Bands
Randy Hackworth, Pocatello, ID, roots take him back to the hills of Eastern Kentucky. All though he has played in several bands and genres of music, his love and passion is for that Bluegrass sound. As a singer/songwriter and guitarist, it just seems to be the perfect fit. Emily Frank, Idaho Falls, ID, was raised listening to nothing but bluegrass music, and it’s still the only music she listens to. She has played in several different bands. The current group is called “Kentucky Sky” where she contributes with acoustic bass and vocals, as well as writing songs. Emily says, “I love playing music with these guys and doing harmonies. Plus, I get to dress old style and wear hats.” Fred Frank, Idaho Falls, ID, has been in many Bluegrass bands over the years starting his Bluegrass career with the Stone Mountain Bluegrass Co. He has played banjo, mandolin, and guitar in different bands, but in Kentucky Sky he is on five string banjo and singing vocal harmonies. Fred says: “This in one of the most traditional groups I have been in, and I’m having a blast.” Chad Fadely, Kalispell, MT, is originally from Hot Springs, AR. Chad is the newest member of the band but has shared the stage with Fred and Emily many times over the years as a member of New South Fork. Chad has played in many bands from MT. and when not making his living playing mandolin, he’s selling guitars for Music Villa in Bozeman, MT. Both Randy and Emily also write a significant portion of the band’s songs in a traditional Bluegrass style. This makes for a refreshing, yet familiar sound the band offers.
The Special Consensus is a bluegrass band that has achieved a contemporary sound in their four decades of performing, making their music a modern classic. The band is led by Greg Cahill, banjo player and recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Achievement Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and inducted into the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America Hall of Greats, and includes Dan Eubanks (bass), Greg Blake (guitar) and Michael Prewitt (mandolin). Special Consensus has received seven awards from the IBMA and two Grammy nominations (Scratch Gravel Road in 2012 and Rivers and Roads in 2018). They are four talented vocalists and instrumentalists who follow their creative desires without straying too far from their bluegrass roots. The 19th band recording, Rivers and Roads (Compass Records, 2018), was nominated for the 2018 Best Bluegrass Album GRAMMY award and received 2018 IBMA awards for Album of the Year and Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year (for the tune “Squirrel Hunters”). Chicago Barn Dance (Compass Records, 2020) is the 20th Special C recording that celebrates both the 45th band anniversary and the long-standing connection of country and bluegrass music with Chicago from the time of the WLS “National Barn Dance” that was a precursor to the Grand Ole Opry. The title song “Chicago Barn Dance” received the 2020 IBMA Song of the Year award. Great Blue North (Compass Records, 2023), the 21st Special C recording, is a tip of the hat to our Canadian friends and fans made throughout nearly four decades of touring throughout the country. All songs included on the recording were written by Canadian writers and numerous Canadian musician friends of the band made guest appearances. The Gordon Lightfoot song “Alberta Bound” received the2023 IBMA Collaborative Recording of the Year award. We are so very proud of our guitar player Greg Blake, who received the 2023 IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year award!
Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa” are a group of seasoned musicians who play predominately original, contemporary and traditional Bluegrass music. In their first year they shared Festival Stages with some of bluegrass’ greatest artists at : The Huck Finn Jubilee in Victorville, CA, Bluegrassin’ in the Hills at Plymouth, CA, Bluegrass on the Beach at Lake Havasu, AZ, Norman Adams festival at Myrtle Beach, SC, and The Annual Bluegrass event on the town square at Prescott, AZ. In 2009 they toured in Scotland, and England, and were selected to showcase The European World of Bluegrass in Holland and at the International Bluegrass Music Association convention in Nashville, TN in 2010. The group was selected to perform on IBMA’s Fan-fest 2011.
Widely recognized as one of the most exciting young bands in acoustic music, Crying Uncle Bluegrass plays a unique mix of bluegrass, Dawg (David Grisman music), jazz, and modern originals. Brothers Miles and Teo Quale are joined by bassist Andrew Osborn and 2023 National Flat Pick Guitar Champion Ian Ly, all outstanding young musicians of the vibrant California bluegrass scene. Founded in 2016 as a Duo band, Miles and Teo formed the bluegrass band in 2017 and since then, they have continued to make waves in the world of bluegrass and acoustic music. The bluegrass band was the recipient of the 2023 International Bluegrass Music Association’s Momentum Band of the Year award. The band was also honored to perform for the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame’s induction of their hero, David Grisman.
Based in Northern California, Crying Uncle Bluegrass has opened for prestigious bands, including Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives and David Grisman Bluegrass Experience. The band has played at venues such as IBMA’s World of Bluegrass Festival, CBA’s Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival, Strawberry Music Festival, SF’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Delfest, and Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival. Internationally, the band toured in Japan in 2023 and in 2022, they headlined at Bluegrass in La Roche, France. In 2019, they toured throughout Finland, culminating at Kaustinen Folk Music Festival. In 2018, the band was featured on a TEDTalk by Nashville-based singer/songwriter Phoebe Hunt. Miles was also a proud recipient of the Whippoorwill Arts Fellowship in 2022.
