For more than 50 years, Del McCoury’s music has defined authenticity for not only bluegrass enthusiasts, but for a growing number of fans only vaguely familiar with the genre. After coming under the tutelage of Bill Monroe in the 1960s, McCoury worked his way to the top of the bluegrass world, emerging onto the larger musical scene as a unique torchbearer for the entire sweep of the genre and its history. Now helming The Del McCoury Band with sons Ronnie and Rob, fiddler Jason Carter and bassist Alan Bartram, McCoury’s fierce musicianship and easy connection with listeners has bred fans across musical borders. With only a single change in membership in their 20 year history, the band’s unprecedented stability and prowess has garnered the respect of the industry for their work, evidenced by their many accolades including two Grammy Awards and nine International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Entertainer of the Year trophies.

 

The North Carolina-based sextet Steep Canyon Rangers has spent the nearly two decades since their founding in 2000 bending the bluegrass aesthetic and wedding it to elements of pop, country and folk rock. The Grammy Award-winning band has toured and collaborated with comedian/banjo player Steve Martin since 2009, and is made up of Woody Platt on guitar and lead vocals, Nicky Sanders on fiddle, Mike Guggino on mandolin, Barrett Smith on bass, Graham Sharp on banjo and Mike Ashworth on percussion. They performed to sold-out crowds at two previous Savannah Music Festivals as well as our Rollin’ & Tumblin’ event in February 2016.