2026
InstrucTor Bios
The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee
The Transitional Bluegrass Sound
Mining the fertile common ground between bluegrass, early country music, and traditional mountain music, The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee are Virginia’s torchbearers of the old-time sound. Featuring the classic quintet of fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar, and bass, the band comprises five masterful musicians and singers who have immersed themselves in the dance music traditions of the Blue Ridge region and developed a deeply rooted old-time bluegrass sound. The band crafts their own tasteful original songs and instrumentals that blend seamlessly alongside the classics, and their engaging performances and powerful harmony singing have captivated audiences around the globe and earned the band top awards at prominent festivals throughout the Appalachian region. The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee cut no corners when it comes to real, hard hitting, old-time country music - an approach that is gaining them loyal followers far beyond the reaches of their Virginia mountain home.
Ashlee Watkins & Andrew Small
The Heart of The Blue Ridge, Traditional Harmony
Ashlee Watkins & Andrew Small are a duo based in Floyd, VA who perform old-time country music rooted in Blue Ridge traditions. With stirring harmonies and a variety of instrumentation, their performances weave traditional mountain music together with bluegrass and early country music to produce a sound that has captivated audiences around the globe. Ashlee and Andrew have won top prizes at fiddlers conventions and festivals such as Galax, Mount Airy, and Clifftop, as well as the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at MerleFest. They tour internationally with their band, The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee.
ALEJANDRO BALDOQUIN
Introduction to Cuban Music
Alejandro Baldoquin is a Cuban-born singer-songwriter and tres player. He studied the Tres Cubano and performed in traditional ensembles as a tres player and Latin percussionist.
Based in the United States since 2022, he performs with a Latin music band as a vocalist and tres player, while also presenting his original acoustic music as a solo artist. Through his workshops, Alejandro shares the rhythms, history, and expressive spirit behind this rich musical tradition.
Jake Blount
Advanced Old-Time Fiddle, Intermediate/Advanced Clawhammer Banjo, The Black Roots of String Band Music, Folk Music and Nationalism
Jake Blount (pronounced: blunt) is an award-winning scholar and performer of Black folk music based in Providence, RI. Initially recognized for his skill as a string band musician, Blount has charted an unprecedented, Afrofuturist course on his pilgrimage through sound archives and song collections. In his hands, the banjo, fiddle, electric guitar and synthesizer become ceremonial objects used to channel the insurgent creativity of his forebears. From transfixing solo sets to full-band festival appearances complete with crowd-surfing and ecstatic chants, Blount’s performances - like his recent Smithsonian Folkways releases, symbiont (2024) and The New Faith (2022) - seamlessly merge centuries-old traditional songs with the trappings and techniques of modern Black genres. This “genrequeer” approach to the traditions has earned his music a place in the very same archives from which he extracts his repertoire. In defiance of genre categories, revisionist histories and linear time, Blount fashions an “Afrofuturist folklore” that disintegrates the boundaries between acoustic and electric, artist and medium, and ancestor and progeny.
Balancing his taste for arcane source material with his desire to reach diverse audiences, Blount has shared his music at venues including Carnegie Hall, Newport Folk Festival, the Library of Congress and NPR’s Tiny Desk. His knowledge and skill have deepened over the course of his still-young career, and his vision has grown more ambitious - but his music has only grown in popular appeal. Starting with his full-length debut Spider Tales (2020), each of Blount's records has appeared on "best of year" lists from outlets including Bandcamp, The New Yorker, NPR, The Guardian, and Rolling Stone. With the Steve Martin Banjo Prize, two International Folk Music Awards nominations and two first-place ribbons from Clifftop already under his belt, Blount’s star continues to rise.
Blount’s thoughtful musicianship has made him a sought-after collaborator. He has contributed to recordings by Adia Victoria, Dave Hause, Adeem The Artist and others, opened for GRAMMY-winners Rhiannon Giddens, Molly Tuttle, and the Carolina Chocolate Drops, and traveled the world as a member of string bands New Dangerfield, Tui, and The Moose Whisperers. He regularly shares the stage with skilled contemporaries such as Mali Obomsawin, George Jackson and Nic Gareiss, and collaborated with the Kronos Quartet on their sold-out 50th Anniversary performance at Carnegie Hall. Blount also served as a music consultant on Ryan Coogler's 2025 film Sinners, scored by Ludwig Göransson, and contributed music to Ken Burns's The American Revolution (2025) alongside Giddens.
In addition to his public-facing achievements, Blount has an impressive industry track record. He has performed as an official showcase artist at Folk Alliance International, SXSW, AmericanaFest and the International Bluegrass Music Association’s World of Bluegrass. He was a 2020 Strathmore Artist In Residence, and participated in the IBMA’s Leadership Bluegrass program in the same year. An emeritus board member of Bluegrass Pride, Blount is known as a strong advocate for progressive causes within the music industry, and appears regularly on conference panels pertaining to social and environmental justice. His writings on music and issues facing the industry have appeared in publications including Rolling Stone, NPR, Paste Magazine and No Depression.
Blount is also a skilled educator. In addition to his on-stage offerings, his engagements frequently include lectures and presentations pertaining to both his original research and the history of Black string band music. He has shared this work at Yale University, Berklee College of Music, the Smithsonian Institution and elsewhere. He also makes regular appearances at music camps, most notably Earful of Fiddle Music & Dance Camp, offering hands-on instruction in fiddle and banjo. Blount holds an A.M. in Musicology and Ethnomusicology from Brown University, where he is working toward a Ph.D. in the same—as well as an A.M. in Anthropology.
Blount performs on a five-string fiddle made by Nathaniel Rowan, and banjos from Seeders Instruments and Pete Ross Banjos. His CV is available here.
“Blount is a virtuosic multi-instrumentalist... with a hauntingly gorgeous voice and a bottomless, scholarly knowledge of American musical history.” - Katherine Proctor The Los Angeles Times
“On top of being wildly intelligent and knowledgeable, he's also a killer musician and it's an incredible combo.” - Rhiannon Giddens
TREY BOUDREAUX
Electric Bass, Intermediate/Advanced Upright Bass, Monday night Cajun dance, Cajun Rhythm Section
Louisiana native Trey Boudreaux is a dynamic bassist, improviser, and composer who can be found throughout South Louisiana lending his unrelenting groove and robust sound to countless artists across many scenes.
He keeps one foot in his hometown, Lafayette, Louisiana. Boudreaux’s roots in Acadiana inform his musical ideas and guide his explorations into new, adventurous musics. He has supported artists in Acadiana and from across the globe who share his propensity for traditional music styles and their progressions into modern music - the Revelers, KC Jones, Feufollet, Blake Miller, Chas Justus, Boma Bango, Jimmy Breaux, Nokosee Fields, Vivian Leva & Riley Calcagno, Elise Leavy, Joe Troop, Thor Ahlgren, Dirk Powell & Amelia Powell, Preston Frank, Ed Poullard, Zach Rhea, Steve Riley & the Riley Family Band, Amis du Teche, Jean Bertrand & 99 Playboys, The Pine Leaf Boys, Christiaan Mader, Georgia Parker.
Trey also spends much of his time in the other center of Louisiana music and culture and his second home, New Orleans. Since the mid 2000s he has immersed himself in different musical corners of New Orleans ranging from afrocuban to swing to R&B and beyond, often leading his own band performing his compositions. He has also toured, recorded or performed with: Andrew Duhon, Charlie Halloran, Shotgun Jazz Band, the Tropicales, Sam Dickey & Read the Sands, Sam Taylor, Chris Combs, Kermit Ruffins, Aurora Nealand, Shakespeare & the Blues, Steven Lands, Byron Asher, Shawn Myers, Reagan Mitchell, Miles Berry, Maggie Koerner, Cyrus Nabipoor, Gerald Watkins, Peter Varnado, Sister Species
Boudreaux grew up in Lafayette, LA with a consistent input of jazz, R&B, electronic, baroque, and new music from the family record player, and a backdrop of Creole-French language, music and dancing from his hometown and people. He played multiple instruments in school programs and in bands with friends, and studied with assorted faculty during his time studying at LSU in Baton Rouge, LA, including bassist Yung-Chiao Wei and trumpeter Brian Shaw.
Michael “Leroy” Bram
Johnny Nicholas and The Cool Drivers Tuesday night dance
Michael Bram; drummer, vocalist, harmonica player, coffee shop guitarist...born & raised in Commack, New York. At the early age of four years old, his parents bought him a drum set from Toys-R-Us, Michael banged on that toy kit all day. On the same birthday, his grandparents gave him Elvis' Golden Hits and a Buddy Holly double LP. A deep love for music was born.
