The City of Rocky Top, Tennessee presents the Rocky Top Bluegrass Festival 2015, feauting 2 days of pickin', singin', and dancin' in Rocky Top, Tennessee! The Festival kicks off Friday, April 24th and continues Saturday, April 25th at George Templin Memorial Athletic Field, located at 214 Main Street in Rocky Top, Tennessee!
***CHILDREN 10 AND UNDER GET FREE ADMISSION***
The line up features:
Friday night: Flatt Lonesome, Blue Highway, and Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice
Saturday: Flatt Lonesome, Blue Moon Rising, Steve Gulley and New Pinnacle
The Boxcars, Lonesome River Band, Bobby Osborne and Rocky Top X-Press
About the Bands:
BOBBY OSBORNE AND ROCKY TOP X-PRESS
Bobby Osborne, the name conjurs up memories of that incredible high voice ringing over the hills at a bluegrass festival on a warm summer evening, of the sounds of Rocky Top rolling in on 50,000 watts on The Grand Ole Opry on WSM, 650 on your radio dial, of the sounds of Rubeeeeee!!!, on radio and television stations ever since Bobby Osborne first burst on the scene in 1949.
Bobby’s first radio job was with WPFB in Middletown, Ohio in 1948. He began performing in 1949 with the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers at WHIS in Bluefield, West Virginia. In 1951 he worked with the Stanley Brothers (Carter and Ralph) at WCYB radio in Bristol, Virginia before being called to active duty in the marines.
It was when Bobby got out of the service that he and his brother Sonny started their exciting ride. In 1956, they were working clubs around Dayton when they joined forces with Red Allen. They had their first session for MGM that year, and had their first charted hit in 1958. Their sound centered around Bobby’s high lead voice where they often used a vocal trio of Bobby’s high lead with two voices below. This was a new sound for bluegrass and country music, and it gave the music a much fuller sound. Bobby’s voice was so strong, and had such range, that there was never any mistaking the sound of The Osborne Brothers.
In 1963, The Osbornes signed with Decca Records and continued to make waves with adventuresome arrangements sometimes involving non-traditional instruments such as drums and electric guitar.
In addition to “Rocky Top,” the brothers’ hit records include “Making Plans,” “Up This Hill and Down,” “Midnight Flyer,” “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” “Muddy Bottom,” “Tennessee Hound Dog,” “Georgia Pineywoods,” and “Ruby.” The Osbornes haven’t limited themselves to just one state song. Their “Kentucky” has been named an official song of their home state.
Bobby has been a member been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1964. He was elected into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2002 and the International Bluegrass Music Association's Hall of Honor in both 1994 (Osborne Brothers) and again in 2009 (Lonesome Pine Fiddlers).
BLUE HIGHWAY
Formed in 1994, Blue Highway has, from the start, featured a deep bench of songwriters and lead vocalists, stellar harmonies, dynamic arrangements, and flat-out instrumental virtuosity. Composed of Jason Burleson (banjo, guitar, mandolin), Rob Ickes (Dobro and Weissenborn-style slide guitars), Shawn Lane (mandolin, fiddle, guitar), Tim Stafford (guitar), and Wayne Taylor (bass), the group has developed a robust contemporary take on the bluegrass tradition that makes them among the most influential bands in the genre today.
Each member is among the most distinguished performers on his instrument, and the band has garnered numerous AWARDS & GRAMMY NOMINATIONS: Rob Ickes, is the 14 time International Bluegrass Music Association's (IBMA) Dobro Player of the Year. Tim Stafford was recently named as Songwriter of the Year at the 2014 IBMA awards. The band has also won several prestigious IBMA awards including Emerging Artists of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year.
LONESOME RIVER BAND
Lonesome River Band continues their reputation as one of the most respected names in bluegrass music. Virginia Country Music Hall of Famer and multi-award winning banjo picker, Sammy Shelor (banjo and harmony vocals) has put together a wealth of talent that includes: Brandon Rickman (lead & harmony vocals and guitar); Mike Hartgrove (fiddle); Barry Reed (bass, harmony vocals); and Randy Jones (lead & harmony vocals, mandolin) all performing the distinctive LRB sound fans love.
