Morris Bluegrass Festival
Blue Highway
32 IBMA Awards, 6 SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, 3 Grammy nominations
In 2023, the highly-esteemed bluegrass band Blue Highway celebrates 29 years of touring, with four of the original members still intact. Its single "On the Roof of the World" was number one on the Bluegrass Today National Airplay chart for 4 weeks from July to August 2022, and was the number one song for the month of September while its follow-up “Lonesome State of Mind” was number one five times on the weekly chart and for the months of February, March and May 2023.
The band has earned a collective 32 IBMA Awards, 6 SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, plus three Grammy nominations. Most recently, the band was nominated for IBMA's 2022, 2021 and 2020 Vocal Group of the Year and Song of the Year Awards.
Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters
The powerhouse duo of Amy Gallatin and renowned resophonic guitarist Roger Williams--respected veterans of the New England music scene--explore their mutual love of country standards, served up with an acoustic treatment in the bluegrass vein. The result is a toe-tapping blend of heartfelt vocals, soaring harmonies and red-hot picking, traditional yet modern and distinct.
Americana radio host Ed McKeon says: "Amy's vocals, with the power and tone of her voice, are tempered by Roger's baritone which has been sanded smooth by cigarettes and, shall we say, maturity. The song selections are perfect, the harmonies glorious, the sentiments wonderfully maudlin (like any good old country song)."
The two are enhanced on mandolin and vocals by Roger's son, Berklee College of Music grad JD, who--in the time-honored tradition of musical consanguinity complements his father's style perfectly--and by veteran bassist Bob Dick, formerly of the award-winning bluegrass band Front Range and founder of New England’s Blackstone Valley Bluegrass
Wood Flower
Wood Flower’s combination of tight harmonies, driving banjo, soulful mandolin, ripping twin guitars all supported by a solid bass line are highlights that define this up-and-coming Bluegrass band. Their unique yet traditional approach to Bluegrass music was formed in the spring of 2022 between a music teacher and his former guitar student from ten years prior who had recently graduated from Berklee College of Music.
Only two weeks after Wood Flower’s first public performance they were honored to open for The Seldom Scene, and have since shared the stage with such greats as Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Wyatt Ellis and East Nash Grass.
They have entertained music fans at variety of festivals including Wind Gap Bluegrass Festival, Podunk Bluegrass Festival, Musikfest, Appalachian Fiddle & Bluegrass Association Festival, Basin Bluegrass Festival and at listening rooms such as Godfrey Daniels, Sellersville Theater and the Ardmore Music Hall.
Morris Bluegrass Festival Host Band
Nestled in the scenic rolling hills of Litchfield County, Connecticut, Wires and Wood brings a fresh, contemporary twist to traditional bluegrass tunes. This lively quintet, formed in 2013 and based in the charming town of Bantam, has been captivating audiences throughout New England with their distinctive "Newgrass" sound.
Their performances, which span a diverse range of venues from breweries to weddings, showcase the band's versatility and ability to connect with audiences of all ages. The group's dynamic lineup features Brian White on Guitar, Will Doemland on Mandolin, Matt Lauretano on Banjo, Don Lieber on Upright Bass, and Nick Zacchio on Dobro.
Wires & Wood
Timothy
Timothy, much like its turfy namesake, is a bluegrass band rooted across New England. Featuring Walker Russell on guitar and lead vocals, Gretchen Bowder on banjo, Jeff Smith on mandolin, Julie Metcalf on fiddle, and John Savold on bass, Timothy is a group of deeply intentional musicians prone to happy accidents - starting with the band's decision to make it official after winning the Crooked River Gathering’s inaugural band contest. Drawing from influences like Alison Krauss & Union Station, Richard Thompson, and The Boxcars, Timothy delivers songs that range from hard-driving to quietly introspective. Rooted in tradition, unafraid to explore emotional nuance, Timothy gives name to the T in Ernest T. Grass
he Hosmer Mountain Boys bring to the stage their interpretation of how bluegrass music sounded and looked in the 1950s and work to take you back in time to experience what made so many fall in love with Bluegrass! Like most bands of that era, they even have a sponsor in their hometown, an old-fashioned, local soda company, Hosmer Mountain Soda, much like Flatt & Scruggs had with Martha White Flour. When you see the band off stage, they are happy to talk with you about the history of bluegrass and vintage instruments. You’ll find them all around New England playing festivals and gazebos in the warmer months, and concerts and bars in the colder months.
Guy Wolff
Hosmer Mountain Boys
Award winning Old Time Clawhammer Banjo player, Guy Wolff, will take the stage at the Morris Bluegrass Festival July 4th. Not only is Guy a legendary Clawhammer player but he is also a world famous Potter located in Bantam, CT.