With Special Guest Amanda Cook
Amanda Cook, now entering her 12th year as leader of the Amanda Cook Band, continues to make an indelible mark on the bluegrass scene. A native of Jay, Florida, Cook’s passion for the genre was sparked by her father, with whom she performed in a family band in the mid-2000s. Her down-to-earth style, genuine connection with audiences, and distinctive vocal range quickly set her apart.
Driven to record and tour professionally, Cook relocated to the mountains of Virginia, where she signed a long-term, five-album deal with Mountain Fever Records and joined the label as an engineer.
The band’s fifth studio album, Restless Soul, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Bluegrass Albums chart in October 2024, further cementing their reputation on festival stages and at top venues nationwide. Building on that momentum, Cook is set to release her next full-length project, Love Through Time, in October 2026—an album that explores love in all its forms: the good, the bad, and everything in between.
In 2022, Cook was named Chief Operating Officer of Mountain Fever Records, where she oversaw day-to-day operations before taking full ownership of the label in August 2025. In 2024, she was also selected as one of 25 participants in the International Bluegrass Music Association’s prestigious Leadership Bluegrass program.
The Amanda Cook Band features a powerhouse lineup of musicians: longtime friend and collaborator Carolyne Van Lierop, whose precise and driving banjo work anchors the sound; Ethan Church on mandolin, adding depth and energy; Chevy Watson on lead guitar, bringing a fresh and dynamic edge; bassist Joshua Faul, holding down the rhythm; and George Mason, whose expressive fiddle playing adds both texture and soul to the band’s signature sound.
Balsam Range BIO
Closing in on 20 years together, bluegrass powerhouse Balsam Range continues charging headlong toward the horizon. Heading into 2026, the group—Caleb Smith (guitar, vocals),Tim Surrett (bass, dobro, vocals), Alan Bibey (mandolin, vocals), and Marc Pruett (banjo)—is preparing to release new music while once again hitting the road, bringing their sound to both majestic theaters and backwoods gatherings alike—all in the name of bluegrass music.
In 2026, the band also welcomes Stephen Hudson to many shows across the country. On fiddle and vocals, Hudson brings fresh energy while honoring the traditional“high lonesome sound,”making him a natural fit within the group’s signature style.
Formed in 2007 by happenstance during an informal kitchen jam in the mountains of Western North Carolina, Balsam Range quickly evolved from friends picking tunes into one of the most celebrated bands in modern bluegrass. Since then, they’ve become one of the genre’s most decorated acts, earning multiple International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) honors, including Entertainer of the Year (2014, 2018), Album of the Year (2013,2017), Song of the Year (2011, 2015), Vocal Group of the Year (2014, 2015), Male Vocalist of the Year (2014, 2018), and Bass Player of the Year (2018).
By the numbers, Balsam Range has released 14 albums and scored numerous No. 1 singles on the bluegrass charts. Yet beyond the accolades and miles traveled, what matters most remains unchanged from that very first performance—genuinely connecting with an audience through the timeless, shared experience of live music.
