Andy Rick is a midwesterner who found a love for Hawaiian steel guitar music when he followed his future wife to Oahu in 2004.  After moving to Bellingham, WA, Andy began playing with Devin Champlin in an old-time string band called The Shadies.  Over the years Andy and Devin cultivated a repertoire of early 20th century steel guitar music, much of it from recordings of Hawaiian artists such as Sol Hoopii, Sam Ku West, and The Kalamas Quartet.  

Ellie and Annie Davis are sisters from Olympia, Washington, who have been immersed in old-time music their entire lives. Growing up, they spent many years playing and singing together, and previously performed as members of The Sassafras Sisters.

Now based in Johnson City, Tennessee, Ellie and Annie both study Old-Time Music at East Tennessee State University, where they continue to deepen their musicianship individually and together, surrounded by some of the most renowned bluegrass and old-time musicians of today. They are active participants in the region’s thriving traditional music community, both on and off campus.

The sisters have shared the stage with artists such as Amythyst Kiah, The Wood Brothers, Foghorn Stringband, Bruce Molsky, and others. Their work reflects a deep respect for traditional Appalachian music while also embracing new songwriting and arranging styles.

Their performances reflect a lifelong musical bond—blending the roots of Appalachian tradition with fresh, contemporary influences to create a sound that feels both timeless and distinctly their own.

The Bow Ties are a group of true bluegrass pickers dedicated to infusing traditional bluegrass with fresh energy. Frontman Yoseff Tucker is a staple in the California Bluegrass scene, known for his piercing tenor and driving rhythm guitar. Billy Moore sets the groove with his no-nonsense five string banjo playing. Caleb Roberts brings the Monroe style mandolin, while Jack Kinney lends his tasteful and clean fiddle playing to the group.  The beating heart of this unit comes from the fierce rhythm of duo Zach Sharpe on upright bass and Michael Carroll on snare. The combination of these talented musicians offer a refreshing, exciting and meticulous bluegrass experience.

Pillars of the West Coast music scene, they carry the torch of their music around the world, and can be found touring as a duo, as well as with the Caleb Klauder Reeb Willms Country Band, their bluegrass band the Cali Cutups, and with the Foghorn Stringband,. Fans old and new exude admiration for the timeless sound that these two produce, capturing the essence of American roots music.

Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms' new album, Gold in Your Pocket, released on Free Dirt records, is spinning its way to the top of the Americana, AltCountry and Folk charts, no surprise to the loyal fans that follow this international touring act. These two are known to music fans across the globe for their soulful singing, driving dance music, and classic songwriting embodying their commitment to American roots music.

“The Daves” (Dave Parish and Dave Zoeller) play music borrowed from the Scottish and Irish traditions with a fair number of original compositions and songs to add to the mix. They met many years ago when they were both with a larger musical group.

The Daves continue to delight audiences large and small with their eclectic repertoire performed on guitars, flute, keyboard, and concertina. They often laugh at themselves and each other at the conclusion of a tune, and hope the audience is having at least as much fun.

Bellingham Washington's Devin Champlin writes songs for gettin' along, sometimes with his band Sons of Rainier, sometimes on his ownsome. He likes to fingerpick the guitar, grease the fiddle, and thump on the piano, all while singing about dreams of breakfast, and existentialism.

Growing up on a cattle farm in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Elias Hix fell in love with music early on in life. Trained in classical music and stand-up bass, and shaped by his rural upbringing, Hix creates music that effortlessly captures these influences. His unique mix of classical skills and small-town roots gives his music an irreplicable, genuine sound. Hix released his debut album, Thinner, in 2023, and has cultivated a passionate fan-base since. His music features a beautiful blend of folk and americana, with top-notch songwriting, and uniquely sculpted instrumentals.

"Eli West is an American Roots musician from the Pacific Northwest. A multi-instrumental creator of sonic spaces, Eli’s former training as a designer informs a sound that is lush and organic – neither manicured nor overgrown. Evergreen timbres weave among pitches, rhythms and lyrics to become comfortable rooms into which listeners are invited.

