CROSSOVER FESTIVAL

Appalachian Roadshow  (USA)

Barry Abernathy was a founding member of the vocal and instrumental powerhouse band, Mountain Heart. The group or its members have won or been nominated for multiple Grammys, ACM, CMA, and IBMA Awards. 

Darrell Webb is a Grammy nominated session musician as well as an International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and SPBGMA award winner. With Appalachian Road Show, Abernathy, Webb and their talented compadres (including fiddle beast, Jim VanCleve, and legendary upright bassist, Todd Phillips) seek to honor the music, traditions and history of the great Appalachian people and region. Additionally, the group takes influences from other sources and applies that Appalachian style, as they’ve done with their first radio single, a grassy version of the Steve Miller Band’s “Dance, Dance, Dance.”

Kristy Cox (AUS/USA)

Kristy Cox is the new voice in Australian bluegrass. Adored for her youthful energy infused bluegrass, she has been awarded with radio success and accolades for her talent.

Credited for her performance and songwriting capabilities, Golden Guitar winner Kristy has been shortlisted in the International Bluegrass Music Awards the past four years for New Artist of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year.

Recently signing with bluegrass label Mountain Fever Kristy released her brand new album ‘Ricochet’ in January 2018, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Charts for Bluegrass Album. The first single and title track of the album saw her sit at #1 on the Bluegrass Today Radio charts for two weeks. Kristy was nominated in the 2019 CMA’s in Australia for Female Artist of the Year and Bluegrass Recording of the Year , which saw her take home her third CMA Award for her track ‘Ricochet’

Evie Ladin and Keith Terry  (USA)

The neo-trad kinetic-folk of the Evie Ladin Band is a mingling of the deep Appalachian sound of clawhammer banjo, guitar, bass and percussive dance, with contemporary storytelling and original, conversational interplay among the band members. Some of their adventurousness comes from early hip hop in the high school cafeteria, some from Evie’s early attraction to, and study of, the African roots in Appalachian music and dance

Evie’s mastery of the clawhammer banjo is an absolute wonder, and the soulful, salty tanginess of her voice grips the listener and refuses to let go as it narrates some wild musical tales —WOMAD Festival

Grant Gordy (US) and Ben Somers (UK)

“Grant Gordy is a special musician... While being a bluegrass musician at heart, Grant’s incredible breadth of harmonic and rhythmic knowledge from jazz gives him a strikingly singular voice on the guitar; one that is worth giving your attention.”.  For several years Brooklyn-based guitarist Grant Gordy has been a major voice on the American "acoustic music" scene. Hes  also worked alongside such musical luminaries as Edgar Meyer, Steve Martin, Tony Trischka and Darol Anger. Grant has performed all over North America and Europe, everywhere from Carnegie Hall to Montreal Jazz Festival; Jazz at Lincoln Center to Bonnaroo.

Joined on bass with our own Ben Somers, who Crossover attendees will remember from 2019 when Ben performed with his own line up as the Ben Somers String band

IBMA Momentum Award nominated bluegrass band, Midnight Skyracer have been tearing up the UK bluegrass and folk scene since their inception less than two years ago. Their all star lineup and exciting live performances have sent them racing skywards at an astounding pace right from the start, with Leanne Thorose’s powerhouse vocals and driving mandolin; Tabitha Agnew’s sweet voice and virtuosic banjo playing; Eleanor Wilkie’s rock solid bass grooves; Laura Carrivick’s flair, being equally adept on both fiddle and dobro; and twin sister Charlotte’s agility on the guitar, with both sisters filling in the vocal harmonies.

“…these varied aspects of their musical personalities contribute to the greater good of a band playing for the song, for the singer, for the music.” Ron Block of Alison Krauss & Union Station

Midnight Skyracer  (UK)

As those who have been fortunate enough to catch them in full flight will testify, a Jaywalkers show is an exhilarating experience. UK-based they may be but many from the other side of the Atlantic have complimented them on their particularly stylish delivery of this virtuosic brand of Americana. These three outstanding musicians have developed a tight bond, demonstrated through their well-crafted, tasteful arrangements and ability to bounce ideas around the stage. The combination of powerhouse bass, flame-fingered mandolin, blistering fiddle and three-part harmony pack a punch as fiery as Jay’s lead vocals and make a fuller sound than expected from an acoustic trio.

The Jaywalkers  (UK)

Americana duo The Honey Dewdrops – Laura Wortman and Kagey Parrish– have long felt the push-and-pull between their original roots in the Appalachian mountains and their current home in urban Baltimore. You’ll hear it in their harmony soaked songs and the mastery of their instruments’ acoustic tones, but also in their songwriting, which reflects the hard realities of today."The Honey Dewdrops prove that the magic of their artistry is in their ability to impart a sense of compassion in listeners while delivering meaningful messages with a purity that’s so rare to encounter."

some of the territory of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, with lilting banjo, gorgeous harmonies and tasteful pedal steel, and exemplifies this duo's simple yet beautiful music."