Michael "Leroy" Bram is currently the drummer for Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter JASON MRAZ and served as Mraz' Musical Director from 2008-20010 during the "We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things" world tour.
Michael has also recently joined THE WEIGHT BAND as their new singer and drummer, singing and playing the parts of the legendary Levon Helm! The Weight Band performs the iconic music of "THE BAND" and features former members of THE BAND, as well as former members of Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, and Levon Helm's respective bands.
In 2012, Michael teamed with producer and friend DAVE GROSS and released a "uniquely diverse album of classic and original Blues, Country, and American Roots Music titled 'SUITCASE IN THE HALL' on the VIZZTONE LABEL GROUP. Bram sings, plays drums, guitar and harmonica, and reveals himself to be a fine songwriter with an ear for the classics."
Bram has also recorded or performed with WILLIE NELSON, JOSS STONE, JOHN POPPER, G.LOVE AND SPECIAL SAUCE, JAMES MORRISON, ZAC BROWN, RAUL MIDON, CHRISTINA PERRI, LISA HANNIGAN and COLBIE CALLAIT. He has toured the world several times, performed at countless festivals and made numerous national and international television appearances on shows like Saturday Night Live, The Today Show, Conan O'Brian, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Ellen, Jimmy Fallon, and more.
Michael is a regular on the national blues and roots scene and has performed and recorded with blues and roots greats such as BOB MARGOLIN, MARK HUMMEL, STEVE GUYGER, WATERMELON SLIM, NICK MOSS, DEBBIE DAVIES, MARIA MULDAUR, JOHN SEBASTIAN, AUGIE MEYERS, BILL KIRCHEN, JOHNNY NEEL, and JOHNNY NICHOLAS.
He has also performed and recorded with 2007 Blues Music Award nominee, DAVE GROSS, and 2008 Blues Music Award Nominee, GINA SICILIA; 2018 BMA AWARD nominee and Harmonica ace, DENNIS GRUENLING, w/ harp killer's MIKEY JR, and CHRIS O'LEARY, w/ slide guitar masters CINDY CASHDOLLAR and GEOFF HARTWELL and also with multi-Grammy winner and cajun music great STEVE RILEY.
Lori Burke
SingSong
Lori Burke is a singer-songwriter dedicated to creating meaningful, engaging music for children and families. She has written songs for Sesame Street and released her solo album You Are Loved, bringing her heartfelt message of connection and joy to young audiences everywhere.
With over a decade of experience performing for children, Lori specializes in children’s folk music that blends learning with movement and play. Her work emphasizes sign language, call-and-response, classic nursery rhymes, and kinesthetic songs that encourage kids to get up, move their bodies, and actively participate.
Through her music, Lori creates a joyful, inclusive environment where children can sing, dance, learn, and feel truly seen and loved.
JEREMY BYRD
Songwriting
From Major label releases to acclaimed Indie efforts, Nashville’s Jeremy Byrd, A.K.A “Mr. Byrd,” has been gripping the ears and pulling at the heartstrings of listeners for nearly 15 years. By crafting meaningful lyrics and soaring melodies, Byrd explores the matters of love, loss and longing.
DEMPSY BYRNE
Irish Melody Instruments and Tunes all levels, Bodhran, Irish Jam
Bodhran extraordinare , Whistle, Singer, Irish Dancer, Dempsey has been entertaining audiences since the tender age of 2, and is a real character on stage. He made history by becoming the youngest entertainer ever at Walt Disney World at the age of 8. His distinctive powerful bodhran playing style and singing have earned him admiration from musicians all around the world. Dempsey has collaborated with top Irish bands such as We Banjo 3, Clannad, and JigJam, as well as Irish tenor legend Ronan Tynan.
FINN BYRNE
Irish Melody Instruments and Tunes all levels, Irish Jam
Finn is a multi-talented artist with a passion for music, dance, and creative pursuits. As a twice Donegal champion on banjo and mandolin, and a twice Ulster champion Irish dancer, Finn has established himself as a skilled musician and dancer. He is also a world qualifier and an award-winning author. In addition to his performance skills, Finn is also a composer and has written six of the tunes for their album "The Boys of Doorin and 5 for The Boys of Doorin. He is currently working as recording engineering and has produced "Baiana Celtic Dance Mix" fusing Irish, Brazilian and dance music together. More recently he has also been recording on a Hollywood movie soundtrack and he enjoys making TikTok guitar videos where he has had 7 videos with over 1 million views. Finn also takes on the role of dance choreographer, creating all the dances for their performances.
LUCA BYRNE
Irish Melody Instruments and Tunes all levels, Irish Jam
Luca is a multi-talented artist with an impressive set of skills. As the Donegal Champion on Accordion and Ulster Champion Irish Dancer, he has established himself as a highly accomplished musician and dancer.
In addition to his musical and dance abilities, Luca is also a talented photographer and filmmaker, having won awards for his work in these fields. He has directed, filmed, and edited all of the recent music videos for the Byrne Brothers and shot the front cover of their latest album, which won the "American Celtic Radio Listeners 2021 Album Cover of the Year" award. Currently, Luca is a highly sought after Music Video Director and Photographer for Latin Artists signed to major lables in Miami.
TOMMY BYRNE
Irish Melody Instruments and Tunes all levels, Irish Jam
Tommy, hailing from Dublin, is a highly skilled musician with expertise in Guitar, Uilleann Pipes, Bagpipes, Fiddle, Whistles, and Vocals. He has a rich background in music, having been an ex-Grade 1 Bagpiper with World Champions St. Joseph's Pipe Band Clondalkin. Tommy is also recognized as one of the founding father of the Temple Bar music scene in Dublin and has gone on to become an International Irish show director with over 25 years of experience in places like Bangladesh, Abu Dhabi, Scandinavia, and all over Europe. He has directed various shows, including his biggest production, Celtic Dance Force in New Zealand, featuring 30 dancers and an 8-piece band. Apart from his impressive musical, directing and composing career, Tommy has also performed with renowned groups like The Chieftains and Michael Flatley on Broadway.
THE BYRNE BROTHERS
Irish Melody Instruments and Tunes all levels, Bodhran, Irish Jam
The Byrne Brothers, from Donegal, Ireland, are a multi award winning family band currently taking the Irish American scene by storm Their achievements include a massive social media presence, winning the Young Artist Academy© Award for Outstanding Music Ensemble and being named Rising Stars of the Year by American Celtic Radio Listeners for their album "Living the Dream." They are also one of the biggest Irish Trad Supergroups on Facebook, Youtube and Instagram and TikTok with over 70,000 followers and 32 million views on their music. They are all County champion musicians and Ulster champion Irish dancers. The band consists of Luca on accordion, Finn on banjo, mandolin, and guitar, Dempsey on bodhran and whistle, and their father Tommy on uilleann pipes, fiddle, guitar, and grade 1 bagpiper. They moved to America in 2018 to perform at Walt Disney World where they became Youngest ever cast members in the history of Disney, and have since toured extensively across 47 US States. The Byrne Brothers have established themselves as a significant presence in the traditional Irish music scene, attracting interest from Hollywood and receiving a reputation as a "Must See Band" at festivals. They are well known for their electrifying and high-energy performances that showcase modern traditional Irish music and world-class Irish dancing. Their music features both traditional and original tunes and songs. Audiences around the globe are captivated by their infectious humor, energy and talent.
JEFF CLAUS
Intermediate/Advanced Old-Time Rhythm Guitar
Jeff (www.jeffclaus.com) was one of the founding members and main songwriters of the alt-folk-rock band, The Horse Flies (www.thehorseflies.com), about whom the New York Times said: “The Horse Flies have figured out how to hold a hoedown in a physics lab." And Rolling Stone wrote, "The Horse Flies churn out swirling, addictive songs, blending tradition with invention." Jeff has toured extensively in the U.S., Canada, and Europe; recorded on Rounder and MCA; appeared on Prairie Home Companion, All Things Considered, Mountain Stage, eTown, and MTV; and played numerous festivals and concert series (e.g., Central Park Summerstage in NYC, Telluride Bluegrass, Portland Old-Time Gathering, Berkeley Old Time Music Convention, Vancouver Folk, Winnipeg Folk, Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, Smithsonian Festival of American Folk Life, and many more). He’s also taught at many festivals, camps, and music programs throughout the U.S. Canada, and Europe, and has had songs and music used by film director Oliver Stone (in Any Given Sunday), Natalie Merchant (including on two albums and Late Night with David Letterman), and MTV's Rock the Vote. He’s also co-composed, performed, and/or mixed music for over 30 or so feature and documentary films, a couple with The Horse Flies and those and all the others with his partner and best friend, Judy Hyman (www.j2filmmusic.com). Jeff has a deep and abiding love of Southern traditional fiddle music. He’s an especially committed fan of rhythm, groove, and drone, and loves working with diverse people interested in developing their skills for providing solid, rhythmic backup on guitar and banjo ukulele.
