MainStage

2025 MainStage Musicians

The MainStage tent next to Hancock Park presents two days of fabulous musicians! All performances are free except for the Festival Kick-off Concert featuring the Becky Buller Band on Friday night.

Friday

6:30 p.m.     MainStage Tent opens
7:30 p.m.     Festival Kick-off Concert with the Becky Buller Band
                     Tickets: $30, more details here

Saturday

All MainStage performances are free on Saturday and Sunday

10:30     Storytelling Kickoff

11:00     The Wandering Hours
Based in Tampa Bay, Florida, The Wandering Hours are an original take on traditional American string music combining old-time, early bluegrass, and folk into a dance-y and lyrically deep band. Formed in 2018, they harness powerful lyrics and uplifting melodies using fiddle, mandolin, banjo, guitar, and upright bass. They write original music in this vein, as well as playing some of the important songs and tunes from these eras.

12:15    Compton and Newberry
Mike Compton and Joe Newberry, masters of old-time mandolin and banjo/guitar, dig deep into early country music and blues. Their duet-singing, two-man string band ranges between traditional songs, instrumentals, ‘mother’ ballads and original tunes. It’s not about the number of notes with Compton and Newberry, but telling the truth and respecting the song.

1:45     Curtis & Kim Jones Mountain Gypsy Music
Guitarist, songwriter, composer, singer, artist and multi-instrumentalist Curtis Jones and his wife, Kim, who is an accomplished vocalist and multi- instrumentalist as well, call the interweaving styles of their dynamic duo MOUNTAIN GYPSY MUSIC. 

3:30    Ugly Cousin
You’ll recognize the music as bluegrass, but the preference is to call it “string music with bluegrass and folk roots.” Both age-old favorites and well-honed originals incorporate a half dozen genres of music, with much of their original music reflecting on small town life.

5:15       Unspoken Tradition

Unspoken Tradition is about new, original bluegrass. Inspired by their own influences and the roots of traditional and newgrass music, this North Carolina based quintet brings a sound that is both impassioned and nostalgic, hard driving and sincere. Recent #1 singles in Bluegrass Today include California, Darkside of the Mountain, and Weeds Don’t Wither.

7:30      Contra Dance

Plan to join your fellow festival-goers in the MainStage tent for music by Ed Howe and Company and calling by Marie Graham. No contra dance experience necessary!

Sunday

All MainStage performances are free on Saturday and Sunday.

11:00   The Glenda Pender Gospel Jam

This Bear tradition is always standing room only as local musicians gather on the stage to perform gospel favorites.

1:00   Indigo Roots

Indigo Roots Band is comprised of three siblings — Bethany, Victoria, and Daniel — who seamlessly blend their musical prowess to create a distinctive sound that can be described as progressive bluegrass, while at the same time, honoring traditional bluegrass roots. The trio has quickly garnered attention for their sound which resonates with bluegrass enthusiasts and those seeking a fresh and modern approach to the genre.

2:30       BlueBilly Grit

BlueBilly Grit is an American bluegrass band composed of female and male vocals, acoustic guitar, upright bass, mandolin, fiddle, and banjo. In 2012 they placed first in the nationally renowned Telluride Bluegrass Competition in Colorado.

4:00   Pick & Bow Students

Close out a weekend of music with the outstanding students in grades 4-12 who have learned to play fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin and ukulele in the after-school music programs offered by Georgia Pick & Bow.