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Honey Dewdrops (USA)

The Horsenecks play hard-hitting and heartfelt Old Time and classic Bluegrass music. Their sound is centered around the pairing of the signature rhythmic Appalachian fiddle style of Oregonian Gabrielle Macrae, (the Macrae Sisters, Hook & Anchor) and the driving yet subtle three-finger banjo playing of Liverpudlian Barry Southern (Tramp Attack, The Loose Moose Stringband.)  Whether they are singing centuries-old ballads, their own songs, or getting you up and dancing with a barn-burning fiddle tune, they remain firmly rooted in tradition, paying homage to the depth and richness of the music.  When performing in the UK, they are joined by Chris Marshal and Alan Wright on bass and guitar, both influential members of Liverpool's growing roots music scene.

The Horsenecks USA/UK

“Fiddlin’ and banjoin’ genius Aaron Jonah Lewis: multiple award-winning fiddler, banjo player extraordinaire, Aaron is well known for taking audiences at concerts and festivals by storm both here in the UK and in the USA… Aaron is rapidly becoming iconic, not just on account of his virtuosity but because of his rapport with his audience. Skills in abundance, passion and presence. All that, then in addition, charisma, pure creativity, and SOUL.” 

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“I’ve heard quite a lot of old-time fiddle and banjo playing, trust me, but I’ve never heard it like this… played at break-neck speeds, Aaron’s fiddle whipping around tight corners like a high-end sports car… It’s like watching Bach hopped up on speed, composing kickass barn dance tunes in Appalachia… [Aaron is] a player you need to watch.”

Aaron Jonah Lewis (USA)

Old time party time. Forged by many joyful late-night sessions, The Firecrackers play party tunes and songs taking inspiration from the high energy music of their fiddle heroes from the 1800’s to the present day. Songs and tunes from the Camp Creek Boys, Skillet lickers, Earl Collins, The Foghorn String Band and The Wandering Ramblers all feature in their lively set.

The Firecrackers are Paul Wood, Dave Proctor on fiddle / mandolin / vocals Emily Smith on fiddle /vocals, Carly Green on banjo / feet, Andy Quelch on guitar / vocals and Graeme Parry on bass. Their combined credits include The Midnight Specials, The Brickyard Rounders, A&E Oldtime String Band, Ragged Out String Band), and their name is inspired by their red-headed fiddlers!

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The Firecrackers (UK)

Their line up consists of:
Simon Brady mandolin /guitar & lead vocals
Jonny Hulme banjo and harmony vocals
Ray Walmsley double bass.
Guitarist TBC
We have been trying to book these guys for three years but they have never been able to join us due to other commitments. We are in for a treat.

Tilter Wheel  (UK)

Mabel and Huck are an Americana duo from Glasgow, Scotland who are making a name for themselves by putting a modern spin on old-time Folk, Bluegrass & Country music; honing in on tight-knit harmonies and relentless pickin’. Taking inspiration from the likes of Gillian Welch, Gram Parsons, Old Crow Medicine Show & Hank Williams (to name a few), Mabel and Huck are highly anticipated to make a real mark on the UK’s Americana scene.

Mabel and Huck (UK)

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Cardboard Fox are a unique and powerful combination of dexterous instrumental playing, memorable songwriting and energetic live shows.

All four musicians have their musical roots in bluegrass but their collective influences reach much further and this shows in their music

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“…an array of carefully crafted textures; often built on rich harmonic foundations… …full of freshness and light.” – FATEA Magazine

Cardboard Fox

Former members of Wheeler Street, The Lowly Strung succinctly captures the band’s exciting genre-bending of bluegrass, old-timey and Americana musical styles. 

A new young band with bags of musical experience that isn't afraid to push beyond bluegrass music’s borders as they boldly take this music to a new young audience that is not confined by musical straitjackets but accept the music for what it is … vibrant, exciting, contagious and brilliantly played and sung. 

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The Lowly Strung

Mishra are a global folk outfit gathering momentum on the UK scene. Their tight web of intricate, Indian-influenced original music defies definition and is already bringing them awards recognition from just under two years of performing. Led by Kate Griffin’s voice and inimitable clawhammer banjo and driven by Ford Collier’s continent-hopping instrumental skills (Indian tabla, African calabash, Irish whistle and guitar), they won Cambridge Folk Festival’s first ever Christian Raphael prize and in separate projects were both shortlisted for the 2018 BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards. Both already accomplished folk musicians (The Drystones and The Unsung Roots) 2018 saw them play Sidmouth Folk Week, Cambridge Folk Festival, Priddy Folk Festival and many more. Until 2019, Mishra performed as a duo under the name Kate Griffin and Ford Collier; their sound has now been further underpinned by the addition of versatile jazz-folk double-bassist and bouzouki player Joss Mann-Hazell.

Mishra

Three piece old school country, honky tonk and hillbilly boogie band, “Formed after a late night festival picking session a couple of years back The Everlovin' Minds get a little country, drawing on the back catalogue of old school legends like George Jones, Merle and Buck. It's a world of drinkin', gamblin', heartbreak and chickens driven by swinging acoustic guitar, mandolin, double bass and sweet harmonies”

Everlovin' Minds 

Jaeja

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Formed for an expedition to the uncharted bluegrass territory of Iceland, Jæja is a contemporary bluegrass quartet composed of four inquisitive young musicians from the UK, mixing influences of jazz, old time, metal and Icelandic folk.

Guitar powerhouse, Bragi Ólafsson from Reykjavik is joined by Evan Davies (The Often Herd - mandolin), Sam Rose (Hot Rock Pilgrims - bass), and Kieran Towers (Pet Yeti - fiddle) to create thoughtful original instrumental music.