Kenny & Amanda Smith Band
The Kenny & Amanda Smith Band is one of the most highly respected Bluegrass bands in the industry, with the group winning International Bluegrass Music Association’s Emerging Artist of the Year Award in 2003 and Kenny twice winning IBMA’s Guitarist of the Year. When Kenny started his music career, he performed Southern Gospel music with his cousin at area churches where they began to build a loyal following. It was during this time that Kenny made his conversion to Christianity and eventually he moved into the Bluegrass genre with the Lonesome River Band but his heart stayed with his Christian roots. At a concert, Kenny met fellow Bluegrass artist Amanda, who had been praying to meet a Christian man who liked to play music. Their band debuted in 2001 and became of the most innovative new acts in Bluegrass music. Now they are poised to breakout into the Christian market where they will take their Bluegrass Gospel sound to churches and concert halls across the country fulfilling a ten-year dream of sharing the Lord’s message through song. www.kenny-amandasmith.com
Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike
Music has always been there for Valerie. The child of musical parents, Valerie showed talent at an early age, and soon began singing rousing Baptist hymns in church, and later began to accompany her parents to play her fiddle and sing with local country and bluegrass musicians in her hometown of Holt and the surrounding area. Not only did Valerie learn to sing in front of an audience, but she learned to be an entertainer as well, a skill which has endeared her to thousands of fans across the world.
Valerie's music has taken her from coast to coast and around the world. She has become an ambassador of bluegrass music and has entertained music lovers in New York, London, Berlin, Dublin, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and hundreds of other venues throughout the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe. She has been the recipient of IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) awards and has been nominated for a Grammy Award as part of the Ralph Stanley "Clinch Mountain Sweethearts" project, and she has appeared on the famous Grand Ol' Opry as guest of hall of famer Charlie Louvin. www.valeriesmithonline.com
Hillbilly Gypsies
The Hillbilly Gypsies are a West Virginia native string band who specialize in playing their own homegrown style of Appalachian old time music, mixed with a hard drivin' bluegrass sound. In addition to their original material, The Hillbilly Gypsies play an eclectic mix of traditional and quite often, not-so-traditional bluegrass standards and catchy old fiddle tunes.
The Hillbilly Gypsies are best appreciated jamming at a live show. They perform in the old fashioned style, around a single vintage style large diaphragm microphone. This "Old Timey" approach adds a high energy barn party atmosphere to their show. Watching the whole band work around the mic is like taking a trip back in time. It'll sure make you want to get up and dance! www.thehillbillygypsies.com
Randy Waller & the Country Gentlemen
Bluegrass has always been built on a solid foundation of old and new, but scarcely in such a lucky combination as with Randy Waller. Being the son of Country Gentlemen-legend Charlie Waller he brings a great name and a family heritage into his music. On the other side he belongs to the newer generation and went his own way in the music business before he returned to the pristine Bluegrass. He hails from Virginia, where he still lives with his family. www.randywaller.com
