Appalachian Saint Andrew's Pipe & Drum Corps
ASAP&D is one of the newest bagpipe bands in the Southern Appalachians. The band was started and is currently sponsored by the Appalachian Saint Andrew’s Society of Young Harris, GA. The band’s mission is dedicated to the perpetuation of authentic Scottish pipe and drums music, and striving for musical perfection at both the individual and band level. It participates in numerous highland games in Georgia and North Carolina, most notably ceremonies at the 2007 Stone Mountain Highland Games in Atlanta, and the Blairsville Scottish Festival & Highland Games in Blairsville, GA. It is rapidly becoming a standard at many parades, ceremonies and festivities throughout north GA and western NC. In line with its mission, if offers free instruction to all ages on the Great Highland Bagpipes and Regimental Drums to both beginners and experienced musicians alike. The band is under the expert direction of Pipe Major R. D. “Roy” McKee of Blairsville.
ASAS BIO

Bella Musica
Bella Musica is a notably respected and sought after professional string ensemble based in Northeast Georgia.  Highly trained and degreed musicians, this group has played together for over fifteen years.


Bella Musica BIO

Buzzard Mountain Boys
Joe Bob Matteson and Jim Bob White are the Bob Brothers and they are The Buzzard Mountain Boys. These two guys play an amusing selection of Bother Duet, Bluegrass and Old-Time music, interspersed with enough corny humor to warm your heart and take you back to the days of the traveling minstrels!  Both musicians are residents of Lumpkin County and are fixtures in the North Georgia traditional music community and heavily involved in the promotion of Appalachian Music.  

They recently...
Buzzard Mountain Boys BIO

Julia Carroll
HaRd FoLk... hUh?!?

Julia Carroll has been an active participant in the indie music scene since her debut record "2 Cents" was released in 2004.  Since that time, she has added a few more notches to her belt of live performances, including numerous songwriter showcases (Indiegrrl, GoGirls, Smith's Olde Bar), playing the stages of many of the southeast's premier listening rooms (Eddie's Attic, The Loft Live, Sentient Bean, The Crimson Moon), all the while gathering a slew of devoted HardFolk fans.


Julia Carroll BIO

Arlo Finch
Arlo Finch is part of the rich clump of singer song writers around Atlanta. He plays a Spanish strung guitar and claims to eat fried chicken every day. He performs his own music in bars, music halls, churches, on live radio shows, for real nice folks at record labels, has been on stages from TX to TN and once in the Ukraine at a prison...And now Three Sisters Vineyards & Winery. Arlo was raised small town southern and educated in government schools. He learned to play guitar from a HONKEYTOUNK singer in a newspaper warehouse on lunch brakes. Arlo Finch thinks and is thankful that song writing is a God given insanity and says he is presently seeking wisdom and a fine pair of shoes. So if you like to breath easy , just feed the dog , crank the car & come as you are to see and hear Arlo Finch.

The Georgia Waybacks
The Georgia Waybacks are a group of talented musicians from different back grounds but all with a love for music , very high energy  group, but also do suttle ballads, from oldies of  the 60`s to rock from the 70`s till now , how about some Johnny Cash! ,Bruce Springsteen, blues , blue grass , they do it all, a very laid back group, that will be loved by all! check us out at www.myspace.com/gawayback

Gypsy Hicks
The Gypsy Hicks play 1930's swing in the style of the Hot Club of Paris made famous by legendary guitarist Django Reinhart. With violin, accordion, banjo, and guitars, the Gypsy Hicks re-create the sound of French bistros and cabarets where this blend of musette, gitane, and "le jazz hot" originated. True to their name, the trio sifts in a dash of roots Americana such as ragtime, blues, and novelty songs.  Group members include Mick Kinney on fiddle, guitar and melodica; Evan Kinney on guitar and accordion; and Kirk Mcalpin on lead guitar. The Gypsy Hicks are currently working on recording a full length album to be released soon.

Curtis Jones
Curtis Jones, A.K.A Cortini has traveled the world for the past 15 years performing his original music, and amazing crowds with his phenomenal guitar playing. Curtis spent seven years on the road as a member of the Schankman Twins band  "now Malibu Storm" and also a full time member of the superpicking group Bluegrass ETC. Now residing in North Georgia and active in the Atlanta music scene, Curtis and Holly's music features elements of Flamenco, Gypsy,  Bluegrass, Jazz, Classical and more.

Sarah Dan Jones
After nearly 10 years at the Georgia Mountains UU Church in Dahlonega, GA, Sarah Dan is currently serving as the Music Director at Northwest UU Church in Atlanta. Active as a composer, clinician, and speaker, Sarah Dan has presented workshops around the country on Effective
Songleading, and Growing Music Programs Within UU Congregations... 
Additionally,
Sarah Dan Jones BIO

Mulligan Stew
The Georgia musical group Mulligan Stew presents a healthy portion of traditional Irish, Celtic, and Appalachian music for winery visitors. The members of this savory musical trio are Tom Ryan, Jim O'Connor and Lisa Deaton.


