Past Performers

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Blue Highway

We are honored Blue Highway is playing the 2010 festival. This powerhouse band is the most esteemed and influential group in contemporary bluegrass. Jason Burleson (banjo, guitar, mandolin), Rob Ickes (dobro), Shawn Lane (mandolin, fiddle, vocals), Tim Stafford (guitar, vocals), and Wayne Taylor (bass, vocals) are all master musicians that merge to produce a seamlessly brilliant ensemble sound. But the power of Blue Highway is also in their writing. Shawn, Tim and Wayne songwriting talent is unmatched in bluegrass, exploring some of the most poignant contemporary issues of today. Rob and Jason turn out heart-pounding instrumentals.

Blue Highway has collected Grammy nominations, a gospel Dove Award, and they have won numerous International Bluegrass Music Association awards for Emerging Artist, instruments, songwriting, and production. Rob Ickes is the most awarded musician in IBMA history winning Dobro Player of the Year 11 times. Artfully balanced between tradition and innovation, Blue Highway defines contemporary bluegrass.

We can hardly wait. All band members are also teaching at the Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Music Camp (see tab).

www.bluehighwayband.com

Claire Lynch Band

Claire Lynch says, “I am out right now playing the best music of my career with the best band of my career”. “I love bluegrass music,” she says. “It don’t need an amp and it don’t plug in. I think that is really cool.” Claire has played in bluegrass and country music since she was 19 years old. Her vocals have graced recordings by Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Jesse Winhcester, and Ralph Stanley to name a few. She is recognized as a creative force in bluegrass music and at the forefront of women who have expanded the genre. Her sound is grounded in bluegrass, but her range of styles is eclectic, borrowing from jazz, swing, old-tyme, zydeco, rock and straight up bluegrass.

But it’s Claire Lynch leading her own band that is generating the excitement. Her band is a tight meld of some of the best bluegrass musicians in the business that knock audiences out wherever she goes.. Two-time IBMA Bass Player of the Year, Mark Schatz is also known for his skills on clawhammer banjo and his Southern Appalachian clog dancing. The Canuck in the bunch, Jason Thomas, was born in North Bay, Ontario and began playing the mandolin at the age of eight. Jason won the Canadian Open Mandolin Championship and twice won the Florida State Championship on both fiddle and mandolin. Multi-instrumentalist Matt Wingate plays guitar, mandolin and dobor. He joined Claire this spring. Rob Ickes of Blue Highway says Matt is ‘one of the most exciting young musicians in bluegrass music today.’

www.clairelynch.com

Sierra Hull and Highway 111

Eighteen-year old Sierra Hull is a musical prodigy - both a gifted singer and one of the finest mandolin players in bluegrass. Sierra has a well-rounded musical maturity well beyond her young age. Ron Block of Union Station says, “She has an intense desire for excellence, a love of good songs, and an attention to detail that is not often found in someone so young”. Describing her mandolin playing Sam Bush said, “It’s amazing to listen to her precision and agility, and the potential for musical growth is tremendous”.

In 2009 Sierra was nominated for Mandolin Player of the Year for the second time, and her band Highway 111 was nominated for Emerging Artist of the Year. Highway 111 includes teenage banjo wizard Cory Walker who doubles on dobro, Clay Hess plays acoustic guitar, Jacob Eller is on bass, and Christian Ward plays fiddle. Come hear one of the finest young bluegrass bands in the business.  

www.sierrahull.com

Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper

A treat for festival fans will be the return of Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper. Seven time International Bluegrass Music Association’s Fiddle Performer of the Year, Michael Cleveland is considered one of the premier bluegrass fiddlers of his generation. Michael has played with the best in bluegrass music and the musicians that make up Flamekeeper are no exception. Jesse Brock won the 2009 IBMA Mandolin Performer of the Year and Marshall Wilborn is the 2009 IBMA Bass Performer of the Year. Folks will remember Jesse’s impressive mandolin licks, his animated stage presence and exciting instrumental duels with Michael. Marshall Wilborn won the hearts of traditional bluegrass fans with his love of finding and performing some of the old classics. New to our festival but not to the band is guitar player Tom Adams. Tom first gained recognition as a banjo player, playing with some of bluegrass music's most influential artists, and is a three-time winner of the IBMA Banjo Performer of the year award. Also appearing for his first time with Flamekeeper at KMBF is Indiana native Jessie Baker. In a reversal from Tom’s musical path, Jessie learned his first chords on the guitar but now makes the banjo his main instrument.

