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Apple Pappy | 12:10-12:55 |

applepappy.bandcamp.com

Apple Pappy Groupshot

ApplePappy released their debut album in October, 2015. Based in Morgantown, WV, they have been playing together for 5 years in various incarnations. Between members Emily Tanzey (guitar-vocals), Smith Sarver (guitar-vocals,) Ben Williams (mandolin-vocals,) and Greg Mulley (bass) there is a wide range of inspiration. While respecting their bluegrass and old time upbringing, they create a new mountain sound for a new generation of listeners. A standard set includes originals, traditional pickin’, and fresh takes on contemporary covers.

Ben Gilmer | 1:10-2:10 |

bengilmer.com

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Ben Gilmer grew up in the mountains of southwestern Virginia where he passed his time messing around the farm with his brother and cousins and playing music with family.​ ​Ben‘s songwriting reflects a strong sense of place deeply rooted in Central Appalachia – honest songs about hard times, family, and love.


The Tom Batchelor Band | 2:25-3:25 |

tombatchelorband.com

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While in graduate school at West Virginia University I formed Rasta Rafiki with several other musicians. Sharing guitar duties with John Schmitt, I contributed significantly to many of the songs that encompassed our 3 releases. Rasta Rafiki combined island styles and Americana for an original mix. In 1991 this endeavor became a steady job for each of us with 3 full length releases and 175 touring dates a year we performed from Massachusetts to Florida and west to Colorado. This intensive schedule gained me valuable experience and insights, performing on bills with virtually every reggae band that was touring America in the 90’s. Rafiki went their separate ways in January of 1997, at which point I became a member of The Recipe. As guitarist in the Recipe for 2 years we toured the country playing festivals and bars from California to Maine.
In November 1999, I parted ways with The Recipe, and formed The Tom Batchelor Band. The band consists of myself on guitar and vocals, Gregg Lowley on drums and vocals Jon Vehse on bass, Rob Raese on guitar, and Glenn Rowsey on steel drum. Each member brings many years of experience on their instrument, and extensive knowledge of wide ranging musical styles to the band. The core of what we do consists of reggae and rock covers, as well as originals from these and other genres. My original compositions range from straight forward rock and funk, to reggae and island romps. Live we enjoy exploring all the realms of improvisational possibilities within the song structures, delving into genres as diverse as jazz, ska, and country. In 2008 we release “Runes” a ten song CD consisting of original material recorded over several years. We’ve been gigging mostly in West Virginia and the surrounding areas, and aspire to spread the vibe to the entire world. I hope you will come out and check us out live. Peace. T.P.B.


The Halftime String Band | 3:40-4:40 |

thehalftimestringband.com

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The Halftime String Band, a locally loved group includes Fred Crozier on mandolin, Jason Jaros on guitar, and Bob Spangler on bass. The HalftimeString Band continues to diversify their sound, developing original material and borrowing from a variety of musicians and styles. Despite their bluegrass/newgrass foundation, they sometimes tend to leak and lapse into other musical directions just for fun.


Two Ton Twig | 5:00-6:00 |

twotontwig.com

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A four piece string band hailing from the Washington, DC area, Two Ton Twig draws from bluegrass, folk, punk, rock, British indie, and Americana to put their own style into acoustic music. Members hail from the shores of Maryland, the heart of Virginia, the south of London, and the banks of the Cheat River. Together, they meld those vastly different influences for a mix of original tunes that tell tales ranging from the dark and twisted, to the surprisingly life affirming. Two Ton Twig features Brandon Boling on lead vocals and banjo, Ian Greening on bass and vocals, Alexandra Touzinsky on fiddle and vocals, and Donnie Riggs on guitar/dobro and vocals.


Drymill Road | 6:20-7:20 |

drymillroad.com

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International touring band, Drymill Road includes: Robert Mabe on Banjo, Sean Loomis on Guitar, Doug Ross on Mandolin, and David Hurt on Bass. Its high energy and heartfelt original material, with a good mix of traditional music and “not so” traditional takes on Led Zeppelin, Hank Williams, Bob Dylan, and the Beatles…to name a few. The band brings a full-blown entertainment experience to the stage with some very different blends of old, new, traditional, surprising twists and turns of musicality and phrasing. The beauty of it is to not expect to hear “NewGrass” or some far-out translation of the basic form. The value is in the entertainment package. They’ll transport you down a road – that’s ‘Older than the Hills.

The Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers | 7:40-9:10 |

jakobsferry.com

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The Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers draw freely from old-time, bluegrass, country, jazz, rockabilly and swing styles to create their tight, high-energy string band music. Well-crafted original songs with emotional depth, masterful picking, and resonant vocal harmonies combine to forge new territories and a fresh take on Appalachian Americana music. Band members Gary Antol (guitar, vocals), Libby Eddy (fiddle, vocals), Joe Dep (banjo) and Ed Croft (bass, vocals) hail from the mountains and river towns of southwestern Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. Well known in the Americana music circuit throughout the mid-Atlantic region, The Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers are big crowd-pleasers at The Great Blue Heron, Three Rivers Arts Festival, Flood City Music Festival, Whiskey Rebellion Festival, Cheat Fest, Smoked Country Jam, and others. Recent tours to the west coast and then to Florida for an appearance at BayGrass Bluegrass Festival have earned The Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers wider national attention. The Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers have opened for the SteelDrivers, the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Town Mountain, Larry Keel, and Frank Solivan and the Dirty Kitchen.


 The Josh Daniel/Mark Schimick Project | 9:30-11:00 |

joshdanielmusic.com/the-josh-daniel-mark-schimick-project

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Formed in early 2014, The Josh Daniel/Mark Schimick is a fiery string band blending bluegrass, soul, reggae and rock n’ roll into a style uniquely their own.  Respecting their Appalachian roots, these passionate multi-instrumentalists have a way of blending their harmonies and intricate string work into something that appeals to a wide variety of listeners.  As Jim Lauderdale states, “A little of everything finds its way into their music.” The acoustic power trio consists of Josh Daniel, former leader of The New Familiars, on lead vocal and guitar; Mark Schimick, long-standing member of Larry Keel & Natural Bridge, on vocals and mandolin; and Greg Howell, formally of the Freight Hoppers, on upright bass.  The combination of skill and experience helps the trio deliver a big sound to audiences across the nation.