The Lucky Strikes are a western North Carolina roots band known for their high-energy blend of rockabilly, country, and Americana. With driving rhythms, twanging guitars, and vocal harmonies, they keep audiences on their feet at venues and festivals across the region.
The King Bees call North Carolina home but have performed for audiences worldwide. Specializing in Blues and American roots music, they are known for their professionalism and exuberant, soulful performances. With a sound rooted in the great tradition of American blues, the King Bees deliver authentic, high-energy shows that honor the genre's legacy while making it fresh and accessible for modern audiences.
Wayne Henderson is the Appalachian guitarist the Nashville pickers talk about — born, raised, and still living in tiny Rugby, Virginia, in Grayson County near the NC border. Using a thumbpick and fingerpicks, his playing sounds like flatpicking, with amazing speed and fluidity, transforming fiddle and banjo pieces into stunning guitar solos. A 1995 National Heritage Fellow, he has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Smithsonian, Fenway Park, and for the Queen of England, and has built over 900 guitars in his 60-year career. Good friend Doc Watson said of his Henderson mandolin, 'That Henderson mandolin is as good as any I've had my hands on.'
Sassafras is based in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. A bluegrass band that pays homage to the Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs era while also pushing the edge of progressive Newgrass, their repertoire spans Old-time, Country, Folk, Western Swing, and originals.
The Burnett Sisters Band — 2025 IBMA Momentum Band of the Year Nominee — are siblings Anissa, Sophia, and Anneli Burnett from Boone, NC, along with guitarist Geary Allen. Products of the Junior Appalachian Musicians program in Boone, they deliver an electrifying mix of bluegrass, old-time, folk, swing, and classic country. Their repertoire spans driving bluegrass standards, fiddle tunes, Hank Williams classics, soaring gospel, and flatfooting dance numbers. Signed to Pinecastle Records, they've toured the US, Canada, Ireland, and England for over 13 years and recently won the MerleFest Band Competition.
Mixing Appalachian traditions and an innovative edge, the Jeff Little Trio delivers high-energy shows fueled by amazing musicianship. Rooted in music from the Blue Ridge Mountains, Jeff's virtuosic piano drives their remarkable sound. Award-winning musicians Steve Lewis and Luke Little provide intricate guitar, banjo, and mandolin. Together they bridge past and present, resonating both history and innovation. Performances include The Smithsonian Institution, The National Folk Festival, American Piano Masters, The Barns of Wolf Trap, and many theatres and festivals. Jeff has been featured on NPR and PBS, and has also taken his music around the world for the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, performing in Sri Lanka, Bahrain, Pakistan, Oman, France, and Tanzania. In 2014, Jeff was inducted into the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame.