For his Culture Camp guitar class, Jeff says: We’ll focus on playing strong, simple, rhythmically solid backup guitar, the goal being to create a strong groove that provides compelling support for traditional Appalachian fiddle music. While I play mostly with a pick, using a basic bass note/strum or “boom-chuck” pattern, other approaches are welcome and can fit in. We’ll work on some simple techniques for rhythmic playing, and we’ll spend a lot of time playing with a fiddler at a slow to moderate tempo, all in the four fundamental keys of D, A, G, and C. We’ll also explore how to vary things within the foundational style, without breaking the flow. This will include some bass runs in each of the main keys and elements of occasional syncopation. Hopefully, people will know how to play the basic chords of A, Am, D, E, Em, G, C, and F and bring a tuner, recording device, and capo.
CAP COOKE
Old Time Jam
Cap Cooke was born and raised in Grand Island, New York, where he began picking the banjo at age 13 after hearing a John Hartford record. He moved to the finger lakes region in 2013, and has been absorbing the rich musical traditions of the area ever since. Frequently called upon as a sideman on the banjo and guitar, he’s played in numerous regional groups including The Mount Pleasant String Band, The Finger Lakes Bluegrass All-Stars, The Flywheels, Farm Animal, The June Bugs, and enjoys the opportunity to perform solo whenever possible. He now resides in Ulysses with his wife, Cady and their young son.
daniel Coolik
Cajun Fiddle Seconding and Harmony,
Getting the most out of your practice time, Western Swing Guitar
A consummate musician’s musician, Daniel Coolik, originally from Atlanta, Georgia, swept into the Lafayette, LA scene in 2009 and quickly added his name to many respectable rosters, loaning his talents to such groups as Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole, Les Malfecteurs, The Red Stick Ramblers, and helped found the GRAMMY nominated band The Revelers. Daniel was already an adept multi-instrumentalist in the Asheville, North Carolina scene where he focused on playing swing and jazz on guitar & mandolin as well as old time Appalachian traditional music, and has since emerged as a violoniste extraordinaire here in Acadiana. His abilities have taken him all over the globe, including Haiti, Thailand, most countries in Western Europe, and Canada. He is an in demand session musician who has played bass, guitar, mandolin, steel guitar, and fiddle on numerous recordings. As of 2019, Daniel finished transcribing all of the notation for Ann Savoy’s 2nd volume of her acclaimed Cajun Music: A Reflection of A People.
Currently, aside from the Revelers, Daniel plays electric guitar, electric mandolin, and leads the band, Boma Bango, which explores the hypnotic, reverb drenched, tremolo-ed electric guitar heavy music from the 1960s that came out of the Congo. They have one album out, Étranger (2021), and another one, On va voir, set to come out summer of 2026.
Jane DeLisa
Cajun Jam
Jane DeLisa will be helping lead the Cajun jam with Laren Droll. She has played Cajun fiddle most recently with C’est Bon Cajun Dance Band and is looking forward to sharing tunes, stories, and her passion for Cajun music.
TANNER DIMMICK
Chef for Monday’s Cajun Dinner,
Chef for Wednesday’s Zydeco/Creole Dinner
Born and raised in south Louisiana, Tanner Dimmick fell in love with Cajun food and music at a young age but started getting serious about cooking when doing the Blackpot cooking competition every year. Most Sundays in the spring and fall involve having friends over and cooking rice and gravy as an informal training session for October. This helped start his local cooking collective the Gravy Boys (as seen in publications Garden&Gun, and Louisiana Cooking Magazine). When not standing over a pot or at a dance, Tanner is the GM of Spoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant in downtown Lafayette. Looking forward to sharing my Cajun dishes with the Grassroots Family!
Laren Droll
Cajun Jam
Laren Droll will be leading a daily Cajun jam on his accordion along with fiddler Jane DeLisa. Laren has been playing Cajun and Zydeco for decades fronting bands including Dirty Rice Zydeco, Krewe de la Rue, ZydeGroove and Bunkhouse Boys. He loves sharing the gems of Cajun music picked up from meeting and recording many legendary Cajun and Creole musicians, not the least of which is the Culture Camp's own master Creole accordion player Preston Frank.
Greg Evans
Drum Gems (Favorite approaches to Learning to Play Drums)
Greg Evans, is an Assistant Professor of Music at The State University of New York at Binghamton, where he serves as the Director of Jazz Studies. He has diplomas from Ithaca College (M.M.) and the Manhattan School of Music (B.M.).
Evans is a passionate and captivating performer, pedagogue, and composer. His versatility as an educator and performer has allowed him to engage in the creative process across a wide range of settings including concert halls, festival stages, recording studios, nightclubs, educational institutions, as well as community and non-traditional venues. These experiences speak to the true nature of percussion and Jazz music: groove – the inherent feel-good element in music – has the capacity to speak truth to anyone and everyone, anywhere.
Prior to joining the faculty at SUNY Binghamton, Evans taught for fourteen years at Ithaca College. Additionally, he is sought after for his buoyant, joyous, and love-filled groove, and has performed in multiple national tours, music festivals, and is a frequent featured performer and clinician. Evans has appeared with many artists including Jonathan Batiste, Benny Benack III, Terence Blanchard, Chick Corea, Joey DeFrancesco, Kurt Elling, Robin Eubanks, Jimmy Heath, Clyde and Gracie Lawrence, Branford Marsalis, John Pizzarelli, Dave Samules, and Allen Vizzutti.]
PAUL FAIRBANKS
Bluegrass Jam
I stumbled upon bluegrass banjo some 50 years ago and have been teaching for close to 30 years now. My teaching style is designed to help people discover the joy of playing the banjo, whether that's on the front porch, a campfire sing-a-long, or on stage. Bluegrass banjo relies on a few basic concepts that anyone can pick up in an hour or two. Of course the journey only gets better the deeper the dive. I'll be teaching some foundational rolls, key licks, banjo rhythm concepts, maybe some basic backup, how to navigate the neck, and perhaps some basic melodic banjo skills and drills! And what the heck, we might as well learn a tune or two along the way. Take the plunge. You won't regret it!!!
MOLLIE FARR
The Business of Getting Your Band Out There
Mollie Farr, singer and songwriter from Nashville, TN, grew up singing in jazz ensembles and in the theater. She graduated from the New College of Florida with a degree in Music and French language. After writing her thesis on the ethnomusicological tradition of the accordion in southwest Louisiana, Mollie began working with Ann Savoy to compile, transcribe, and translate her upcoming book on the subject. Now Mollie is working on her debut record in addition to running her own booking and management company, Lost Buffalo Artists. Mollie has taught singing/culture classes at Virginia Key culture camp as well as at Blackpot camp in Lafayette, LA and has shared the stage with artists such as Donna the Buffalo, Richie Stearns, and the Duhks.
PRESTON FRANK
Creole Accordion, Fiddle Tunes A La Preston Frank, Wednesday Night Zydeco Dance
The Frank family, from the small rural community of Soileau (pronounced “swallow”) in Allen Parish, is one of the great Creole musical families. According to Michael Tisserand, author of The Kingdom “I don’t play that new zydeco or Acadian music. I play Creole zydeco. It’s in between both of them. It’s got a good drive and a good swing to it.” — Preston Frank of Zydeco, Preston Frank, father of Keith Frank, can trace his musical lineage at least as far back as his great-grandfather Joseph Frank Jr., an accordion player, and his great-great-grandfather, Joseph Frank Sr., who played fiddle. Neither ever recorded. His great-uncle, Carlton Frank, was one of the last Creole fiddlers of that generation.
According to Preston Frank, “My dad’s grandfather was a fiddle player and he played with Dennis McGee. My grandfather played accordion but I never heard him play. He saw me when I bought my accordion. He played music, but some of it… he just let it all go. If you don’t practice, it leaves, you know? You gotta keep working at it. If you don’t work at it, it leaves.”
“My mom and dad never did speak Creole French, always English. I learned French after I had got more grown like 18, 19 because my grandmother on my mom’s side couldn’t speak English and my grandfather on my daddy’s side couldn’t speak English. To get your point across, you had to learn how to speak French and Creole in order for them to understand you and talk to you. So, that’s what made me more interested in trying to learn, because my grandmother would cook food for me in the evening-time when I got off of work and I had to tell her what I wanted for food. I learned it quick. It didn’t take me long to learn how to say some of the food stuff.”