Lonesome River Band’s long career is obviously filled with a multitude of Awards and Recognitions including their 2012 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Award for Instrumental Recorded Event of the Year for their song “Angeline the Baker” from their CHRONOLOGY Volume One album. Sammy Shelor received his fifth win as the 2012 IBMA Banjo Performer of the Year. The group has also received other awards from IBMA including Album of the Year, along with numerous Awards from SPBGMA – Bluegrass Band of Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Song of the Year and Shelor as Banjo Player of the Year. Shelor also received the 2nd Annual Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass. Lonesome River Band with special guest Steve Martin made an appearance and performed on the Late Show with David Letterman on November 11, 2011.
For over 30 years, Lonesome River Band continues to set the standard in the bluegrass music world. Whether performing on the famous stage of the Grand Ole Opry or headlining major concert events & festivals, their loyal fans continue to support one of the most loved and most influential acts of our time.
THE BOXCARS
It’s difficult to name a band that is more all-around talented than The Boxcars. Band members have numerous IBMA and Grammy Awards and have shared the stage with most of the top names in bluegrass. Their first two releases as a group helped earn them two consecutive IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year awards. Their latest album, It’s Just a Road, is sure to attract the same level of attention, if not more.
The Boxcars are certainly masters of modern traditional bluegrass. Garrett, Hultman, Nixon, Steffey, and Stewart have been described over and over as bluegrass music’s newest supergroup.
The band was founded in 2010 by mandolin player Adam Steffey. Steffey earned 5 Grammy awards during his time with Alison Krauss and Union Station and has been voted the Mandolin Player of the Year eleven times by the International Bluegrass Music Association. Ron Stewart has also won the 2011 IBMA Banjo Player of the Year.
JUNIOR SISK AND RAMBLERS CHOICE
From the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia comes one of bluegrass music's most honest voices in the genre's history, Junior Sisk. Over the years, his haunting, almost lonesome vocals have earned him the devotion of countless traditional bluegrass fans from all over the world. His songwriting talents helped the Lonesome River Band make their ascent into bluegrass stardom in the early 1990's and then he became a member of Wyatt Rice & Santa Cruz and ultimately Blueridge, again reaching new audiences that would eventually follow him on his own musical path. In 1998, Sisk formed Ramblers Choice and together they recorded and released their first solo project titled Sounds Of The Mountains and also contributed to the award winning, The Stanley Gospel Tradition.
Nominated numerous times for Male Vocalist of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA), Junior Sisk is at the top of his game and has surrounded himself with a top notch band of musicians including Jason Tomlin on bass and vocals; Johnathan Dillion on mandolin and vocals; Billy Hawks on fiddle and vocals; and Jason Davis on banjo and vocals.
Junior Sisk received the 2013 IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year and was also named the 2013 SPBGMA Male Vocalist of the Year (Contemporary). The band’s first single from their latest album, “The Story of the Day That I Died”, reached number one on the Bluegrass Unlimited National Bluegrass Survey singles chart for July 2013, and the CD is number three on the albums chart. Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice’s previous album, The Heart of a Song, won the 2012 IBMA and 2013 SPBGMA Album of the Year award and their single, “A Far Cry from Lester & Earl”, received the 2012 IBMA & 2013 SPBGMA Song of the Year award.
FLATT LONESOME
Flatt Lonsome is a young, new group of pickers fresh to the scene. While deeply-rooted in bluegrass music’s historic classics, they also have an energetic flair for country sounds, progressive jams, and soul-stirring gospel music while never forsaking their traditional essence. If you love high lonesome harmony, soaring sibling vocals and powerful bluegrass music, then you will love FLATT LONESOME!
FLATT LONESOME was born from the Robertson family’s bluegrass gospel band, Sandy Creek Revival. Pastor Dolton Robertson, his wife Lisa, and their three children Kelsi, Buddy, and Charli began playing as a group just a few years ago because of their love of bluegrass and the desire to play music together as a family. This quickly grew into a passion for the Robertson children with a great longing to travel, write, and record. So, in January 2011, Kelsi, Charli and Buddy teamed up with friends Dominic Illingworth, Michael Stockton, and Paul Harrigill (who is now married to Kelsi as of September 21, 2012) and became FLATT LONESOME. In February of 2011, the band entered the SPBGMA International Band Championship in Nashville, TN and placed 3rd – not bad for the band’s very first time on stage! To commemorate the band’s first anniversary in 2012, they once again entered the SPBGMA Band Championship where they were awarded 1st place! What a way to celebrate!
