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Abby Hollander (G) is a singer and award-winning songwriter who formed her Brooklyn, NY band in 2013 to perform her original songs in a traditional bluegrass setting.  Ellery Marshall (Bj), Jeff Picker (G) and Dave Speranza (B) with Duncan Wickel (F) all play an active role in arranging Abby’s songs, making the band a dynamic, collaborative experience rooted equally in the time-honored sounds of bluegrass and the 21st century city they call home. Band website Band Facebook page

Mark Whitaker, a banjo player and singer/songwriter from Boston, will be performing with Eva Walsh (F), Jordan Santiago (M), and Chris Sartori (B).  He uses the instrumentation and texture of bluegrass as a vehicle for original music that spans a wide range of influences. The result is a banjo-centered mix of memorable hooks, moving lyrics, and catchy grooves. Band website Band Facebook page

Singing the songs of Blue Highway and The Steeldrivers, Dave Miller (G) from Norristown, Pa, has been a staple presence in East Coast festivals for many years. Dave's voice attracts attention and audiences delight in the music he delivers.  He is joined on stage by Dennis Corbett (Bj), Justin Sitler (M) and George Koserowski (B).

Hailing from the South Shore of Massachusetts, the Jones River Band plays a tasteful blend of American roots music. Although from diverse musical backgrounds, the band members share a love for traditional American music. With original songs, blended vocal harmonies, and some toe-tappin’, hard-driving tunes, Jones River Band is sure to leave you wanting more. The band is Katy Boc (F/M), Joe Rebeiro (G), Steven James DiPersio on (G/M), and Ted Mello (B).  Band website

We're thrilled to have venerated bluegrass and Americana icon Jim Lauderdale join us at Joe Val 2015.  Over his career he's produced 26 albums ranging from country, folk to rock, but his roots come straight from North Carolina bluegrass. He won his first Grammy Award in 2002 with Dr. Ralph Stanley for Lost in the Lonesome Pines (Dualtone) and then for The Bluegrass Diaries (Yep Roc) in 2007.   Jim has often been referred to as one of Nashville’s “A” list songwriters. Artists that have recorded his songs range from Patty Loveless to George Strait along with many bluegrass artists. At Joe Val he'll be joined by the Grammy-nominated band Della Mae for a very special night.   This can't be missed! Jim Lauderdale website

Rabbit in a Log (Skip Gorman and Richard Starkey) performs old time bluegrass in the early duet style popularized by the Monroe Brothers and Blue Sky Boys . Formed in the early 1980s, this group has performed at the IBMA show case in 1991 and at the Joe Val Festival in 2005 and 2010. Virtuoso flatpicking guitarist, Richard Starkey has for years been head demonstrator for The Martin Guitar Company. Skip Gorman, premier mandolinist in the style of Bill Monroe, is also known for his fine fiddling and singing of old time cowboy ballads Skip Gorman website

The New England Bluegrass Band has been a regional institution for years, playing traditional bluegrass with hot picking and powerful vocals. Co-founded  by Cecil Ables, the band has featured many of the top musicians in the area at one time or another.  The current lineup includes Cecil Abels (vocals, guitar), Jon Ross (vocals, bass), Old Time Dave Talmage (vocals, fiddle) and Lonesome Dave Kiphuth (banjo, vocals). Band website Band Facebook page

Zink & Company consists of four talented musicians with years of combined recording and performance experience. Joining guitarist  & lead vocalist Corey Zink are Larry Neu, banjo & vocals; John Roc, mandolin & vocals; and Ray Evans, bass & vocals.  They have graced the stages of numerous festivals on the east coast and Canada, entertaining audiences with original and traditional songs executed in vibrant harmony. Zink & CO. is firmly rooted in the traditions of the early decades of bluegrass and country music. The band can be counted on for their unique and dynamic renditions of some of your old favorites. The group delivers powerful musicianship combined with lonesome harmonies blended with Zink’s smooth lead baritone vocal, which sounds just as much at home with a driving bluegrass tune as it does a tear-filled country weeper. Zink sings from the heart and the majority of his original tunes have been written about personal experiences or stories of love and heartbreak. The Zink & Co. members have come together to create the perfect recipe of entertainment with a tight, cohesive sound that you are sure to love. (bio excerpted from band website) Band website

From songs that explore independence and urban adventure to timeless themes of love and loss, Della Mae brings acoustic grit and twang to town with no apologies.  They were recently nominated for a 2015 Grammy in the Best Bluegrass Album category for their recent album This World Oft Can Be.  Della Mae features the reigning 2-time National Fiddle Champion Kimber Ludiker, innovative flat pick guitar player Courtney Hartman, impeccable mandolinist Jenni Lynn Gardner, seasoned bassist Zoe Guigueno, and powerhouse vocalist Celia Woodsmith. Formed during the Fall 2009 in Boston, Della Mae was born from a yearning for a traditional bluegrass sound in the heart of New England. Della Mae strives to create music that tells a story while delivering a punch.   They are definitely a huge festival favorite! In addition to playing festivals and clubs throughout the United States, Della Mae recently expanded the scale of its touring efforts after participating in the U.S. State Department's American Music Abroad program. Selected as cultural ambassadors, the band spent 43 days traveling in Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, where they collaborated with local musicians, taught educational programs for children, and played concerts for local audiences. Band website

Jenni Lyn Gardner is the mandolin player for the popular, Grammy-nominated Della Mae bluegrass band.   When she's not touring with Della Mae she also fronts her own band, which includes Kyle Tuttle on banjo, Tony Watt on guitar, Laura Orshaw on fiddle, Josh Dayton on upright bass.   You'll love their exquisite playing, tight harmonies, and boundless energy! Band website