Michael and Flamekeeper lit up the Grand Hall in 2008 and the appreciative foot stomping and hand clapping prit’ near brought the roof down. Let ‘er go boys!!

www.flamekeeperband.com

Jim Hurst

"There's not a more inventive, talented guitar player in the bluegrass business than Jim Hurst. He brings a world of experience in so many different kinds of music and formats to everything he does." says Tim Stafford of Blue Highway. Jim was raised with a guitar in his hands, and it has paid off. An IBMA Guitar Player of the Year, Jim plays country, blues, jazz - and bluegrass, of course. And he plays a wide range of guitar styles. His brilliant fingerstyle was inspired by Merle Travis and Chet Atkins. His flatpicking speed and tone come from Tony Rice, Doc Watson and the great Clarence White.

But Jim is not a one instrument wonder. He also plays mandolin, clawhammer and Scruggs-style banjo. And to top it off, Jim has a great baritone voice.

Jim has played with Trish Yearwood, Sara Evans, Travis Tritt and the McCarter Sisters before joining Claire Lynch in 1995 in the Front Porch String band. He played with Missy Raines, producing two critically acclaimed albums, before rejoining Claire Lynch in 2004. Jim is playing two sets at our festival. Don’t miss him.

www.jimhurst.com

Cody Shuler and Pine Mountain Railroad

Cody Shuler and Pine Mountain Railroad includes some the finest vocal and instrumental talent in bluegrass. Their music is classic bluegrass inspired by the complex acapella harmonies of southern gospel quartets. Cody, a fine mandolin player, sings lead and can effortlessly take the tenor harmonies to the highest octaves. Jerry Cole on rhythm guitar sings lead and tenor. Ercel Green pays doghouse bass and adds soulful baritone to the harmonies. Matt Flake is a a great fiddler, and sings bass and baritone. Seth Taylor is a teen string wizard. He won the Merlefest guitar open championship in 2008 when he was 14 years old. Then he won it again for banjo in 2009.

Pine Mountain Railroad was nominated for a Dove Award in 2009 for best bluegrass gospel album. But they also play straight up bluegrass with the best in the business. Their blistering version of Ray Charles’ classic “I Got A Woman” during a live interview on Sirius radio was the icing on the cake that brings this brilliant band to our stage.

www.pinemountainrailroad.com

Anna Somerville and Marc Ladouceur

Each enjoys many styles of music, but a shared love for bluegrass brought Anna & Marc together. Their blend of bluegrass, old-time and folk results in an authentic sound. Anna’s vocal style is one of quiet intensity that relies on the musical finesse of Marc to enhance the tunes. Together they draw out the intention of the song.

Originally from the Peace River country, and now living in Edmonton, Anna Somerville has drawn from influences and experiences that are reflected in her song writing.
She was a founding member of the Edmonton based bluegrass band "Lonesome and Then Some" whose influence is still felt by roots based bands in Alberta.
Marc Ladouceur is no stranger to the Kluane Mountain Bluegrass festival, having taught at both the camp and the workshops, but is best known as an exceptional guitar player and singer with Down to the Wood.

“If it’s my turn to perform at the Kluane Bluegrass Festival with Marc, I’ll take it!”, says Anna Somerville. Lucky girl.

Simple Messengers

Pete and Mary Beattie spent over thirty years homesteading on a remote trapline on the Stewart River. They have been a part of the Whitehorse music scene since the mid-90's, hosting semi-regular jam sessions at their Shallow Bay home. For the past few years they have organized a weekly music night at the Macauly Lodge, a local senior's home. Their music style has been described as "kitchen table", "campfire", &  "primitive-folk".