FLATT LONESOME has performed at many exciting places during their short time together as a band. Some of those highlights include performances at: Joe Val Bluegrass Festival (Boston, MA), California Bluegrass Association Festival (Grass Valley, CA), Summergrass (San Diego, CA), IBMA FanFest, The Grand Ole Opry’s 87th Birthday Bash, The World Famous Station Inn, Red, White, and Bluegrass(NC), and The Lakes Festival(Minnesota). Also, while performing with their friend and mentor, Barry Waldrep, the band has played Music City Roots where they received a thunderous standing ovation and garnered many new fans as well as opening for Marty Stuart and having Zac Brown join them on stage while performing in Georgia.
They were recently named the 2014 IBMA Emerging Artists of the Year.
BLUE MOON RISING
Blue Moon Rising is a national touring band based out of East Tennessee comprised of Chris West (lead vocals and guitar); Brandon Bostic (dobro & guitar); David Mowell (mandolin & tenor vocals); Rusty Ferrell (banjo) and Travis Anderson (bass.) The band garnered international recognition with the release of their third album, “On the Rise” (Lonesome Day Records) that proved to be a symbolic title for the group as the album debuted at #14 on the BILLBOARD Top 50 Bluegrass Chart in 2005. “On the Rise” received tremendous recognition including, but not limited to, “CMT.com Top 10 Bluegrass Albums” and “Gritz Magazine’s Top Overall Albums” of 2005.” “On the Rise” spent ten months on Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine’s Bluegrass National Survey Top 15 Album Chart and the single, “This Old Martin Box” spent the entire 2006 calendar year in the Top 30 Singles. IBMA members honored the group with a 2006 nomination for Emerging Artist of the Year with band leader, Chris West performing in the 2006 IBMA Songwriter’s Showcase.
Fans had eagerly awaited their release of their fourth album, “One Lonely Shadow (Lonesome Day Records) and were not disappointed. The album highlights the band’s ability to perform their original well-crafted bluegrass songs and also throwing in a few surprises to the mix. “One Lonely Shadow” is still receiving significant airplay and chart success including impressive airplay on Sirius-XM and other popular stations around the world.
In 2010 BMR released the fifth career project and first with Rural Rhythm records titled “Strange New World”. This record did much more than exceed expectations with a terrific groove and great harmonies the band celebrated chart topping success on multiple charts. “Time To Be Movin On” being the first single, then spawning the haunting “My Sittin Window” this record quickly became a fan favorite. Blue Moon Rising is lead by the multi-talented guitarist and acclaimed songwriter, Chris West, a native of Lake City, TN, who writes many of the band’s songs. His original tunes have become the signature sound of the band, including fan favorites: The Hanging Tree, Crime I’m Guilty Of, The Old Time Preacher Man, Good Time for Going Home, Revival, He Arose, and so many more.
STEVE GULLEY AND NEW PINNACLE
Steve Gulley certainly does not need any introduction to the Bluegrass community with accomplishments that includes 16 years as a featured performer, staff musician, music director, studio manager and producer at Renfro Valley, KY. From 1994-96 Steve was a member of Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver and a founding member of Mountain Heart ('98 - '06) and Grasstowne ('06 - '11). Steve is a winner of 4 IBMA Awards including Co-writer of the 2008 Song Of The Year, "Through The Window Of A Train", by Blue Highway and SPBGMA Multi award winner including 2008 Album Of The Year, "The Road Headin' Home”, by Grasstowne.
In addition, Steve has produced many albums at his Curve Recording studio in Cumberland Gap, TN, including the Dove nominated album “Healed” for Locust Ridge, the critically acclaimed Civil War album project “God Didn’t Choose Sides”, and the Christmas CD/DVD and broadcast of “Christmas The Mountain Way”, which aired on RFD-TV’s FamilyNet and BlueHighways TV networks.
Steve has put together an impressive group of musicians to form New Pinnacle pulling some of the top talent in his Tennessee / Kentucky / Virginia border state community that he has called his home all his life.
Steve Gulley and New Pinnacle includes:
Steve Gulley (guitar, vocals)
Bryan Turner (bass, vocals)
Gary Robinson, Jr. (mandolin)
Matthew Cruby (banjo, vocals)
The band is currently gathering songs for their Rural Rhythm Records debut album coming out in the first quarter of 2015. Rural Rhythm Records has been the home for Steve Gulley’s recordings since 2010.