on seven of the songs on Hickory Hill’s ‘Old School’ CD, and began to play with the band on some of their appearances, including last year's Overton Bluegrass Music Festival. Hickory Hill liked Steve and his playing so well that they invited him to join the band, and  Steve became a regular member of Hickory Hill in January, 2008.            According to the Bluegrass Newsletter, "Selectivity and tasteful arrangement are characteristic of Hickory Hill's repertoire." Variety is an important ingredient in Hickory Hill's performances. The band emphasizes original material, seldom heard "gems", or songs adapted from other styles of music. Original and classic gospel songs are some of the band's favorites.       Hickory Hill has always been known for its warm personality and stage presence.  Lee Kelly of the Longview Morning Journal wrote "...Together, they forge a sound like a drink of cold spring water, guaranteed to clear your head and wash away the taste of ashes." Bob Claypool of the Houston Chronicle said "...The next time Hickory Hill is in your town, go see them, you'll love them."

Bowles Creek (Friday and Saturday) Bowles Creek Gospel Bluegrass is an East Texas band that plays traditional, old time gospel bluegrass.  Their roots run as deep as the tributary, based out of New London, Texas, from which it takes its name. All band members have a steep tradition and love for old time traditional bluegrass music filled with irresistible harmony. Many of the songs on their CDs “Tell’em About Jesus” and “Cry From the Cross” are songs written by legends such as Ralph Stanley and Larry Sparks.  Their latest CD “I’ll Meet You In Heaven Someday” is rich with the gospel truth and portrays their love for God. Though steep with tradition, youthfulness plays a part with the exceptional vocal talents of the youngest band member, twelve year old Miss Bailee Stanley, of Overton, Texas.  She can sure pump up audiences with her bright smile, strong voice, and perky disposition.  Her long awaited CD release “Bailee Stanley—By Request” has inspired many young children, as well as adults, to listen to this wholesome music. Many times people refer to Bowles Creek as “That band with that little girl.” Just this past October, Bailee was honored to sing a duet with Larry Cordle at the Station Inn, in Nashville, Tennessee. Bailee is something you must see! The Lord has graciously blessed this band with many talents and best of all; the members are enthusiastic about letting others know how the Lord is in charge of their ministry.  Their stage presence is exuberant and each performance is uplifting.

Pick'n Grass (Saturday) Pick'N Grass is a group of local young people that share a love for acoustic and bluegrass music.  You can find them under a tree or on the stage with their instruments at festivals and shows all over the ArkLaTex.  Each of these young people are members of several different family bands, but love to get together for some great jamming of their own!  Pick'N Grass members are Bryce and Kayla Jordan, Longview, TX, mandolin and guitar; Brent and Kellie Barber, Keithville, LA, banjo and fiddle; Bailee Stanley, Overton, TX, guitar; Klint Killion, Rusk, TX, fiddle; and, providing coaching and encouragement, Lynn Gray, Grapeland, TX, guitar and Mike Tucker, Longview, TX, bass.  Each member adds their own unique musicianship and personality for a refreshing presentation both on and off the stage.  For limited appearances, contact Mike or Julie Tucker (903-232-1718 or jkaembg@sbcglobal.net).

Perry Family (Saturday) The Perry family all began when Wes & Karen met as teenagers in her home town of Ropes, TX at a monthly bluegrass night.  He was sitting on the tailgate of a pickup picking the banjo and laughing like Burt Reynolds…”how could I resist?” she says. The rest is history…along came Luke, the tall lanky guitar picker and baritone singer…now 18 and heading to college!  Then there was Leah, the fiery dark eyed fiddle player who has a voice that will knock your socks off…now 16…complete with drivers license.  Last to come along, was charming Levi that can play just about anything at 13 years of age…and just started doing some singing too.  Everybody is self taught, but of course Wes is a big influence on the traditional style that they all carry.  He’s been playing banjo since he was about 12 and then started on the mandolin at 19, plus he’s got a great ear for singing. Karen got her bass from her parents when she graduated from High School a few years back…and now just look what they have become.  “One of the greatest pleasures in life to get to show off your kids”!