Mulligan Stew BIO

Cindy Musslewhite & Friends
Cindy Musslewhite & Friends will take you back to a simpler time with good old-tyme fiddle tunes, songs of their bluegrass heroes as well as their own original material.

Cindy Musslewhite & Friends BIO

Camp Creek Committee
The core of Camp Creek Committee began in 2005 when Gainesville neighbors met and began pickin’ on their back porch.
Camp Creek Committee BIO

Little Country Giants
Little Country Giants - Unapologetically Appalachian and Unashamed in Sadness


Over the course of three albums Georgia's Little Country Giants have marked themselves as perhaps the finest new purveyors of southern acoustic roots music in the Appalachian, country, and folk tradition. Delivering pure, simple, and timeless rustic songs touching on country, bluegrass, and even rural blues, husband-and-wife duo Cameron Federal and Russell Cook produce artful work on par with the finest of the expansive genre.

While they began playing together upon meeting in 1998, the duo formed Little Country Giants in 2004 following years of travels...
Little Country Giants BIO

Outside Agitators & Gravy
Originally the Tator Brothers Jug Band from Mobile, until they were ejected from a local "Hoot Nanny" fundraiser for a Masonic Lodge just east of Birmingham...The Outside Agitators haven't appeared "on" a stage since that time in 1963. In fact, they refuse.
Outside Agitators & Gravy BIO

Tim Quigley
Tim Quigley  will also perform during the festival this year. Quigley is a Georgia singer/songwriter who plays a mix of original songs with some classic soft rock, folk and Irish tunes. A former member of the contemporary Irish / Americana band, JP Folk,. his CD, Stationmaster, features original tunes plus songs by songwriters David Mallett and Jonathan Byrd, who have influenced his work.

Rising Appalachia
RISING APPALACHIA's Leah and Chloe Smith grew up in the bosom of the Southern Appalachian music renaissance. Born to a fiddlin' mother and a guitar pickin' father, they were raised with old-time melodies and contra dances as their lullabies long before mention of the sound tracks of Oh Brother Where Art Thou and Cold Mountain.
Rising Appalachia BIO

Spies of LIfe
Featuring the emotional, soaring vocals of PATTY ROBBINS-ALBIGESE, SPIES OF LIFE is an truly a melting pot of Folk, Soul, and  "songs from the road less travelled".  Pianist LOU SIMMONS and multi-instumentalist JOHN TYLER  began performing in 1969 under the name LIGHT BRIGADE, winning both the Atlanta and Georgia State BATTLE OF THE BANDS, and started singing with PATTY,forming the ROCK MOUNTAIN BAND in... 
Spies of LIfe BIO

Mossy Creek Gypsies
The Mossy Creek Gypsies are Jimmy Wooten, Marty Nix, Tom Ryan and friends, all respected musician/songwriters in North Georgia. Nix is an amazing musical chameleon who makes himself right at home with any crowd of pickers.  His early influences include Chet Atkins and Steve Morse and later he embraced the work of Mark Knopfler, Bill Mize, and Alex De Grassi.  His familiarity and ease with blues and bluegrass to rock-a-billy and rock & roll, allow Nix to engage in musical athletics enjoyed by many, but performed by few.  Jimmy Wooten intuitively knows when to be smooth and soothing or bluesy and unruly.  He has toured the land with big name country artists.  Wooten is a celebrated Georgia Guitarist and Songwriter.  His work has been recorded by Moe Bandy, David Bell and Paul Brandt, whose gold album, "Calm Before the Storm" boasts a Jimmy Wooten original, "All over Me".  When not touring with Shawn Mullins or Widespread Panic, Tom Ryan joins the Gypsies on bass guitar.  Ryan is a much sought after artist who in edition to Mullins and Panic, has also performed with The Normaltown Flyers, The Jesters, and several other Athens based bands. Festival visitors are sure to enjoy the best back porch picking and singing of the Mossy Creek Gypsies.       

Route 66
Originally formed as "The West Wind" in 1966 with members Jim Carriker (bass), Lauren Connell (percussion/vocals) and Shane Atwell (guitar/vocals) and others, the band actually took 35 years off to pursue other things. A reunion occurred in September 03 and a one time jam session led to the reformation of the group under it's new name which honors the year of the original band's formation and the musical "road" the members, old and new, have travelled.