Lauded by Tim O’brien as a musician “making music the World needs,” Eli’s reputation as a crafter of considered, toneful environments has fostered collaborations with Bill Frisell, Andrew Marlin, John Reishchman, Julie Fowlis, and many other pillars of the growing Americana movement.”

Raised on the central coast of California and currently living in Bellingham. Wa, Elise Leavy has a distinctly unique voice as a singer and songwriter. Often likened to Joni Mitchell and Judee Sill, Elise says it must be the California seawater getting inside her head and heart from an early age. She has been writing songs since she was 8 years old, and recently was selected as a New Folk Finalist at the Kerrville New Folk Songwriting Competition.

She released her first studio album just last year, a group of songs written and recorded in Brooklyn, NY with producer and engineer Robin MacMillan, and a full band of local musicians. She is thrilled to be touring an even newer record in 2025, released in September of 2024, called “Memorandum”.

Brought together by a shared passion for traditional fiddle tunes, this group of friends formed The Goods Guild at their weekly sessions at Goods Local Brews in Bellingham. With each member bringing over 20 years of experience and a deep repertoire of Celtic melodies, they gather to play fast, fiery tunes that keep the spirit of the tradition alive.

Forced to reconcile their differences during the dark years of quarantine, The Hot Tomatoes emerge as a point of light and hope for all of humanity. These multi-instrumentalists will play all those swinging tunes from the 1920's and 30's that you've forgotten you like, plus some other favorites from your future. 

Kady Fox is a singer-songwriter based on Orcas Island, WA. Known for her powerful voice with a deep bluesy edge and wide dynamic range, Kady brings raw emotion and soul to every performance. She plays acoustic and electric guitar as well as piano, delivering a rich blend of folk, blues, and soul with just the right amount of funky fun sprinkled in. Mixing heartfelt originals with fresh takes on beloved covers, her music draws the listener in close. 

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, over the past two decades Kian Dye has made a name for himself as one of the premier bluegrass musicians in the region. Kian comes from a childhood of fiddle contests, bluegrass festivals, and music camps, and has performed alongside artists like Never Come Down, Eli West, and Under the Rocks as well as leading his own group. Kian released his debut album in May of 2024 which he wrote, produced, engineered, and mixed. Kian is joined this weekend by two PNW legends: Forrest Gibson (Bellingham) on guitar and Brian Alley (Methow Valley) on the banjo.

The Litch Brothers are a progressive bluegrass band from the Pacific Northwest. Performing as a brother duo Tashi and Kaj Litch’s journey took a pivotal turn when Brandi Carlile discovered them busking at Pike’s Place Market in Seattle and invited them to perform at her sold-out show at Benaroya Hall, alongside Mike McCready of Pearl Jam and the Seattle Symphony.

Since that breakthrough moment, the band has quickly made a name for them selves both in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, earning a dedicated following with their innovative sound and vibrant energy. As their notoriety has grown, they’ve been asked to play numerous festivals, including IBMA Bluegrass Live!, Ogden Music Festival, and Salmonfest in Alaska. Most recently, they were honored to be selected as showcasing artists at Your Roots Are Showing 2025, Ireland’s premiere folk music conference, and they will be performing at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in New York this summer as a part of their busy tour schedule. These young musicians clearly love what they do, and their infectious passion and enthusiasm make their performances a thrilling experience. If you’re not already a fan of bluegrass, the Litch Brothers just might win you over.

Cayley Schmid and Aaron Guest met at the Bellingham Farmers Market in 2009. Desperately jealous of each other’s busking success, they neutralized the competition and started a band together. This was the beginning of a decade-long musical partnership that descended into marriage. After the retirement of their band, Polecat, in 2020, Aaron and Cayley suddenly found themselves musically unsupervised by their bandmates for the first time. Together they play instrumental Celtic music on fiddle and piano. Tunes range from lively reels and jigs to sweeping airs and waltzes, and drawing from Scottish, Cape Breton, and Irish traditions.