Born in California (Nov. 1964) and raised in Arizona, MIKE BUB began his musical journey as a banjo and guitar player. After college, Mike formed the Weary Hearts, with Ron Block (Alison Krauss), Eric Uglum and the late Butch Baldassari (Nashville Mandolin Ensemble). As that band began to fade, Mike turned his concentration from the banjo and guitar and took up the bass to work with The Del McCoury Band. With Del, Mike began a 13 year association with what was to become, and still is, the most awarded band in the history of the International Bluegrass Music Association. Racking up an unprecedented 9 Entertainer of the Year awards, 5 Bass Player of the Year awards as well as various Album, Instrumental and Song of the Year awards, including a Grammy award for the album “The Company We Keep”, which won for Best Bluegrass Album of 2005. A longtime resident of East Nashville, Mike can often be found playing the local clubs with his talented friends and neighbors. Born in Hazelville, WA, SHAD COBB began playing the fiddle at the age of thirteen, and his career started early with his family band that included his father and brothers. In '95, Shad moved to Nashville and began recording with some of Nashville’s top artists, including such acts as Bluegrass legends and Grand Ole Opry members the Osborne Brothers, vocalist Marty Rabon with his band Shenandoah, country music icons like Willie Nelson, singer-songwriters like Steve Earle, and old-time and bluegrass musician/comedian Mike Snyder. Shad’s intricate and soulful style of playing has been compiled over the years from many of his early influences. The playing of such legendary fiddlers as Vassar Clements, Sam Bush, Art Stamper, Mark O’Connor, Kenny Baker and Byron Berline helped develop Shad’s playing throughout the earliest part of his musical career. Shad Cobb’s present-day virtuosity puts him at the forefront of top fiddlers in the country. Whether on one of his recordings, or in a live setting, the playing of Shad Cobb is quite an amazing thing to witness. From remote Isonville, KY, to an international following in Bluegrass music, DON RIGSBY has remained true to his mountain roots and made his own marks as a powerful tenor and distinctive mandolin player. Born February 18, 1968, Don worked his way through Morehead State University playing music with Charlie Sizemore, emerged onto the national scene as a member of The Bluegrass Cardinals, played with JD Crowe and The New South, and was a member of the award-winning Lonesome River Band. The two-time Grammy nominee and two-time SPBGMA Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year also sang on a Grammy-winning album by rocker John Fogerty and has released five solo albums. In 2001, Rigsby became the first full-time director of Morehead State University’s Kentucky Center for Traditional Music. Through his role at MSU, Don taught vocal harmony classes for the Traditional Music minor, and coordinated classes, workshops, concerts, and school tours by new and old stars of traditional music. Don has a rich heritage and lifelong experience in traditional music and continues to propel it into the next generation through his love and dedication to preserving the sounds of old. JEFF WHITE began honing his songwriting skills working the red-eye shift as a taxi driver. Railroad conductors, heartbroken men and women and wild out-of-towners were all frequent riders who freely opened up about their personal lives. Their late night conversations were all inspirations to the genesis of his upcoming career as a songwriter and entertainer. Jeff has toured the lower 48 from coast to coast as well as England, Scotland and Wales singing about the realities, illusions and the wide emotional spirit of love and life in America. Jeff writes and sings his own songs but also performs unique interpretations of other songs he admires. He has 6 albums under his belt; one with Charlie Parr and international folk music legend, Greg Brown. His latest CD, 'Renegade Revelations' recently received a 4 star rating in The Netherlands on the alt-country review website, altcountry.nl KEITH REED grew up playing bluegrass banjo and guitar with a group of traditional bluegrass musicians from the southeast. This early immersion of bluegrass traditionalism and its inherent culture led him to pursue an AA degree from South Plains College in TX, the only school offering a bluegrass program at that time. Keith then chose to pursue his BA in classical guitar, finding the techniques and passion of classical guitar vital to his development as a musician. Touring and performing have been a constant in Keith’s musical career. Becoming a Rounder Recording artist with the band Open Road led to extensive touring to include performances at the Ryman Auditorium and the Kennedy Center, and two critically acclaimed recordings. A seasoned musician, he continues to perform with a variety of professional acoustic artists. Keith teaches bluegrass guitar, banjo, and bluegrass ensemble at Colorado College, and recently co-taught a block on American Folk Music with Professor Ryan Bañagale. .