“I bought some records to try and learn but what I was hearing was not the same thing I was doing on accordion. My dad helped me to learn to like the way I played the accordion, because he knew the music and I didn’t, “I bought some records because I had never even listened to it. He helped me and he would show me. I’d go to work in the daytime and in the evening time, I’d come back home to try and learn but what I was hearing was not the same thing I was doing on accordion.” — Preston Frank and I’d go meet him and he’d show me some songs, step by step. He showed me step by step and I learned from what he had showed me, and I’d go back home and practice, practice, practice. The only thing I was doing was, I was memorizing the song, what he had showed me. I’d just memorize it and, sometimes, I wouldn’t quite get what he had showed me the night before and then, go back the next night and get some more. That’s how I learned to get to where I could understand him, go listen to him and what he had showed me, step by step. I’d just memorize what he was showing and from there, I started doing this stuff on my own.”
THE PRESTON FRANK FAMILY BAND formed about 1977 as a way to bring the family together making music. Keith Frank actually got his musical start with the band when he was four years old playing drums. According to Preston Frank, “I wouldn’t say all zydeco music comes from families, but it’s better when the family is all together. I guess it’s about how you started. The Frank family has been doing it. That’s why I started my kids playing with me because we were all together. We were practicing and rehearsing right in the house. When the family is together, Keith plays guitar and Jennifer the bass and Brad drums. I got my grandson play scrub board with us now.” 1981 recording by Preston Frank and The Swallow Playboys
PRESTON FRANK RECORDED some in the early 1980s. The band was known as Preston Frank and the Swallow Playboys when it recorded the song “Why Do You Want to Make Me Cry?” in 1981, written by Preston and drummer Leo Thomas. Thomas made it his signature song. A vinyl album of seven songs by Preston Frank’s Swallow Band and six songs by Ambrose Sam’s Old
Time Zydeco Vol. 2 was recorded and released in 1985 on Chris Strachwitz’s Arhoolie Records, the same label that discovered Clifton Chenier. The Swallow Band cuts featured Preston Frank on accordion, Paul Washington on bass, Leo Thomas on drums, Carlton Frank on fiddle,
Rodney Thomas on lead guitar, Hampton Frank on rhythm guitar, and Preston Frank or Leo Thomas on vocals. The tunes on this recording included “Shake What You Got,” “Bals de Lake Charles,” “Mon Chere ‘Tite Monde,” “Tanta Na-Na,” “Ton Aller La Bas,” “Font Kilo,” and “Why Do You Want to Make Me Cry?”
SALLY FREUND
Scrubboard
Sally Freund has been dancing and festival teaching for 30 years. Her style is easy and her classes are about connecting and moving to the beat so you can be nothing but happy when your dancing. She keeps close traditional ties with Louisiana where the heart of Cajun and Zydeco pulses and brings that joy back north. Sally currently plays Scrubboard and Triangle with Rose and the Bros.
LYDIA GARRISON
Old Time Jam
Lydia Garrison is from Ithaca, NY. She is a singer, songwriter and plays fiddle, banjo, guitar, Cajun triangle, scrubboard, and some Cajun accordion. She plays with Home Remedy (with Rosie Newton), The Makers (with Nate Silas Richardson), and Kevin Wimmer & Blue Eagle Zydeco. She loves teaching music, and aims to help others get joy from playing music and singing, like she does. She has taught at Black Pot music camp in Eunice, Louisiana and Ashokan Fiddle & Dance Camp in Olivebridge, NY. At Culture Camp she will be facilitating the Old Time Jam daily at 5:30, with Cap Cook, Pete Thompson, and Lora Pendleton. You can learn more about her at lydiagarrison.com.
James Gascoyne
Guitar for Irish Tune Accompaniment
James Gascoyne is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and teacher based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Originally from Louisville, KY, James has been an active participant in the NYS Capital Region arts community since 2004. He has toured nationally with a variety of groups, at times performing on bass, guitar, drums, and vocals, all the while maintaining an active local performing and recording schedule as well as teaching privately when time allows. James regularly performs with Oona Grady as their duo, Drank The Gold, specializing in traditional Irish and American fiddle tunes and folk songs, as well as original compositions and arrangements, plus newly formed bluegrass quintet The Millstone Rounders. With a passion for sharing his musical experience with others, he’s led various workshops at times on guitar, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, and bass for the Caffe Lena School of Music, Dance Flurry Festival, GrassRoots Culture Camp, and Winter Village Music Camp.
TOM GILBERT
Developing Groove, Fun with Percussion
Tom Gilbert is a versatile drummer based in the Finger Lakes region of New York. With a passion for rhythm and percussion, Tom continues to make his mark on the music scene, engaging in studio and session work while collaborating with notable artists such as Donna the Buffalo, New Planets, the all-American Hell Drivers and Jim Lauderdale. His talent and adaptability shine through in his diverse musical endeavors, showcasing his dedication to his craft.
Colin Gould
Cajun Rhythm Section, Assistant chef for Wednesday night’s Zydeco/Creole Dinner, Maker of the Andouille Sausage
A native of Lafayette, LA, Colin Gould is a Photographer, Musician, and Engineer. Growing up in South Louisiana, he blends his immersion into the traditional and native musics of the area with formal training as a young student in piano lessons and school band. With past experience as a member or filling in with Jean Bertrand and the 99 Playboys, Jourdan Thiboedaeux, T'Monde, Bruce Daigrepont, Pine Leaf Boys, and many others, he brings a versatile rhythmic and musical toolbox to stages and dancefloors around the country.
Oona Grady
Intermediate/Advanced Irish Fiddle,
Oona Grady is a musician and educator living in Saratoga Springs, New York. She performs with the duo Drank The Gold, a band specializing in creative arrangements of traditional Irish and American fiddle music, folk songs, and original compositions, as well as other projects including The Grady Girls, Folk Club Kids and newest project The Millstone Rounders. Oona grew up in Ithaca, NY, nurtured by a family and community with a deep love of music. After receiving a foundation in Suzuki violin and Irish fiddle, she began performing with her family band as a teenager, and moved to Ireland at age eighteen to continue her music studies at University College Cork, graduating with a B.Mus. in 2008. Oona manages a private music studio focussed on teaching and recording and is a founding teacher at the Caffe Lena School of Music. She also works as a guest instructor for weekend workshops and summer programs, including GrassRoots Culture Camp, The Flurry Festival, and Winter Village Music Camp.
DAVID GREELY
Intermediate/Advanced Cajun Fiddle, Cajun French Song
He has been awarded: Four Grammy nominations with tours worldwide with his main band Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, an apprenticeship with National Heritage Fellow Dewey Balfa, a Louisiana Department of the Arts Artist Fellowship Award, and induction into the Cajun French Music Association's Hall of Fame. David also delights in his love for Western Swing music, where he can employ his rich baritone voice and his affinity for improvisation.
Lara Green
Yoga
Lara was born and raised in the Finger Lakes and has been practicing yoga with joy since 2004. She earned her 200-hour Vinyasa Flow certification in 2012 in the jungles of Costa Rica with Frog Lotus Yoga International and has been studying and teaching yoga and meditation in the Ithaca area ever since. In recent years, she has completed advanced training modules at her yoga school in Spain, mentored new teachers, assisted teacher trainings, and completed a Thai massage certification. A mother of two, Lara receives deep inspiration from her work with children in public schools and summer camps. With a love for poetry, philosophy, music, and science, Lara’s classes are eclectic, seasonal, creative, and infused with play. She believes yoga, meditation, and deep listening are powerful tools for radical healing and community uplift. Students are encouraged to focus their attention inward, breathe deeply, celebrate their aliveness, and tap into their innate intelligence in an encouraging and supportive space.
JANE HENDERSON
Work On Your Couple Dancing
(partner not needed)
Jane started taking dance lessons and doing gymnastics in a neighbor's basement at the age of five. Hundreds of classes in Graham technique, Limon technique, ballet, yoga and pilates followed. Sometime in her 20's she fell down the rabbit hole of folk and vernacular dance after luckily getting to study the Anthropology of Dance with the woman who wrote the preeminent book on that subject and taught at Indiana University.
Swing, squares, contras, cajun, zydeco, salsa, and clogging have all called to her over the years.
Trevor Holder
Bluegrass Banjo, The Transitional Bluegrass Sound, Southwest Virginia String Band Style, Honky Tonk/Country Band Lab
Originally from Ringgold, Georgia, Trevor Holder grew up playing the banjo at fiddlers conventions in the Southeast, winning many awards including 1st Place Bluegrass Banjo at the fiddlers conventions in Galax, VA and Mount Airy, NC, as well as the Grand Prize in Old Time Three-Finger Banjo at the Charlie Poole Festival in Eden, NC. Early on, he developed a strong interest in the banjo playing of Don Reno and spent years learning his style. An avid proponent of numerous old time banjo styles, Trevor also takes influence from players like Uncle Dave Macon, Charlie Poole, Gid Tanner, and others. In addition to The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee, Trevor also performs with The Price Sisters, and Five Mile Mountain Road.
