Jake Blount

Jake Blount is a multi-instrumentalist and singer based in Providence, RI. He was the recipient of the 2020 Steve Martin Banjo Prize, and has placed first in the Traditional Band and Banjo contests at Clifftop. A specialist in traditional Black folk music, Blount has released two full-length albums to widespread critical acclaim, including most recently The New Faith, which is part of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings’ African American Legacy Series.

Jeff Claus

Jeff was a founding member and main songwriter of the alt-folk-rock band The Horse Flies, a celebrated group that “figured out how to hold a hoedown in a physics lab” (New York Times) by playing "swirling, addictive songs, blending tradition with invention” (Rolling Stone). Jeff has toured the U.S., Canada, and Europe; recorded on Rounder and MCA; and taught at numerous festivals and music camps. He has also co-created music for over 25 feature and documentary films (www.j2filmmusic.com). He loves Southern traditional fiddle music and working with diverse people to improve their skills at providing solid, rhythmic backup on guitar and banjo-uke.

Cary Fridley

Born in the Alleghany Highlands of Virginia, Cary Fridley has always lived in the Southern Appalachian mountains and is a 5th generation mountain woman. She played banjo as a youngster and discovered old-time music at dances and festivals. In the 1990s, Cary was lead vocalist and guitarist for The Freight Hoppers, with whom she recorded three albums. She has since produced three of her own solo albums. Now in Asheville, Cary performs with Travis Stuart in the Haywood Ramblers and her own honky-tonk band, Down South. With a Master's in Music Education, Cary blends academic acumen with 30+ years experience in the mountain music community.    

Judy Hyman

Judy is a co-founder of the alt-trad band, The Horse Flies, who toured extensively throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe (eTown, Prairie Home Companion, All Things Considered, World Café, Mountain Stage and more), and recorded albums for MCA and Rounder Records. Judy has a deep love of traditional Appalachian fiddle music and has taught at music camps and programs over many decades. She performed with Natalie Merchant on several albums and tours, including appearances on Good Morning America and Late Night with David Letterman. She also composes for film and television (www.j2filmmusic.com), was featured in Electronic Musician magazine, and won an Emmy Award.

Jackie Merritt

Jackie Merritt is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and visual artist. She’s a member of M.S.G.

Acoustic Blues Trio (Jackie Merritt, Miles Spicer, and Resa Gibbs) and also the acoustic duo

Jackie & Resa. In 2020, the trio was featured in Living Blues Magazine in the article “Breaking Out” by Frank Matheis. In 2015, Jackie had an original song featured on the internationally acclaimed album Blues Harp Women produced by Ruf Records, which celebrated female harmonica players from around the world.

Rosie Newton

Rosie Newton is a passionate fiddle player, singer, and accordion player living in the rich old-time musical hotbed of Ithaca, NY. Newton’s music is influenced by the field recordings of old-time musicians, as well as the many musical encounters she has had over the years. Newton tours internationally with banjo player Richie Stearns in their duo Richie and Rosie, as well as with her Zydeco band, Rose and the Bros. She has also taught many camps and workshops, finding inspiration from teaching and connecting with other lovers of traditional music.

Don Pedi

Don Pedi has been playing the fretted mountain dulcimer since 1968. He is known for developing a technique that can match a fiddle, note for note, while maintaining the rhythms and characteristics of traditional music. Over the decades, he’s been recognized and honored for collecting, preserving, and performing traditional Appalachian music. Since 1985, Don has championed folk music as a radio host in Western North Carolina. His weekly show Close to Home airs Sundays on WNCW, 88.7 FM. Don has appeared in the films Songcatcher and The Journey of August King, in addition to other documentaries and music specials.

Susan Pepper

Susan Pepper is a performer, songwriter and teaching artist who offers workshops and classes in traditional song, folklore, and music to children and adults. She delights in helping others connect with their own musicality and voice through songs and stories that have been handed through generations.

Larry Sigmon (withThe Virginia Girls)

The legendary Larry Sigmon from Callaway, Virginia, has a signature hard-driving, rhythmic style of banjo playing and singing like no other. Originally learning from his father, Larry developed his own unique sound over the years and is best known for his duo with bass player Barbara Poole. This is what traditional string band music from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia sounds like! Larry continues to be a favorite amongst flat foot dancers and now plays with his band The Virginia Girls featuring Heather Krantz on guitar and vocals and Susan Blankenship on bass.    

Leanne E. Smith

Leanne E. Smith holds a Master of Fine Arts in Nonfiction from Goucher College and co-produced the documentaries Floating Dancer: The Story of Robert Dotson, the Walking Step and the Green Grass Cloggers (2016) and Hoppin’ Possums: Steps from the Green Grass Cloggers (2024). More than 30 of her photos have appeared as cover images for Tar River Poetry. She joined the Green Grass Cloggers in 1998 and edited the North Carolina Folklore Journal for a decade. Leanne enjoys square dancing, partner dancing, gardening, fiber arts, being the maker behind Leaf Peeper Tea, and helping learners make breakthroughs in their dancing.

Rodney Sutton

For over 50 years, Rodney Sutton has arguably taught more folks the basics of clogging and flatfooting than any other dancer! He is particularly known as a traditional step-dancer, adept at both flatfooting and clogging, and also as a dance caller. He continues to teach locally, online, and nationally at workshops and festivals. Rodney prides himself on being able to teach anyone who can walk how to do clogging and flatfoot dance steps that will turn them into percussive dancers and allow them to be a foot drummer to any kind of music!

Adam Tanner

For the last twenty-four years, Adam Tanner has been teaching and performing traditional American music including old-time, bluegrass, country-blues and western swing. A multi-instrumentalist and singer, Adam has taught mandolin, fiddle, and guitar at Blue Ridge Old-Time Week, Monroe Mandolin Camp, Augusta Heritage Old Time Week, East Tennessee State Roots Music Program, and Acoustic Blues Workshop. Adam has also played the stages of Merlefest, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Fest, Song of the Mountain, Woodsongs Radio, and most recently at the Ryman Auditorium.