One of the hottest bands coming out of Nashville in the last few years, The SteelDrivers blend old style with a new feeling.  Chris Stapleton, on guitar and lead vocals, has stamped a signature sound on this band.  The raw intensity of his “sandpaper to silk” vocals has made the SteelDrivers one of the most sought after bands around the country.  A veteran songwriter, his compositions have been covered by Tim McGraw, Brooks and Dunn, Julie Roberts, Daryl Worley, Trent Wilmon, Gary Allan, Patty Loveless, Brad Paisley, Trace Adkins, Lee Ann Womack, Montgomery Gentry, and the Lonesome River Band.  He recently scored number one singles as the writer of “Your Man,” recorded by Josh Turner and Kenny Chesney’s “Never Wanted Nothing More.”
 
Rounding out the band are Grammy nominated banjo player Richard Bailey, Tammy Rogers on fiddle and vocals, Mike Henderson on mandolin, and Mike Fleming on bass, each established musicians with outstanding achievements.
 
In 2008, The SteelDrivers received IBMA nominations for Album of the year, Song of the Year, and Emerging Artist of the year. The AMA nominated the SteelDrivers for Emerging Artist of the year.
 
On December 3, 2008, The SteelDrivers received a Grammy nomination for "Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group for their song "Blue Side of the Mountain".  The 51st Annual Grammy Awards were held on Feb. 8, 2009.

Learn more about The SteelDrivers at www.steeldrivers.net and www.grammy.com.

Pete Wernick, “Dr. Banjo”, leads this eclectic group presenting bluegrass in a new light with the blending of bluegrass and jazz.  Pete is the famed banjo player for Hot Rize and in addition to his incredible talent as a performer is one of the country’s foremost banjo educators.  Among his many impressive credentials, Pete was President of the IBMA from 1986 to 2001 and received a Grammy nomination in 1991.  Members of Flexigrass are Greg Harris (vibraphone), Bill Pontarelli (clarinet), Kris Ditson (drums), Roger Johns (bass), and Joan Wernick (featured vocalist).

Learn more about Pete Wernick at www.drbanjo.com and Flexigrass at www.flexigrass.com.

Many folks will remember Long Road Home when they appeared at our festival two years ago and the incredible talent this set of young musicians out of Colorado displayed.  They’re even better now with seasoned veterans Pete Wernick on banjo and Gene Libbea, a two time Grammy winning bass player from the Nashville Bluegrass Band on bass.  Their incredible fiddle player, Justin Hoffenberg, is still with the band as well as “Blazing Fingers” Martin Gilmore on guitar.  Jordan Ramsey won the Rocky Grass mandolin championship in 2008 and appears on mandolin.

Learn more about Long Road Home at the following:
www.martingilmore.com, www.justinhoffenberg.com,

From Tensleep, Wyoming, Jalan Crossland is widely acclaimed by audiences, critics and his musical peers as one of the country’s premier acoustic guitarists.  Along with dozens of regional contest awards, his extraordinary guitar work has earned him National Fingerstyle Championship honors in 1997 and the State Championship Flatpick Title in his home state of Wyoming in 1999.  He is a talented vocalist, banjo player, songwriter and an engaging showman.  Shaun Kelley plays bass and Andy Phreaner will be on trap, wackadoo, harmonica, and percussion.  The band’s 2007 CD release, Trailer Park Fire & Other Tragedies, has been a smashing success.  The band will release a new concert DVD in 2009.

Learn more at www.jalancrossland.com.

Jeff Troxel is an award-winning guitarist, composer, songwriter, and teacher with over 25 years of professional experience.   He graduated summa cum laude from Berklee College of Music and earned a masters in Jazz Guitar Performance from the University of Southern California.  Jeff was selected state flat-picking champion in his native Wyoming in 2001 and in Utah in 2003.  In September of 2003, Jeff won the prestigious National Flat-Pick Guitar Championship at the Walnut Valley Music Festival in Winfield, Kansas.  His bluegrass-influenced Sarah in the Sunrise won an honorable mention in the John Lennon Songwriters Contest and in 2001 he was awarded a Performing Arts Fellowship for composition from the Wyoming Arts Council.  Jeff maintains a busy performance schedule both as a jazz guitarist and an acoustic guitarist playing his own music.  In addition to performing, Troxel is on the faculty at Central Wyoming College in Riverton, Wyoming and Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana.  Jeff’s latest album release is Dancing in the Flame with renowned national fingerstyle champ Pete Huttlinger.
 
Learn more at www.jefftroxel.com.

San Francisco Bay Area musician and Virginia native Bill Evans has been involved with bluegrass music and the banjo for over 25 years as a player, teacher, writer, and historian.  He occupies a unique niche in the banjo world, celebrated worldwide for his traditional and progressive bluegrass banjo styles and his innovative original compositions.  He also enjoys a reputation as an outstanding instructor as well as being an expert player of 19th century minstrel and classic / parlor banjo styles.
 
Six time National Fiddle Champ Megan Lynch won her first National Championship at age eight and followed that with three consecutive wins at ages 10, 11, and 12.  In 2003, Megan made a return to serious competition and captured two more National titles in 2003 and 2004.  During the last 24 years of on-and-off competition, Megan has also won six California State titles, as well as the Minnesota State Championships.  Bill and Megan blend tradition and innovation, mixing original instrumentals with creative interpretations of modern tunes, and a few well-chosen standards.

The Teka Brock Band kicked off the Festival’s New Year’s Eve Party this year and if you were there you know this band is going places.  From Sheridan, Wyoming, and a former college rodeo champion, Teka Brock has an amazing voice and the band has been getting rave reviews.  With a heavy emphasis on the country side and catching the heart of the American Cowboy, this is definitely a group you can dance to.  Joining Teka areTom Lulias on steel/dobro, Jarod Judd on bass, Chris Knodel playing lead guitar, Kevin Coleman on drums, and Jacquie Anderson providing harmony vocals and percussion.

Learn more at www.myspace.com/thetekabrockband.

Buffalo's own Mike Thomas is a renowned Western sculptor and artist and will once again open the show for us in 2009.  Having grown up on cattle ranches in western Wyoming, Mike's style of Western and Cowboy music and ballads is clearly reflected in his western bronzes.  After you have enjoyed his music, be sure to check out his life size depiction of the Johnson County Cattle War which stands across the street from First National Bank.

Learn more at www.dmichaelthomas.com.

Ralph Reed, Jr. grew up in Maryland and moved to Wyoming in 1976.  He is the oldest son of Ola Belle Reed, singer and song writer, and one of the great pioneers of bluegrass and old timey music who grew up in the North Carolina Mountains.  She wrote such classics as “High on a Mountain” and "I’ve Endured” and many other songs speaking of Appalachian life and traditions.  Ola Belle was recently inducted into the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame.  Ralph has performed with Charlie Monroe, Ralph Stanley, and Tim O’Brien among many others.  Ralph will sing and play a loving tribute to Ola Belle.

Learn more at www.myspace.com/olabellereedfamily or www.ola-belle-reed.net