Bluegrass Parkway

Bluegrass Parkway celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2012 and are the longest continuously performing bluegrass band in Australia. What sets the band apart from others is the priority they have placed on presenting Bluegrass music in its most authentic form.  Since early 1994 Bluegrass Parkway have performed around a single microphone, as was the norm for the pioneers of the genre in the 1940s. They are much loved in the Australian bluegrass scene for their relaxed on-stage humour and camaraderie – always a joy for their audiences. We are particularly grateful to have them attending their first ever Kelly Country Pick this year.
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Appalachian Heaven

Ian Alexander,( fearless leader) Maggie Duncan, Evan Webb, Graeme Fletcher and John Boothroyd return again this year straight from the Hills of Virginia via Melbourne. With its origins in traditional music of Europe and Africa, “old time” music is aptly named, representing perhaps the oldest form of North American traditional music other than Native American. The band’s repertoire is from the rural south of the USA (Southern Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, and Kentucky).

 The Rusty Pickers

The Cherry Pickers

The Cherry Pickers are an exciting group of young performers from Adelaide. Formed in 2006, they play a mixture of traditional Bluegrass classics and other great songs in the style of Bill Monroe, the Stanley Brothers and Flatt and Scruggs. The band features all acoustic instruments and harmonies that are the hallmark of Bluegrass. This will be their first attendance at the Kelly Country Pick and we are looking forward to introducing them to our all night sessions.

Mark Bandick – Guitar,  Paul Cooper – Banjo, Rob Cooper – Dobro, Lou Evangelistis – Mandolin, Max Wright – Bass

John Flanagan and the Begin Agains

John Flanagan and the Begin Agains have impressed audiences at gigs and festivals  around Australia with lush vocal harmonies and delicate acoustic textures on banjo, guitars, violin and mandolin. Their heartbreaking melodies and deeply honest storytelling have seen them compared to artists such as Alison Krauss and James Taylor. We are pleased to welcome to the Kelly Country Pick this year for the first time.

The Mid North

So the first guess on seeing the name of the band is “Where Is The Mid North?” Pennsylvania? Connecticut? New Jersey?  New York? It throws your geography for a loop, not to mention your ideas of the borders of bluegrass when you find the band hails from Bellingen, New South Wales, Australia. They bill themselves as “Bluegrass/Americana,” and they” combine the spirit of old-time roots music, the energy  of the new young string-bands and the musicianship of bluegrass”.

Ray Marshall and the Bluegrass Deputies

Ray Marshall has been playing bluegrass music now for over 20 years and has recently deputised a number of  musicians from various parts of the country to particpate in this year’s Kelly Country Pick. Dressed to suit in fine style the bluegrass deputies will be bringing you a vast array of fine music.

Burnt Creek Deviation

Phil Upton, Gary Browne, Mark Burnett, Ros and Peter Horton

Fruit Jar

Fruit Jar play old timey string band music – it’s very old music, but it doesn’t belong in a museum. It is very much alive, and when you hear it you will want to stomp your feet, dance, get drunk, and be young and stupid.

Rob – fiddle, Mick  – Banjo, Campbell – Fiddle, John – Bass, Susan – Guitar

Johnny Can’t Dance (Cajun)

Exciting new Melbourne traditional Cajun trio ‘Johnny Can’t Dance’  plays old time Cajun, Creole Two Steps, One Steps, Waltzs, Blues and Stomps from the Swamps. Featuring Craig Woodward (Cajun Accordion, Fiddle and Vocal) Sue Shaw (Guitar, Cajun Triangle and Vocal) and Campbell Shaw (Fiddle)

Kissin’ Cousins

The local talents will be on display with this new line-up of Beechworth talent. Ex-members of ‘Orange Blossom’, Troy Humphreys on Guitar, Max Hyland on Banjo and Izzy Paton on Vocals, mando and fiddle,  have joined with the fabulous fiddle of Bec Humphreys and Double Bass of Adrian Osborne. We are looking forward to seeing what they have in store for us this year, I’m sure it will be good.

Breaking Hart Benton

We are very pleased to have the fabulous Breaking Heart Benton returning this year. “Breaking Hart Benton” bares reference to the tragic demise of one of the great 20th Century American painters but to define the band’s sound one has to reach far further back, to the traditional music of Britain and Ireland. Song-smiths Michael David and Lee James  draw on their strong Celtic/Americana influences to present melodic, lyrically rich songwriting where Australian themes and observations can sit comfortably beside an old time murder ballad. One of the highlights of last year’s festival… not to be missed.

Cat and Clint

Cat & Clint play their own brand of Old-Timey, featuring sweet vocals, lively banjo and crankin’ fiddle tunes. The dynamic duo has nurtured a close musical relationship and years of knowledge in the tradition. They have performed at festivals in Australia and the U.S and are currently recording their second album.

High and Lonesome

On the folky side of bluegrass, the elder statesmen of High and Lonesome combine a rich history of Folk Music, Americana, Blues and Bluegrass in their playing. Good humour and great instrumental skills combined with smooth harmonies make this lineup fabulous entertainment at any festival.