Marg Tatum has been on the local music scene for over twenty years, teaching & playing in numerous groups in a wide range of styles, from classical to jazz, blues and Irish. She brings an old-tyme fiddle feel to the group..

Deb and Bruce Bergman, on standup bass and guitars have been mainstays of the Yukon music scene for over thirty years and are also instructors for this year's Music Camp and performers (The Bergman Family Band) at this year's festival.

Art Johns

Art Johns first heard country music while he cranked his older sister’s wind-up record player. Jimmy Rogers, the Carter family, and Bill Monroe sounded a new, yet familiar note. His cousin demonstrated three guitar chords, and bush campfires over many years provided practice opportunities. Art had plenty of opportunities; his dad, Johnnie Johns, worked him hard from an early age. Art says now, ““We had a hunting outfit, and I played for the horses.”

Many years passed until Art played Jake’s Corner coffeehouse in a movie featuring him--Life’s Dream. People who saw the movie first became aware of Art’s music in addition to his better-known woodland caribou and wildlife conservation work. Listeners may still hear the presence of wilderness stars, rugged land, and crisp skies, or feel the regular rhythm of a sure-footed horse under this Tlingit cowboy.

Art Johns supports the Whitehorse coffeehouses, which have given many new artists a springboard and helped develop audiences. He’s enjoyed playing a variety of venues, including First Nations’ events, the Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival’s first opening act, many years steady at the Alaska Folk Festival, film features, Anderson, Atlin, Tahlkeetna, and other music festivals, and the Southeast Alaska State Fair. Twice he’s gone to Yellowknife for Folk on the Rocks, in 2009 taking Nola Lamken, whose wings and fiddle bows he lifted toward the light of his hearbreakin’ “hillbilly” music. Another highlight happened in 2009, when Art and Nola performed as part of the Smithsonian music roots road exhibit. They enjoy jamming with others, who often become good friends through the wonderful world of music. Don’t miss this Yukon treasure at the 2010 Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival.

Annie Lou

When Yukon songwriters Kim Barlow and Anne Louise Genest discovered a shared joy in the string band sounds and story songs of Southern old time music, they joined their considerable musical forces (Juno-nominated Barlow on clawhammer banjo/vocals and Genest on guitar/vocals) to form Annie Lou. The fine skills of Lindy Jones on upright bass and vocals and Meredith Bates on fiddle round out the Annie Lou roster.

Old time music is based in instrumental, vocal, and songwriting traditions. Annie Lou is faithful to these, with stringband instrumentation, rich vocal harmonies, and original songwriting by Genest and Barlow that is fresh and new. Annie Lou’s beautifully crafted songs and solid musical chops capture audiences when these northern women take the stage. Their songs reflect the solitude and grit of their northern home and draw a straight line to other times and places.

Annie Lou’s self-titled debut CD was produced by Bob Hamilton at Old Crow Recording in Whitehorse, Yukon. The band called on the talents of renowned old time fiddler Sammy Lind (Foghorn Stringband) to share fiddle duties, and the recording includes some rousing double fiddle tunes. Annie Lou offers up an exciting new sound that sits comfortably alongside the best of contemporary Canadian roots music.

Done Gone String Band

A mutual love of bluegrass, oldtime, and roots music brought the members of the Done Gone String Band together in 2006. Based in Whitehorse, Yukon and playing Vintage sounding originals as well as a selection of the finest of traditional oldtime music, the Done Gone Stringband includes two generations of the Hamilton family: Bob on mandolin, dobro and vocals, Sarah on fiddle and vocals and Patrick on banjo. The band also features Anne Louise Genest on guitar and vocals.

In performance the band gathers around one microphone in the traditional setting of bluegrass and oldtime music. The infectious joy they feel in playing together is evident to audiences, who are swept up by their enthusiasm and welcoming stage presence. Compelling three and four part harmonies, haunting melodies, and foot stompin' instrumentals drive this band like a moonshine powered rocket.

