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Merrimack Valley Bluegrass, from northern Massachusetts / southern New Hampshire formed several years ago with musicians from two former local bands. They feature a traditional, upbeat instrumental sound and a wide-ranging repertoire of bluegrass and country songs with warm vocal harmonies and traditional bluegrass instrumentation. Merrimack Valley Bluegrass have performed at many local venues, festivals, and outdoor concerts throughout New England. Marilyn Gillis (Fiddle)  Ben Silver (Guitar)  Greg Algieri (Bass)  Al Marotta (Banjo)  Edmond Boudreau (Mandolin) Band website back to schedule

Students in the American Roots Music Program at Berklee College of Music explore the lifeblood of America’s musical and cultural heritage found in a wide range of rural and early American music of the first half of the 20th century. Sliding from the murky depths of Berklee practice rooms, this band is named Turtle Vibe because at least one member is reminiscent of a shell-wearing reptile... their music is a combination of both songs and instrumentals, a unique perspective rooted in a mixture of traditions including bluegrass, old time, jazz, funk, and blues. Brian Murray  - Guitar Corban Welter - Mandolin Trevin Nelson - Banjo Noah Harrington - Bass Band facebook page back to showcase schedule

17 year old Ben Zolla and his 16 year old brother Sam started playing music with their dad, Larry in the spring of 2012. What started as a hobby quickly grew into regular bookings at music halls, bluegrass festivals and concerts . The Boys have found their voices; from the songs of the Louvin Brothers, Stanley Brothers, and Jim and Jesse, to Bob Dylan and Blue Highway. They have been featured on the Emerging Artist stage at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, and perform at numerous bluegrass festivals throughout New England. Band Website  

Amy Gallatin and her band Stillwaters have taken the stage at some of the most prestigious venues in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, UK, and Europe.  Amy is at home singing various musical styles -- country, folk, bluegrass or western swing--branding each song with soulful sincerity. Her influences are diverse, ranging from old and contemporary cowboy tunes learned out West, to great country artists like Emmylou Harris, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, and the Everly Brothers, with even a dash of blues influence thrown in.  We are excited to have them at Joe Val this year. Band Website  

Phil Leadbetter and The All-Stars of Bluegrass is a collection of some of the most accomplished musicians in bluegrass.  The lineup may change with each concert, but the result is always outstanding bluegrass music.  Their concert at Joe Val will include Phil Leadbetter, Claire Lynch, Alan Bibey, Steve Gulley and Jason Burleson, each one of which is an outstanding bluegrass musician.   The result will be great music! Band Website      

Based in the Boston/Cambridge area, True Life Bluegrass was founded in 1985; its first public performance came that year at the first Joe Val Day. Since that time, the band's dedication to traditional bluegrass and gospel, with emphasis on lots of straight-ahead picking and harmony singing, has never wavered. True Life Bluegrass can be heard frequently on Tuesday (bluegrass) nights at the Cantab Lounge in Cambridge, and over the years has played at many other area venues, most recently at Club Passim for the release of our new CD, It's a True Life. True Life Bluegrass consists of Steve Watt (banjo & mandolin), Ellen Hays (guitar), Eric Levenson (bass), Tony Watt (mandolin & guitar), Michael Bean (Dobro), and Laura Orshaw (fiddle). Band website  

Eddie Adcock is an iconic American banjoist and guitarist, and one of the most innovative players ever to have put his stamp on bluegrass music. His professional career as a 5-string banjoist began in 1953 when he joined Smokey Graves & His Blue Star Boys. He later joined Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys in 1957. After a short break to earn some money in a “real job”, he returned to bluegrass when Jim Cox, John Duffey, and Charlie Waller asked him to join their new band, The Country Gentlemen. The dynamic duo of Eddie and Martha Adcock has become known as “the biggest little band in Bluegrass”. Cashbox magazine and Billboard magazine have both named them “one of the Bluegrass circuit's top acts”. Eddie and Martha now concentrate on performing as a duo as well as playing some concerts with Tom Gray. Band website  

What can you say about Hot Rize? From humble beginnings as a regional Boulder-based band in 1978 to worldwide acclaim in the 80s, and bowing out as a full-time band in 1990 while winning the first Entertainer of the Year award from the International Bluegrass Music Association, Hot Rize earned a place in the bluegrass history book. From their outstanding instrumentals to their soaring harmonies and their creative choice of songs, Hot Rize has been a favorite of Boston fans for many years.  Don't miss the opportunity to see them. Band Website  

Alabama native and member of The Alabama Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, David Davis has traveled and preformed as frontman for the bluegrass group, David Davis and the Warrior River Boys since 1984. He is recognized as one of the foremost practitioners of the Monroe mandolin techinique. His interest in old-time and bluegrass music grew organically from a musical family, both his father and grandfather were players and singers. His uncle, Cleo Davis, was Bill Monroe’s original Blue Grass Boy. Band website  

Terry Baucom has enjoyed a career in music that started in 1970 with Charlie Moore and continued over the years as a founding member of ground breaking bands like Boone Creek (with Ricky Skaggs and Jerry Douglas), Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, IIIrd Tyme Out and more. Baucom currently tours with his own band, "Terry Baucom's Dukes of Drive". Last year's single, “The Rock”, finished 2015 as Bluegrass radio’s most played song on the Bluegrass Today chart. The band’s current Top 10 single, “Around The Corner”, is receiving heavy national and international airplay. Band Website