JUDY HYMAN
Advanced Old-Time Fiddle
Judy Hyman is a founding member of the alt-folk rock band, The Horse Flies. With them she toured extensively in the U.S., Canada, and Europe and recorded 8 albums, including releases on MCA and Rounder Records. Judy has a deep love of traditional Appalachian fiddle music and has taught at music camps and programs throughout the U.S. over many decades. She also composes music for film, television, and multi-media. She received an Emmy for her score for the documentary, The Cultivated Life: Thomas Jefferson and Wine. Judy has toured and recorded with pop singer Natalie Merchant several times and appears on her albums, The House Carpenter's Daughter and Leave Your Sleep. In 2021 she and her husband, Jeff Claus, produced Jake Blount’s album “Spider Tales”. In 2026 they will produce another album for/with Jake. In 2012 she released an album of her original waltzes, Late Last Summer, with her father, pianist Dick Hyman. Judy has been featured twice in Fiddler Magazine (for her fiddle playing), and also in Electronic Musician (for her film composing), and she was selected by Fiddler Magazine as one of their top 20 fiddlers in 2013, in celebration of their 20th anniversary. Critics have described Judy's work as haunting, gorgeous, sepia-tone, stirring, powerful, impressive, beautiful, rousing, and playful.
http://www.judyhyman.com
KELLI JONES
Beginning Cajun Fiddle, Songwriting, Honky Tonk/Country Band Lab, Monday Night Cajun Dance
Kelli Jones moves so effortlessly between genres, traditions, and musical concepts that it’s clear she was born with an insatiable artistic curiosity. As a teenager, she emerged from a deeply musical Appalachian family to become an amazingly apt singer, guitarist, and dancer in old-time music. Moving to Southwest Louisiana, she quickly learned Cajun French and began writing preternaturally gifted original songs in dual languages with progressive Cajun bands like GRAMMY-nominated Feufollet, T’Monde, The Daiquiri Queens, and as a duo with Joel Savoy. Both of these jumping off points, what she casually refers to as “obsessions,” have fueled the music on her debut solo record, Queen of the In Between, recently released on June 18, 2021, but she also seamlessly references so much more, everything from classic country to psychedelic rock to contemporary indie roots singer-songwriters. Jones is a fearless bandleader, weaving together an opus that sounds remarkably cohesive. She’s roaming the halls of 20th century Americana synthesizing a century’s worth of music with ease. It’s not simply a meld of seemingly disparate influences; every one of her projects dazzle in their ability to speak to the universality of human emotion.
Sarah Juran
Texas two-Step, Cajun Two-Step, Zydeco Two-Step
Sara Juran is a joyful dancer who loves to share the language of dance. She grew up dancing in the Ithaca area as daughter to local music champion, promoter, disc jockey- Heather Dunbar. She focuses on social partner dance & connecting with music. Her love of dance started young, and she took every opportunity to dance all night & learn from teachers and students. She has been doing Zydeco, Cajun, Swing, Latin and many more social dances for 2+ decades. Her genre hopping has given her a unique understanding of movements and rhythm that is fun for first time dancers and experienced dancers learning something new.
Hilary Kellner-Davis
Anusara Yoga
Hilary believes that movement is an inherent form of inquiry; a way to ask the deepest questions about who we are. She was brought to yoga by her mother and grandmother when she was ten. These women and her teachers Amy Abelson, Rachel Bush and Denise Hatch inspire her to offer yoga as a liberation practice. Hilary began her formal training in the Sivananda tradition and has since become a licensed Anusara Elements Teacher. She completed her Anusara Teacher Training and Immersion at Lakshmi Living Arts. Her classes invite awe at the complexity and beauty of the human body and softness in the seat of the heart. Poetry and science inform her understanding of spirit. Hilary teaches locally at Island Health and Fitness weekly, offers monthly in depth workshops at the Argos Warehouse Space for women and teaches in home private sessions throughout Tompkins and Schuyler counties. .
TRAVIS KNAPP
Singing for Adults: Voice, Breath & Song
Annie Sumi and Travis Knapp are folk singer-songwriters who live in the Ithaca area. Between them they have seven studio albums, which dig deep into our connection with the natural world and to one another. They both enjoy singing in a multitude of styles, from jazz to musical theater, pop, and folk.
Annie hails from Ontario, Canada, and creates an ethereal spaciousness with her heartfelt music. Travis studied at Ithaca College, plays piano, banjo, and guitar, and loves getting folks singing together in harmony.
Chris Luquette
Flatpicking Acoustic Guitar
Chris Luquette is a 2 time Grammy nominated guitarist from Seattle Washington. He spent 11 years touring with renowned progressive bluegrass combo Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen.
FSDK performed on 4 continents, played the legendary Grand Ol Opry in Nashville twice, and made appearances at such festivals as Telluride Bluegrass, Wintergrass, RockyGrass and DelFest.
A 2013 recipient, he was the first musician to win the IBMA’s first Momentum award for an instrumentalist. With Dirty Kitchen , Chris also received multiple IBMA awards, and 2 Grammy nominations for the records Cold Spell and If You Can’t Stand The Heat on Compass records(Nashville).
An accomplished teacher, along with teaching private lessons for nearly 15 years, he’s been invited to teach at prestigious music and guitar camps such as Delfest Academy, RockyGrass Academy, California Coast Music Camp, Northwest Flatpicking Camp, Augusta Heritage Bluegrass Week, La Roche Bluegrass Camp(France) American and Midwest Banjo camps and more.
RICK MANNING
Bluegrass Jam
Rick Manning plays fiddle and mandolin, performing bluegrass, swing and contradance music with the Black Diamond Trio (Naomi Sommers and Dave Davies), Paris Texas (Bobby Henrie), String Theory (Ariana Kim, Tim Ball, Tom Hodgson and Dave Davies), the Falling Waters Trio (Hope Grietzer and Tom Hodgson). Rick recorded three CD’s in Nashville with Cornerstone in the 1990’s and two more recently in Ithaca at Electric Wilburland studio with the Falling Waters Trio. He has performed at Merlefest, Wintergrass, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival with Cornerstone and now performs regularly in Ithaca and the Finger Lakes. Rick is the Founder and Director of the Winter Village Music Camp, held in January in downtown Ithaca.
Grassroots Culture Camp - Bluegrass Fiddle
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Bluegrass fiddle music emerged in the 1930’s and 40’s when Bill Monroe and his contemporaries incorporated blues and swing influences into traditional oldtime music to define the bluegrass sound. We will learn 2 or 3 traditional and modern classic bluegrass tunes. Improvisation is a key element of bluegrass and we will explore different approaches to improvising including creating variations to the melody, using scales and arpeggio patterns, and learning a few bowing shuffles. We will introduce simple and practical music theory to help you approach improvising on fiddle tunes and accompanying vocalists. Finally we will explore practice approaches to help you develop your sound and deepen your connection to this challenging and alluring instrument.
MAGGIE MCMANNUS
Dance partner extraordinaire assisting dance workshops
Maggie’s been dancing since she could walk—ballet, modern, motown, disco and even a few seasons with a touring dance company. She was introduced to Zydeco and Cajun in 1990 and off to Louisiana she went to dance with the Creoles and Cajuns in dance halls, dives, backwaters and church halls. Thirty years later these deep ancient rhythms still move her. Once a dancer always a dancer.
ROZLYNN MENACHOF
Harmony singing
Rozlyn Menachof is an emerging artist from Rochester, NY and the backup singer and keyboardist for Maddy Walsh & The Blind Spots since the fall of 2023. She was always drawn to music from an early age and her parents fostered this passion by exposing her to many outlets for live music performance. She quickly became involved with piano and dance lessons by the age of four, as she grew up she became involved with voice lessons, musical theatre, and songwriting as well. By the age of fifteen, she was taking two weekly vocal lessons with Susanna Adams and Vicky Mejia Yepes and became involved in the Contemporary School of Music’s "I'm in the Band" Program. There she began to explore songwriting and music directing. At Berklee College of Music she studied vocal performance, songwriting, and music business.
Blake Miller
Beginning Cajun Accordion, Intermediate/Advanced Cajun Accordion, Fiddle Seconding and Harmony
Grandson of well known accordion builder Larry Miller, Blake has been surrounded by Cajun music and culture his entire life. Hailing from the small town of Iota Louisiana, Blake, a fluent french speaker and songwriter, managed to acquire a degree in Francophone studies from The University Of Louisiana at Lafayette, and in the mean time founded the popular young Cajun band The Pine Leaf Boys and became a member of the premiere Louisiana roots band The Red Stick Ramblers. He has also served stints in just about every other Cajun/creole band of note including Balfa Toujours, Les Malfecteurs and Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole bringing his strong cultural identity and accomplished musicianship to the world.
