original Virginia bluegrass and Americana
Gary Alan Ferguson
guitar, mandolin, vocals
Gary Alan Ferguson is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose music blends a variety of influences into his own style of roots music. The winner of the 2015 DCBU Hazel Dickens Songwriting contest and a finalist in the 2014 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at MerleFest, Gary has toured throughout the U.S. and Europe with a number of highly regarded country, bluegrass and swing bands. His performance and/or recording credits include the Knoxville Grass, country hitmaker Donna Fargo, Claire Lynch, John Starling, the Virginia Squires, and many others. His song, "Southern Train," was selected for the songwriter showcase at the 2015 IBMA World of Bluegrass.
Jackie Frost
guitar, vocals
Jackie Frost is a long-standing favorite in the Richmond, Virginia music scene, having fronted several of her own groups and collaborated with Among Friends. Her album, Calliope, was a finalist in the 2006 Independent Music Awards.
Lisa Kay Howard
mandolin, vocals
Lisa Kay is a renowned bluegrass and Americana mandolin player and vocalist, and she hosts The Old Home Place on WAMU's bluegrasscountry.org. She currently performs with East of Monroe, Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike, and her own Lisa Kay Band.
Wally Hughes
fiddle, dobro, vocals
Wally Hughes is a veteran of Bill Emerson's Sweet Dixie, and a member of multiple bands, including East of Monroe, Randy Cook & Commonwealth Bluegrass, and Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike.
Terry Wittenberg
banjo, vocals
Terry Wittenberg has lent his banjo and vocal skills to multiple groups and projects, including: None of the Above, alongside Les McIntyre; Southgate, alongside Dave Auldridge, Ed Ferris, and Akira Otsuka; Overland Express; the Newgrass Effect, alongside Tom Gray; John Odell & Windy Ridge; the Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition; and East of Monroe.
Billy Budd
upright bass
Throughout his long career in bluegrass and Americana music, Billy has appeared with many artists and groups, including: Stoney Point; Bill Harrell & the Virginians; Josh Graves; Kenny Baker; Mac Wiseman; and East of Monroe.