Route 66 BIO

Pool Mountain
Pool Mountain plays a mix of traditional and non-traditional bluegrass, gospel and “crossover” tunes in their own unique style, drawing from a large repertoire of song material.  The band is the culmination of a long-time musical relationship between husband and wife John and Janice Severence and their friend Bob Simon, all residents of Auburn, Georgia.  Although they have been playing together sporadically for 15+ years, they decided to form a band in 2006.  The band has been active in the Gwinnett, Atlanta and North Georgia traditional-music scene since, playing local venues, private parties and other events on a regular basis. 
John Severence is known for his solid rhythm guitar and interesting flatpicking breaks.  He sings lead vocals and bass and baritone harmonies. His fun personality keeps the audience entertained during banjo tunings and instrument changes.
Janice Severence plays upright bass and sings tenor and high tenor harmonies.  She holds the timing together with a solid right hand as she and the instrument move with the music.
Bob Simon plays banjo and fiddle, usually not at the same time, although it would be great if he could, since he is talented on both instruments.  He sings lead vocals and tenor and baritone harmonies.

Sweetwater
Sweetwater is Cynthia Cero and Vince Ciliberto.  Cynthia and Vince's signature is a warm blend of tight harmonies with a unique blend of guitar and dulcimer acoustic backup covering multiple genres including folk, contemporary, blues, country and pop. They have been playing in the northern Georgia area for the last three years including The Jasper Art Festival, Sharp Top Mountain Art Opening, Mountain Conservation Trust, Big Canoe Veranda, Amacalola Falls Lodge and local music gatherings.     

Elise Witt & Mick Kinney
Group leader singer-guitarist ELISE WITT was born in Switzerland, raised in North Carolina, and since 1977 has made her home in Atlanta. She speaks fluent Italian, French, German, Spanish, and English and sings in at least a dozen languages...
As one of his fellow musicians recently declared, "MICK KINNEY can play anything on any instrument!"  In concert as well as on his new CD, "Nothing Left to Chance," composer/lyricist Mick Kinney plays fiddle, piano, banjo, guitar, accordion, lap steel, and anything else
he can get his hands on...
Elise Witt & Mick Kinney BIO

Insonnia
With its roots based in World Music, Insonnia blends Flamenco, Brazilian, Jazz, and New Acoustic music into a melodic and rhythmic sound all its own. Led by versatile guitarist and vocalist Curtis Jones, the group also includes Pete Orenstein on Piano, Organ, and Vocals, and Mark Letalien on Drums. Joining together in the late Spring of 2010 for an impromptu show, these seasoned musicians, with diverse musical backgrounds, soon discovered a unique chemistry which led to the decision to form a musical project. As rehearsals began, the band’s members soon found that although they had indeed come from a varied background, they shared a similar goal: creating innovative, unique and accessible music. Insonnia strives to bring excitement and intensity to everyone of its performances, making no two shows the same. The Spring of 2011 will see the release of their latest album and many shows to follow. Be sure to catch the musical union that is Insonnia!

Vaguely Vegas - Moose & Squirrel
In the fall of 2004 Mike Ewbank and Tommy Dean, two mainstays of the Georgia music scene, were hired to work an event with a Las Vegas theme. They called Ken Gregory to play trumpet, valved trombone and guitar and added Omar Martinez to swing on drums and christened the quartet "Vaguely Vegas."


Vaguely Vegas BIO

Beverly Smith & John Grimm
One of the most respected guitar players in old time music today, Beverly Smith is also in demand as a singer, fiddler, and dance caller. John Grimm is an award winning fiddler and multi-instrumentalist who has played with many old time bands...
Smith-Grimm BIO

Alex Thomlinson
Alex Thomlinson's musical journey began at the age of 8 when his Suches neighbor offered to teach him the fiddle. Since that time he has won a total of 7 State Championship fiddling awards in the states of Kentucky, Alabama & Georgia, and has been invited to appear as a guest performer in numerous venues in the southeast. This past summer Alex was privileged to join the Buzzard Mountain Boys playing for Governor & Mrs. Deal and their family at the Governor’s Mansion. He recently appeared on Dahlonega’s Mountain Music & Medicine Show, which will be broadcast on Georgia Public Radio. He appeared with the Neel Pender Band at the 2013 Bear on the Square Mountain Festival in Dahlonega in April. At the age of 13 he was given the privilege of opening for the legendary Doc Watson at the Stecoah Valley Center in Robbinsville, NC.

His musical interests have expanded to include quartet singing and choral arrangement. He has just completed two fruitful years singing with the Varsity Singers a cappella choir at Lumpkin County High School as well as the Men’s Quartet-- both organizations having won numerous awards and accolades at All State Chorus and Region/State Literary Meet. Alex was chosen as Choral Student of the Year, as well as Most Valuable Bass, for the 2012-13 school year. At the 2013 LCHS commencement exercises, the senior song--Times When We Were Young--was composed by Alex, who also wrote the piano score and arranged the 4-part choral harmonies.

Alex sings in the choir at Dahlonega United Methodist Church, where he is frequently asked to play his fiddle during services. He also plays for weddings in the local area. This fall he will begin his studies in Music Education at Piedmont College with hopes of becoming a high school choral director.