Dean Miller
Saxophone Summit (all horns welcome), Triangle, Blues Improvisation
Dean Miller (Fka The Chris Miller) likes ending up in musically unexpected places. Growing up in Florida he attended public schools and studied jazz, eventually earning a Bachelors from University of North Florida and going on to a Masters from SUNY Purchase in New York. At the same time his wide-ranging taste brought him to bluegrass festivals and playing in everything from jam bands to classical orchestras to accompanying folk, pop & R&B singers. Dean eventually joining up with Cajun/zydeco supergroup the Revelers and picked up a Grammy nomination for their 2015 album "Get Ready". Now a multi-instrumentalist frequently heard singing and playing banjo, its still his deeply evocative saxophone playing that he's most known for, from soaring improvisations to mind-bending Celtic fiddle tunes and seemingly everything in between. He splits his time between playing with a wide range of musicians around his home in Chimacum, Washington, touring with the Revelers, the groundbreaking John Mailander’s Forecast, and his own folk outfit The Faux Paws, which has taken many prominant festivals by storm. Aside from performing, Dean loves teaching and building community through music, food, and dance. He is the Operations director of the Blackpot Camp in Louisiana and program assistant to both Fiddletunes and Voiceworks in Washington.
TARA NEVINS
Songwriting
Although a college graduate trained in classical music, when Tara Nevins became captivated by the more elemental sounds of traditional music and embraced a somewhat bohemian lifestyle to follow its calling, her parents approved and supported her decision. Tara fell in love with fiddle music and turned in that direction right after college. She started going to fiddle conventions in the south where she met and became part of a movement, a community of young folks from East and West who traveled far and wide to emerge themselves in Old Time String band music. She left classic violin far behind and dove head first in to the Old Time music world, playing her fiddle and winning contests at fiddle conventions such as the Mt. Airy Fiddle Convention and Galax Fiddle Convention, in North Carolina and Virginia.
Before Donna the Buffalo, Nevins co-founded The Heartbeats, an all-female old-time band. Playing hard driving fiddle tunes and semi pop songs and arrangements, The Heartbeats stood front and center in the beginning of the all girl bands so prevalent today. Together for ten years, they still get together occasionally. Now Nevins, co founder and twenty-five year veteran of Donna the Buffalo, touring the United States, Europe and the Caribbean, sharing stages with too many artists to name but for example Jim Lauderdale, Peter Rowan, JohnPaul Jones, Levon Helm, Larry Campbell, Keller Williams, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Anders Osborne, Bill Kreutzman, Nikki Bluhm, the Wood Brothers, just to name a few, travels and lives on the road touring town to town city to city playing original songs and music penned over the years with fellow band originator Jeb Puryear. Tara has also recored two solo albums, “Mule To Ride”, and “Wood and Stone”. Tara produced Mule To Ride and Larry Campbell produced Wood and Stone both for Sugar Hill records. A multi-instrumentalist, she moves between fiddle, accordion, guitar and scrub board in Donna The Buffalo. Tara continues today playing Old Time fiddle, traveling to fiddle conventions, and writing songs for and touring with Donna The Buffalo.
The New Floyd County Ramblers
Southwest Virginia String Band Style
The New Floyd County Ramblers are an old-time string band from Floyd, Virginia, rooted in the traditional repertoire and dance music styles of the Blue Ridge region of Southwest Virginia. Led by Andrew Small on fiddle and Ashlee Watkins on guitar and clawhammer banjo, the band continues to honor the music's original social function by playing regularly for old-time dances and contests at fiddlers conventions throughout the region. Their deep connection to the region's living traditions has earned them back-to-back 1st Place Old-Time Band honors at the Mount Airy Fiddlers Convention in 2024 & 2025, as well as 1st Place Old-Time Band and 1st Place Old-Time Fiddle at the Appalachian String Band Festival in Clifftop, WV in 2025.
Rosie Newton
Intermediate Old-Time Fiddle
Rosie Newton is a passionate fiddle player, singer, and accordion player. She is influenced by the many roots traditions in America, and creates a new spin on those sounds through her various musical projects. Newton tours internationally with her musical partner Richie Stearns, in their duo, Richie and Rosie, as well as with her Zydeco band, Rose and the Bros. Newton has also toured with The Duhks, Preston Frank, Kristin Andreassen, Red Dog Run, Home Remedy, the Evil City Stringband, and The Pearly Snaps. She has recorded four CD's with her duo projects: The Pearly Snaps, self titled, in 2010, Tractor Beam, 2013 and Nowhere in Time, 2017 with Richie and Rosie, and Home Remedy self titled, with Lydia Garrison in 2018. Newton also put out a CD with Red Dog Run in 2015 and Rose and the Bros self titled CD in 2019. Her fiddling and singing can be found on the Duhks record, Beyond the Blue, the Western Centuries recording Weight of the World, Chas Justus' solo album Straight Ahead, and the Okee Dokee Brothers' various grammy nominated children's records, among many others. Newton has been called upon to produce string arrangements and vocal harmonies in recording projects. She has taught fiddle at workshops around the world, at Sunshine Coast School of Celtic music, the Taylor Music Festival and the Black Pot Camp. She has appeared at major US music festivals; Rhythm & Roots, Rocky Grass, Newport Folk Festival, Philadelphia Folk Festival, MerleFest, and DelFest, sharing a stage with Natalie Merchant, Chris Eldridge (Punch Brothers), Jefferson Hamer (Anaïs Mitchell/Child Ballads), Pete Seeger, and the Mammals.
Johnny Nicholas
Country Blues Guitar from Chicago down to the Delta, Blues Improvisation, Songwriting, Songs and stories, Growing Up With The Blues in America, Tuesday Night Southwest Louisiana Dance Party with The Cool Drivers
Johnny Nicholas feels the music, from blues to rock and everything in between. His credentials? Impeccable. Conviction? Immeasurable. And chops? If an instrument’s got strings, keys, or reeds he can play the hell out of it. He’s also a consummate songwriter and a great singer blessed with a warm, toasty growl of a voice that can roll from rumble to croon and back again with seductive ease.
Marcia Ball calls Nicholas “an extremely engaging innovative traditionalist” who “writes instant classics and sings them to break your heart and rock your soul.” But the key word there is “innovative,” because as deep as his roots go — and we’re talking about a cat who learned firsthand from the likes of Robert Lockwood Jr., Howlin’ Wolf, Big Walter Horton, and Johnny Shines (to name but a few of the legends he studied under early in his five-decade career) — Nicholas does not paint in one color.
As befits a soul who’s spent a lifetime soaking up the flavor of such vibrant music scenes as Ann Arbor(in the early 70’s), Chicago, South Louisiana and Texas (which he’s called home now for nearly 40 years), his music is full-spectrum Americana — a rich gumbo of not just blues, but cajun, western swing, honky tonk and barrelhouse rock ’n’ roll.
As an artist and performer he can mesmerize a listening room crowd or bring a festival crowd to their feet with his rollicking boogie woogie piano and his stellar band.
For proof, just take a listen to Nicholas’ most recent eclectic collection of original American roots music, 2021’s Mistaken Identity on Valcour Records which finds him drawing on all of the above and deep into his soul for words of wit, wisdom, and heart. As the esteemed writer Bill Bentley puts it best, “He’s someone who cares about being real, and the hell with everything else … .”
Angelo peters Paradiso
Developing Groove
Angelo Peters Paradiso is a multi-instrumentalist, producer and artist of many mediums.
He has founded and led many groups including Big Mean Sound Machine and New Planets, and Has been seen with Donna the Buffalo, Rose and the Bros, Dom Martyr and many more. In 2018 he opened Black Bear Recording, a recording studio he designed and built in Ithaca, NY.
Angelo received an Anthropology/Musicology degree in 2010 from Ithaca College, giving him a unique perspective on recording and being a touring musician.
MELEAH PESCINI
Mixed Media Explorations
Meleah Pescini is a multimedia artist and writer who navigates the liminal spaces between matter and the infinite. Her work dances at the edges of reality, blending surreal visions with the natural rhythms of earthly motions—an unspoken language of shadows, wonder, and subconscious. Through alchemy of discarded canvases and forgotten fabrics, she coaxes new life from what once was abandoned, echoing the silent call to honor and care for this Earth, our original kin, and the unseen threads that bind us all.
