2008 Forest Fest Performers

 
Bluegrass 101

Terry Waldridge – guitar, lead vocals; Michael Yount – bass, baritone vocals; Ben Read – mandolin, bass vocals; Jim Armstrong – fiddle, tenor vocals; Cody Pearman – banjo

Dozens of Dollars

Phillip Wakeman - lead vocals, mandolin, fiddle, guitar; Mark Rosenthal – lead vocals, guitar;
John Bajandas – backing vocals, bass fiddle; Phil Wakeman – backing vocals, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, guitar

Dozens of Dollars String Band is new this year to Forest Fest. The group is working from some serious musical crosspollination with resumes that include such bands as Danny Flanigan and the Rainchorus, Starbilly, New Horizon, Louisville Mandolin Orchestra, and Daddy’s Car. Their music is high energy, with a mix of bluegrass, old time Appalachian, rock, jazz, pop and Irish, “roots music with a beat.” The group calls Westport General Store its home, playing there most weekends in the hill country along the Ohio River.
See MySpace page.

Kentucky Sassafras

Chloe Blayne – Lead vocals, banjo, bass, and guitar; Amelia Samuels - bass; Turner Hutchens - mandolin; Maggie Lander - fiddle; Tyler Mullins – banjo, guitar

Kentucky Sassafras is a blend of several families formed during the summer of 2004. All of the band members exhibit an amazing level of talent that reaches far beyond their young ages. As a group they have played all around Kentucky and quickly become favorites wherever they perform. They have opened for such nationally known bluegrass acts as Cherryholmes, and even played for the Kentucky General Assembly, drawing a standing ovation for their rendition of “My Old Kentucky Home.” So unique is this band that they take part of their name from the giant sassafras tree that stands sentinel in Owensboro, Kentucky.

 
Stone Hollow

Dennis Strope – lead vocals, guitar; Jim Miller – banjo; Rebecca Hammers – vocals, bass; Sonny Doak – guitar, vocals; Jim Carroll – mandolin; Mike House – mandolin, guitar, acoustic bass

Stone Hollow was formed in 2002 by a group of musicians brought together by a common love of traditional bluegrass music. Their styles and backgrounds were quite different, but they molded themselves into one of Kentucky’s most hard-driving bluegrass bands. They cite their influences as Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, traditional old-time music, and country music (the old stuff).

Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys

Dr. Ralph Stanley – lead vocals, banjo; Jack Cooke – vocals, bass; James Shelton – vocals, guitar; Steve Sparkman – vocals, banjo; Ralph Stanley II – vocals, guitar; Dewey Brown – fiddle; Nathan Stanley – spoons, mandolin; E. C. French – bus driver, marketing

Ralph Stanley needs no introduction to anyone familiar with bluegrass, Appalachian and old-time music. In a career that has spanned more than 55 years, Ralph has influenced artists as diverse as Bob Dylan and Dolly Parton, and has been a mentor to many of today’s younger bluegrass and country music artists. He was born and still lives in Dickenson County, Virginia. Ralph first worked in music with his brother, the late Carter Stanley, together writing many songs that would become bluegrass standards. Known as an expert banjo picker and tenor singer, Ralph has recorded more than 170 albums, tapes and CDs. His contributions to the movie “Oh Brother Where Art Thou?” introduced bluegrass and Appalachian music to a new generation. He continues to be active in various civic endeavors in his local community and is a proud member of the world famous Grand Ole Opry.