Imagine a time when people got together in the warmth of each others homes to share and celebrate the joys and sorrows of life through music and storytelling after a hard week’s work. Warm voices singing harmony, the stringband sounds of fiddle, banjo, mandolin, and guitar, and the pulse of dance rhythms on the porch and in the kitchen - this is music that brings people and communities together.

Steve Slade

Steve is the Yukon's acoustic troubadour, logging 25,000 kilometers a year traveling to gigs in the Yukon and 'outside'. He has performed in concert, coffeehouses and various festivals from the Yukon to Newfoundland and throughout the US. His prodigious repertoire of intelligent and affecting original songs strikes a universal chord everywhere he plays. His original compositions have been covered and recorded by various northern artists and closet musicians.

Along with his performance and songwriting skills, Steve is both a musical educator and an event producer. His innovative songwriting program keeps him busy in schools in the Yukon, British Columbia and Northwest Territories. When he is not playing he produces the Arts in the Park Program in Whitehorse and the Jammin’ Jay Festival in Langley, British Columbia. Keitha Clarke (fiddle and voice) and Annie Avery (piano and voice) will join Steve for his second time on our festival stage.

Kevin Barr and Blue Eagle

Kevin first picked up a guitar at the age of 9 and has been playing professionally for the past 35 years. His repertoire is vast and varied, from 3 tours in Europe with the Undertakin’ Daddies to opening for the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, BJ Thomas and Ian Tyson; he’s also shared the stage with Peter Rowan of New Riders of the Purple Sage, KD Lang, Willie P. Bennett, Penny Lang and Phill Lloyd. Kevin is a well known face at festivals across Canada and the US along with sharing album credits on many prestigious recordings.

Kevin is also well known for his generosity and commitment to lending his talents to concerts for the Yukon Anti Poverty Coalition, the Yukon Quest, the Christmas telethon and various humanitarian oriented benefits and fundraising events.

Kevin is bringing a full band again to the festival, and will open for us on Friday night.

The Bergmans

The Bergman Family are Bruce on guitar and vocals, and Deb on mandolin and vocals. In 2009 the joined forces with Marg Tatum and her fiddle. All three are longtime performers and instructors in the Whitehorse music scene. They soon found themselves anchored on the upright bass by Bruce’s brother Rob Bergman. The Bergmans first gig was at the 2008 Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival and they all are excited to be back for a third year. Listen up for more old time and bluegrass flavored Bergman favorites, and head to the dance on Saturday night. They will be kicking up the dance floor. They have been invited back because they are very good, and because they are good musical friends.

Barndance

This multi talented band has been heating up dance floors in the Yukon for the last several years. They play high energy fiddle and dance music from a variety of traditions including Old Time, Irish, French Canadian, Swing and Eastern European. They have played family and barn dances in a number of Yukon communities, and have performed at coffee houses, street festivals, and the Yukon Arts Center.

Bob Kuiper plays bouzouki, mandolin and guitar. He is also the dance caller, with a repertoire to fit all ages and abilities. He can take a room full of staid beginners and turn them into enthusiastic dance lunatics within a matter of minutes. Keitha Clark is the band’s fiddler extraordinaire. She plays a wide range of Celtic, Canadian and Yukon tunes sure to get your feet moving. Annie Avery provides rhythm on the keyboard. This well known Yukon musician is in high demand wherever she goes. Nadia Petriw and Mikaela Shaw round out the sound with sweet and driving fiddle harmonies, infecting the crowd with their irrepressible fun and enthusiasm.

Harry Hillbilly

Harry Hillbilly is a group of Whitehorse based musicians that formed during the summer of 2009 and won the first showcase stage competition at the 2009 Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival. The band’s main focus has been a mix of traditional bluegrass numbers mixed with some jam oriented bluegrass tunes. The group is looking forward to their first performance on the festival stage at the Kluane Mountain Bluegrass festival.

Guitar/Vocals: Jim Welsh

Mandolin/Vocals: Jaime McVicar

Banjo: Harry Hillbilly

Dobro: Sam Galliger

Bass: Catherine Welsh