Pescini’s work offers a gentle counterpoint to the relentless pursuit of progress as we evolve ever closer intertwined with technology. It beckons us to lean in closer, to listen to the faint pulse of our origins, and to remember that within the strange and the subtle lies an infinite well of connection—waiting to be rediscovered.
LORA PENDLETON
Old Time Jam
Lora has been playing and singing old time music since 1998 and gets around on banjo, bass and guitar. Lora has performed in several old time bands over the years including and most recently the River City Rippers based out of Binghamton, NY. Lora is also a singer-songwriter and relocated to Trumansburg, NY from Asheville,NC in 2011. Her songs have a definitive folk rock flavor and are mixed w a little bit country and a little bit rock n roll. Lora’s solo album Waiting For Light released in 2019
AMY PURYEAR
SingSong for Children, Make Your
Own Macrame Plant Hanger
Amy Bess Puryear is a singer, songwriter, music educator and macrame artist. She lives in the beloved town of Trumansburg, NY and in addition to her music and art, she spends much of her time at her son's baseball games, organizing community events, growing food in her garden, advocating for social justice & taking walks with her sweet dog Dixie Rose. Amy's main musical projects are with her trio Mama Look! as well as singing harmonies w/ swoon country band, Loveday & The Soiree.
She is excited to bring her SingSong children's workshop back to Culture Camp, assisted by the talented and lovely Lori Burke, where they will share simple and uplifting children's songs that are fun for the whole family. She will also be bringing a brand new Macrame Plant Hanger workshop to Culture Camp this year, where participants will learn the beautiful & soothing art of macrame and bring home their very own plant hanger too! (no experience needed, all materials included, best to attend at least 2 of the 3 classes to complete project)
JEB PURYEAR
Guitar, The Art of Reading Your Musical Partner, Songwriting, Main street, Side paths, and Detours: the Journey of a Song
Jeb grew up in Brooktondale, NY surrounded by music of all kinds. Most prominent was Old-Time Stringband music. Influenced by The Correctone Stringband and The Highwoods Stringband, Jeb learned to play the fiddle at a very young age. His brothers learned to play banjo, guitar and mandolin and together they formed The Bubba George Stringband. Traveling to fiddle festivals in the south Jeb met Tara Nevins and Jim Miller, fellow Old -Time Stringband musicians. As time and years would have it the relationship between them all led to an evolution in to new territory- electric music and songwriting. Jeb took up the electric guitar, teaching himself and developing his unique style in which he plays and grooves, picks and jams with his fingers, without the use of a pick. He and Tara started writing songs and it was then that Donna The Buffalo was born. Here now 25 years later Donna The Buffalo has become a major force in the world of Americana Music. Touring the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean, Donna The Buffalo has shared stages with an endless list of artists such as Peter Rowan, Jim Lauderdale, The Wood Brothers, The Duhks, The Avett Brothers, Emmy Lou Harris, Merle Haggard, Rickie Lee Jones, Los Lobos, John Paul Jones, Bela Fleck, Tommy Emanuel, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Anders Osborne to name only a few.
The Revelers
Monday Night Cajun Dance
The Revelers, founding members of the Red Stick Ramblers, the Pine Leaf Boys and Feufollet… “unquestionably the three groups at the vanguard of the Louisiana cultural renaissance” joined together to form a Louisiana Super group which combines Swamp-Pop, Cajun, Country, Blues and Zydeco into a powerful tonic of roots music that could only come from Southwest Louisiana.
Word has spread far and wide thanks in part to the Revelers 2016 GRAMMY nomination for Get Ready, their second full-length record of all-original music. New for 2026, the Revelers have welcomed in Kelli Jones on fiddle who brings another wealth of Louisiana soul and depth to the band’s legendary sound.
“If you’ve ever been nagged by the feeling that all Cajun and zydeco music was starting to sound a bit too much like the same old thing, The Revelers will toss that notion back on your ears. This is Louisiana-bred party music sustained by the sonorous signature of its native milieu, but perked up by an injection of contemporary pop, rock and R&B. ★★★★” – Doug Loach, Songlines magazine (UK)
"In many ways an eastern USA version of Los Lobos with their very own style… excellent lead singing and tremendous harmonies… musicianship is of the highest order… dominated by the sheer joy of playing these songs together… virtually defines ‘good time music!" – Mike Morrison, AmericanRootsUK.com
HANK ROBERTS
Intermediate/Advanced Cello, The Art of Reading Your Musical Partner
In addition to his recent extensive touring schedule in Europe, Canada and the US, with artists such as Bill Frisell, Petra Haden, Rudy Royston, Aurora Nealand, Tim Berne, Gordon Grdina and the Italian-based group 'Pipe Dream’,
Hank has been a part of the Ithaca music scene for many years, performing with some of the town’s favorite musicians, including his current trio with drummer Ashley Ickes and pianist Chad Lieberman.
With a career spanning over 50 years, he has played in ome of the world’s most prestigious venues with a host of celebrated Jazz, Improvisation and New Music performers. His playing is highlighted on a vast array of recordings, including more than a dozen of his own.
Hank was the winner of Downbeat magazine’s 2022 Critics'
Awards for “Rising Star in the Miscellaneous Instrument cello)” category.
For over 35 years, Hank has performed master classes in a variety of educational and community venues in the US and Europe, including recent workshops in Venice Italy, Oslo Norway, The Musik-Akademie in Basel Switzerland, and at The Royal Academy of Music in London, UK.
RIC ROBERTSON
Mandolin, Songwriting, Keyboards for Song Back Up
Ric Robertson is a generational songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist cut from the fabric of great American music of all kinds. He has the rare ability to deliver his authentic self on stage each night, and his personality and wisdom shines through, both in his songs and any music he chooses to deliver. His music video work has also been regarded highly for its unique playfulness and psychedelic profundity, working in various mediums ranging from stop-motion animation to puppetry. Ric Robertson is the musician’s musician, as testified by the fact that he’s continuously in-demand as a touring bandmate, having played and recorded with The Wood Brothers, Rhiannon Giddens, Lucius, Sierra Ferrell, Sarah Jarosz, Sam Grisman Project, Donna The Buffalo, Dirk Powell, and countless others. Ric’s brand new album, “Choices and Chains” will be fully released in fall of 2024, as he continues to perform across the US both solo and with his band.
Rina Rossi
Rina Rossi grew up in Ann Arbor, immersed in the folk and traditional dance scene. Her parents met folk dancing at the famed Ashokan Music & Dance Center in Berkeley, CA, and her first memories were going to and falling asleep at contradances. She grew up listening to old time and bluegrass on the radio and at festivals, and decided to take up the fiddle at age 17. She moved to the Twin Cities at 18 and in 2006 she auditioned for the Wild Goose Chase Cloggers, touring regionally and internationally with the group for 10 years as a dancer and then as a fiddler. Through the cloggers, she became very involved with the vibrant midwest old-time scene, organizing the Moosejaw Old Time Music & Dance Weekend, serving on the Board of the Bluff Country Gathering and coordinating old-time music and dance activities for Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association festivals. A regular square dance caller at the Monday Night Square Dance in Minneapolis, she has called dances at old-time events around the country and world. Rina has taught at a variety of revered traditional music institutions, teaching clogging, square dance calling, bass, old time guitar, and fiddle workshops. She performs on guitar with her band Steam Machine, and tours internationally as bassist for The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee.
gregor Sayet-bone
Main street, side paths and detours: the journey of a song
Born in Willseyville NY, I have spent the better part of my days within the process of artistic forms. From art exhibitions to short films, from novels to songs, I have tried to remain true to the art of art… the glory of expression. I am presently the writer and singer in Yet To Be Gold.
AJ Scrubas
Bluegrass Fiddle, The Transitional Bluegrass Sound, Southwestern Virginia String Band Style, Honky Tonk/Country Band Lab
AJ Srubas is originally from Green Bay, WI where he grew up playing Irish music in a family band. After graduating high school, he went to study fiddle in Ireland for a few months but upon returning home he was introduced to old-time music when his older brother started to learn clawhammer banjo. Before he knew it, he was completely hooked. AJ now lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota and has been playing old-time music for the last decade. He plays old-time fiddle in Steam Machine and Cajun fiddle and pedal steel guitar in the New Riverside Ramblers. He also tours internationally as fiddler for the Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee. He has won blue ribbons for his fiddling at Clifftop and the Mount Airy Fiddlers Convention in NC. When not playing music, he is an apprenticing violin bow maker and organizer for The Monday Night Square Dance and other Minnesota festivals. AJ teaches private lessons and has taught at the Central Rockies Old-time Music Association's summer festival, Berkeley Old-time Music Gathering and many Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-time Music Association events.