Frank Solivan is a multi-Grammy nominee, multi-IBMA award recipient, and multi-instrumentalist who sings with power and passion and writes articulate songs that go straight to the heart. He combines the pure, hard drive of classic bluegrass with contemporary twenty-first century acoustic music sophistication. He has been nominated for many International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards including Male Vocalist of the Year, Instrumental Player of the Year (Mandolin), Instrumental Group of the Year, and more. He is known for his blistering chops on the mandolin, and is also a talented fiddle and guitar player. Frank and his regular band, Dirty Kitchen have toured around the world and racked up a steady stream of awards and nominations, including 2 GRAMMY nominations and 2 awards for IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year.
Chris Luquette has played with 2 time Grammy nominated band Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen for 11 years. He has toured 4 continents, shared the stage with esteemed guitarists Molly Tuttle, Billy Strings, Trey Hensley, Michael Daves, Jake Workman, and has helped host the legendary Mona’s bluegrass session in NYC with Rick Snell and other greats. Some International Bluegrass Music Association awards include, 2013 Momentum Award, 2014 Instrumental Group of the Year and 2016 Instrumental Group of the year. His newest project, The Grass Messengers debuted in NYC in 2021.
Emerging as a band in 2021, Broken Compass Bluegrass has rapidly been recognized for their tight arrangements, tasteful picking, and distinguished songwriting. Based in northern California, BCB includes Kyle Ledson, Django Ruckrich, Mei Lin Heirendt, & Sam Jacobs. Though still in their youth, they are no strangers to the music industry. All four musicians are seasoned performers, multi- instrumentalists, singers, & songwriters and they have quickly established themselves as one of California’s most prominent up-and-coming string bands. As their noteriety bubble expands exponentially, they are easily catagorized as the new breed in the jamband scene.
In just two short years, Broken Compass Bluegrass has already found their way to the stage of many iconic music festivals including the High Sierra Music Festival, Strawberry, Winter WonderGrass, Hang Town, the Northwest String Summit, Sugar Pine & Hog Farm Hideaway among many others. Come see them pick live and experience the magic in real life.
There is no mistaking the raw and powerful vocals by singer, songwriter, and guitarist Dave Adkins. His significant chart success and his stellar live performances have made him one of the most talked-about male vocalists in acoustic music. In 2010, he formed the group, Dave Adkins & Republik Steele. Adkins’ soulful vocals earned him a 2013 SPBGMA nomination as Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year followed by multiple top charting songs. In 2014, Adkins released his first solo album Nothing To Lose. The album had numerous #1 song on bluegrass music charts, including Bluegrass Today and the Roots Music Report. Adkins is featured twice on the Grammy® nominated Gonna Sing Gonna Shout album and was recently nominated for SPBGMA Male Vocalist of the Year award in 2022.
Out of the bluegrass heartland Inland Empire, California come four pickers raised on heavy metal and smog. Single-mic, heart-pounding, ass-kicking bluegrass music played the way they like it since 2014.
The Central Valley Boys are the premier Traditional bluegrass band on this side of our great country . Now in their 14 season, The Boys are led by the Dynamic Yoseff Tucker, multiple award winning guitarist and vocalist, The Central Valley Boys take you back to an Old style Bluegrass show from days gone by playing and singing classics and hidden treasures from the First generation of Bluegrass Masters. Solos, duets, classic trios and four part gospels are performed with a CVB flavor. Joining Yoseff onstage is The Gentleman John Cogdill on Mandolin and vocals, Jack Kinney on fiddle or guitar, banjo, bass or mandolin Jack is our “utility infielder” and sings too and Dave Gooding holding down the Bass and MC duties. On the banjo, we are graced by two of the finest 5 players you’ll ever see. Switching off duties on different dates Billy Moore, one of the founding members of The Central Valley Boys Billy currently live in New Mexico and we are proud to pick and sing him. On other dates we are joined by the incomparable Victor Skidenenko of Boise Idaho. You’re in for a treat when either of these pickers take the stage.
J and J Promotions is extremely excited to bring Kids on Bluegrass, or KOB, to our festival! As many of you know, our beloved Frank Solivan, Senior started this amazing program over 30 years ago, in order to promote Bluegrass music and to teach many young musicians how to perform onstage. Frank’s successor and former KOB herself, Helen Garrett, has graciously accepted our invitation to join our team and bring this wonderful program to Frankly Bluegrass Music Festival! You won’t want to miss the KOB portion of our festival! It goes without saying that, for all we know, we could be witnessing early performances put on by future Grammy award winning musicians!