Opener: The Sullivan Sisters
The Sullivan Sisters have dazzled audiences since childhood with their unique blend of sister harmonies and fast bluegrass picking. Born and raised in North Carolina, Soraya and Luciya Sullivan developed their love for American Folk and Bluegrass music at a young age, when they began guitar and banjo lessons at ages eight and six.
Now teens living in the Chicago area, The Sullivan Sisters have been featured at local venues such as Park West (with the Henhouse Prowlers), Evanston SPACE, the Square Roots Festival, the Chicago Bluegrass Legends concert series, and the Banjo After Dark series, in addition to national venues including the Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour, IBMA’s Bluegrass Live Festival, and Cedar Point Amusement Park as a band in residence.
They have been awarded contest prizes at Rockygrass 2023 (First prize, banjo; Third prize, flatpicking guitar), and in the youth contests at the Galax Old Fiddlers Convention and the Mount Airy Bluegrass and Old-Time Fiddlers Convention. The Sullivan Sisters will be featured performers at Merlefest in April 2024.
Headline: Kristy Cox & Grasstime
Billboard topping artist Kristy Cox has been awarded with radio success and accolades for her talent. Having signed with bluegrass label Billy Blue Records, Kristy has just released her brand-new album ‘Shades of Blue’ in
February 2022, following her latest award winning releases ‘No Headlights’ and ‘Ricochet.’ Over the last decade Kristy has been awarded 5 ‘Bluegrass Recording of the Years’ in the Australia’s CMA Awards (Golden Guitar Awards), her latest in 2021 for her track with acclaimed guitarist Tommy Emmanuel ‘Finger Picking Good.’ Praised for her performance and songwriting capabilities, Kristy has been shortlisted in the International Bluegrass Music Awards the past five years for Emerging Artist of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year and was a finalist in the 2019 IBMA Momentum Awards for Vocalist of the Year.
Kristy is excited to have recently joined forces with local Nashville hard driving bluegrass band Grasstime for her live shows and tour dates. “I feel incredibly blessed to be joining the stage with such a talented group of musicians and an incredible team of people, look out world.. We are coming for you” - say’s Kristy of the merge.
“I’ve been playing all my life, and we love to play those hard driving, traditional bluegrass tunes that for the past 8 years have been delighting folks in venues, fairs, and festivals around Nashville and beyond. We are ecstatic to be playing with Kristy!” - Robbie Morris, Grasstime guitarist and frontman.
Grasstime has performed over 425 dates together since forming 8 years ago. Their performances have included a residency at Nashville’s Arrington Vineyard, performances at the Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman and the Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival. The band consists of five of the best pickers the greater Nashville area has to offer. Featuring Robbie Morris on guitar and sublime vocals, Charles Butler on Banjo who is one of Nashville’s leading progressive banjo players and has garnered a legion of followers. Mandolin player Jeremy Holt adds soul to the group and was recognized for his musical talents in 2017 when he became a Hall of Fame Inductee into the Nashville chapter Academy of Local Musicians. Fiddler and vocalist Ellie Hakanson, known to bluegrass fans from her 5-year tenure with Jeff Scroggins & Colorado, moved to Nashville to further her music career and is also a member of Missy Raines & Allegheny. Known from coast to coast by his diverse bass playing talents, Wes Horton rounds out the bluegrass sound of Grasstime.
Kristy Cox & Grasstime in 2022 together, bring a collection of Kristy’s hit songs, Grasstime originals and traditional tunes to folks all over. Together they are quickly becoming recognized for high, tight and soulful vocals with sweet multi-part harmonies plus colorful & traditional hard driving bluegrass music. Each performance is filled with high energy, traditional bluegrass music fun.
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