KEITH SECOLA
Native Americana, Songwriting
Keith Secola is an icon and ambassador of Native music. He is one of the most influential artists in the field today. Rising from the grassroots of North America, he is a songwriter of the people. Critics have dubbed him as the Native versions of both Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen. NDN Kars (Indian cars), his most popular song is considered the contemporary Native American anthem, achieving legendary status and earning him a well deserved cult following. It has been the number one requested song on tribal radio since the 1992. In 2011, he joined the ranks of Jimmy Hendrix, Hank Williams, Crystal Gale, and Richie Valens, and was inducted into the Native Music Hall of Fame.
Born in 1957 in Cook, Minnesota, Secola is affiliated with the Anishinabe tribe. He graduated from Mesabi Community College with a degree in Public Service in 1979, and completed a BA in American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota in 1982. He is married and has two children.
Secola is an accomplished artist, garnering awards and accolades as a musician, a singer, a songwriter, a composer and a producer. He is highly skilled with the guitar, flute, mandolin, banjo, harmonica, and piano, and has played in venues from the halls of the Chicago Urban Indian Centre, to the walls of the bottom of the Grand Canyon. He has also performed at the Olympic Games in Atlanta 1996 and Salt Lake City 2002, and toured Europe several times. Among his numerous appearances he has graced the stages of the Rockslide Festival in Denmark, the Grand Opening Gala of the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian, The Kennedy Center and the SXSW in Austin, TX, and is a staple at the Grassroots Festival in Upstate New York, North Carolina and Florida.
A seven-time Native American Music Award winner, Secola has earned NAMMYs not only for his music, but also his abilities as a producer, to include The Best Linguistic Recording for producing ANISHINABEMOIN (2007). A well respected musician, he has worked with music legends such as Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead. Secola has also teamed with academics like author Dr. Tom Venum of the Smithsonian Folklife Institute, collaborating on the CD, AMERICAN WARRIORS: SONGS FOR INDIAN VETERANS, and with elders such as Karen Drift, a speaker of Anishenabemoin.
Secola has produced six well received independent CDs, since the early 1990s.
shape note singing
Emily Thompson, Lloyd Graves
Join Lloyd Graves and Emily Thompson for an old-fashioned yet new-fangled shape note sing. This acapella, polyphonic choral tradition arose hundreds of years ago as an American hymnsigning tradition, distinguished by its unique solfege notation, and was used to quickly teach young people how to sing in harmony. Lloyd, Emily, and friends lead these old songs in a secular, relaxed, humorous, community-building-rather-than-performance-preperation environment, preserving many of the old "singing school" traditions and breaking plenty of rules. Loud, raucous, and good for your brain.
Singtrece
A Shared Writing and Vocal Experience, Songwriting
SingTrece is a soulful vocalist, songwriter and performer whose work blends honesty, storytelling, and emotional depth. As a lyric writer, she draws from lived experience, faith, love, struggle, and joy using words as a tool for connection, healing and self-expression.
In her lyric-writing workshops, SingTrece creates a welcoming space where participants are encouraged to find their own voice, trust their story, and write from a place of truth rather than perfection. Her approach centers on authenticity, feeling, and freedom, reminding writers that powerful lyrics don’t come from rules but from courage and intention.
SingTrece's voice has been described as "Milk and Honey to the Ears," resonating with heartfelt emotion in every note she sings. Recently winning first place at the famous Apollo Theater, she has also toured Europe, enchanting audiences in Malta, Norway, Hungary, Germany, Italy, and even performing at the Vatican twice. She also was voted best vocalist multiple times in Ithaca and her hometown Erie Pa.
Her talents extend beyond music; she starred and sang in the featured film "Manhattan Front” and documentary of the late Dorothy Cotton and many other short films. She has performed in numerous theatrical roles
As the leading force behind SingTrece Band and SingTrece & Stone Cold Miracle, she is renowned for her soulful voice and captivating stage presence. This ensemble is known for their powerful fusion of soul, jazz, blues, R&B, rock, funk and sometimes country, showcasing SingTrece's versatility and commitment to pushing musical boundaries. Her artistry transcends genres, blending her original heartfelt lyrics with a rich, resonant vocal delivery that moves audiences worldwide. With a career marked by passionate performances and dedication, SingTrece continues to inspire and elevate the world of music with her remarkable talent and unwavering spirit as she changes hearts one positive note at a time..
Andrew Small
Southwestern Virginia Style Old-Time Fiddle, The Heart of The Blue Ridge, The Transitional Bluegrass Sound, Southwestern Virginia String Band Style, Songwriting, Traditional Harmony
Andrew Small is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and composer from Floyd County, Virginia. Leader of The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee and The New Floyd County Ramblers, and one half of the duo Ashlee Watkins & Andrew Small, Andrew is a former Artist-In-Residence for The Crooked Road and completed a Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship under master fiddler Eddie Bond. His string bands have won top prizes at Galax, Mount Airy, and Clifftop, where he also won 1st place old-time fiddle in 2025. In 2021, Andrew won 1st place bluegrass song at the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at MerleFest. He teaches music at Ferrum College.
Richie Stearns
Beginning Clawhammer Banjo
He’s been described as one of the major innovators of 5-string banjo playing, a wonderfully idiosyncratic musician. Fellow musician Tony Trischka calls him“a transcendentally clawhammering force of nature” and Bela Fleck says simply, "Richie is a wonderful musician. I love his mantra-groove spooky-banjo style." For Natalie Merchant, it’s his ability to blend traditional technique and repertoire with contemporary and original material that sets him apart: says Natalie, “I have been amazed by Richie Stearns’ musicianship…the banjo in his hands can bd plaintive sounds I have ever heard.”
A founding member of the neo traditional alternative rock band THE HORSE FLIES, he’s toured extensively over the last three decades, recording eight albums with The Horse Flies, including releases on MCA and Rounder Records. (The Horse Flies have been featured on MTV, Prairie Home Companion, All Things Considered, World Café and Mountain Stage, and have been written about in Rolling Stone, the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, and other major publications.)
The list of musicians Richie’s recorded, toured, and performed with is long and diverse: among them, jazz guitarist BILL FRISELL, Malian bluesman VIEUX FARKA TOURE, North Indian Gypsy band MUSAFIR, Tibetan singer YUNGCHEN LLAMO, pop legend LINDA RONSTADT, country and bluegrass musicians (including PETER ROWAN, VASSAR CLEMENTS, TONY TRISCHKA, and JIM LAUDERDALE), Cajun groups (Michael Doucet & BEAUSOLEIL, REDSTICK RAMBLERS), Celtic bands (DE DANNAN, John Doyle of SOLAS) and Australia’s KASEY CHAMBERS as well as SAMITE of Uganda and South African Afro-pop star JOHNNY CLEGG.
Three major long-term musical collaborations involve NATALIE MERCHANT (three recordings and multiple tours), BELA FLECK (workshop presentations and performances on concert stages throughout the US) and folk hero PETE SEEGER, who recently invited Richie to score original music for an album that will feature Pete telling his life story over a music background. (Over the past two decades, Richie’s performed with or for Pete on numerous occasions.) Past performances and recordings also include work with a wide variety of other musicians, including DAVID BYRNE, BILLY BRAGG & WILCO, OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW, JOAN BAEZ, and the Tuvan throat-singers, the ALASH ENSEMBLE.
In addition to his ongoing tenure with THE HORSE FLIES, Richie’s best known for his current work with his own EVIL CITY STRING BAND (repertoire based in the world of old time and country music, with some originals) and the improvisational trio TI TI CHICKAPEA, which includes critically acclaimed cellist HANK ROBERTS and respected violinist ERIC ACETO. (Their music, while rooted in tradition, involves a wide range of improvisation and musical experimentation.) He’s a founding member of the roots rock outfit, DONNA THE BUFFALO.
Annie Sumi
Singing for Adults: Voice, Breath, and Song
Annie and Travis Knapp are folk singer-songwriters who live in the Ithaca area. Between them they have seven studio albums, which dig deep into our connection with the natural world and to one another. They both enjoy singing in a multitude of styles, from jazz to musical theater, pop, and folK. Annie hails from Ontario Canada, and creates an ethereal spaciousness with her heartfelt music. Travis studied at Ithaca College, plays piano, banjo, and guitar, and loves getting folks singing together in harmony.
PETE THOMPSON
Old-Time Jam
Pete Thompson is a lifelong music lover who has been happy to learn, teach, practice, and perform over the years. He loves playing square dances and other music events around the Finger Lakes. Pete has spent the last handful of years dedicated to old time music in the area and beyond, with his fiddle taking him on adventures to Kentucky, West Virginia, Oregon, North Carolina, and more. For the last two years, he has had the honor of being involved at Culture Camp, leading the Old Time jams with other excellent local musicians.
