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2009 Forest Fest Performers

Buck Creek can trace its beginning back to 1994, but its musical influences are much older. Group founder Arthur Hatfield lists a who’s who of bluegrass musicians as his musical influences including J. D. Crowe, Sonny Osborne, and Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. As a group, Buck Creek is famous for its vocal harmonies and the group’s popularity continues to grow along with its impressive list of recordings. All but one of Buck Creek’s members hails from Kentucky from such diverse place names as Finney, Caneyville, and Cave City (the lone holdout is from Brunswick, Georgia). Group members have played with a wide variety of bluegrass and country music artists including Sonny James, Jerry Reed and Carl Story.

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).Dozens of Dollars

Hog Operation is steeped in Kentucky’s rich musical tradition. The group draws its musical inspiration from the lonesome sounds of Kentucky’s early Celtic settlers, as well as the field hollers and blues of African-Americans who sounded some of the earliest beginnings of the bluegrass style. Hog Operation plays supercharged bluegrass music using traditional instrumentation including guitar, banjo, bass, fiddle and mandolin – all accompanied by silky smooth three-part harmony.

The original Wildwood Valley Boys formed in 1992, but by 2006 only one original band member was left. That’s when Tony Holt decided to rename the group. Tight harmony has been a hallmark of the band since its inception and most bluegrass fans roar with approval when taken back to a favorite memory or a good time brought on by the group’s rich harmonies. The Wildwood Valley Boys signed with Rebel Records in 1999 and to date has released six recordings.

Cherryholmes has quickly become America’s new “first family” of bluegrass music. The group was formed in 1999 and wasted no time climbing the ladder of success, capturing the coveted IBMA Entertainer of the Year award in 2005. The group continues to receive professional nods including a Grammy nomination in 2006 for its first commercial release, “Cherryholmes.” Its second release in 2007 opened at number one on the Billboard charts. The group released its first country single in January. Cherryholmes has become a much sought-after act on the bluegrass and country music circuit, and have become regular performers on the famous Grand Ole Opry stage.