Past Band Competitions

2023 Winner

Cole Quest and the City Pickers

 

2023 Fan Favorite

Hosmer Mountain Boys

Other Bands: Wood Flower and Mama Corn

2022 Winner and Fan Favorite

Serene Green

Serene Green’s desire is to honor the traditions set forth by the pioneers of bluegrass music, while also highlighting its original compositions and individual style. Since the band’s inception in 2017, Serene Green has toured extensively throughout the United States, performing at festivals and music venues alongside many nationally-touring musical acts.

Other Bands: Hollow Turtle, Stoneface Mountain, and Seldom Said No

 

2021 WINNER

The Bad Oats

The Bad Oats are a classic country, bluegrass, and Americana band based out of Nashville. The band formed in early 2019 and since then has performed at festivals and stages around the country. The Bad Oats is a young string band that specializes in fresh and innovative arrangements of contemporary and classic material. Their repertoire includes music from a vast range of genres, covering artists all the way from Bill Monroe to Billy Joel, to Billie Elish, as well as a lovely catalog of original songs.

Other Bands

The Green Sisters – MA     On The Trail – CT     West King String Band – Nashville TN

 

2019 WINNER

The Plate Scrapers

The Plate Scrapers originated in Western Maryland and are a four-piece string band performing traditional bluegrass and old-time tunes topped off with a helping or their own original material.  The band’s wide taste in music, ability to jam, and impeccable instrumentation will keep you coming back for seconds.

website

 

2019 FAN FAVORITE

Grain Thief

From the Boston, Mass area, its members bring a diverse musical background including training in classical violin and switching to old-time fiddle, a saxophonist who joined the band to play mandolin, and even a member who played electric bass in a heavy metal band with a transformation to upright bass.  After working on some acoustic arrangements to prepare for a one-off show the band started showcasing acoustic roots music in folk, bluegrass, and old-time music.  After adding additional members this five-piece band never looked back.

website

Other Bands

 

2018 WINNER & FAN FAVORITE

Pretty Saro

In their own words, Pretty Saro is an acoustic roots quartet based in Boston MA, fusing traditional styles with modern ideas to create a unique and exciting musical experience. The band is affiliated with Berklee School of Music and its members include Maxfield Anderson from Oklahoma, Alex Formento, New Jersey, Devon Gardner, Arizona, and Joe Everett, Ohio.
The contemporary quartet draws inspiration from traditional bluegrass and blends it with its diverse background to create a sound uniquely theirs.

 

Other Bands

Collinsville String Band – CT.     Blackjack Crossing– Keene NH.       River Bones Band– Philadelphia PA.

 

 

2017 WINNER & FAN FAVORITE

Beg, Steal or Borrow

 

Other Bands

Mama’s Marmalade Amherst MA.     High String Reunion Band- Boston MA.    The Kory Brodsky Band- Newtown CT.

 

2016 WINNER

Mile Twelve

Competition Video by Telefunken

2016 Fan Favorite

Five in the chamber Band photo - High Resolution

Five in the Chamber

Competition Video by Telefunken

 

Other Bands

Damn Tall Buildings– Boston MA.   Man About A Horse – PA    

 

 

2015 Winner

Colebrook Road,  Camp Hill, PA

Competition Video by Telefunken

2015 Fan Favorite

Michele Canning and Rough Edges, Andover, MA

Competition Video by Telefunken

Other bands

Four Bridges, Plymouth MA  & Possumhaw, Burlington VT

 

2014 Winner

Tumbling Bones

2014 Fan Favorite

The Zolla Boys

2013-No Festival Held

2012 Competition

Winner: Three Tall Pines, Boston, MA

Fan favorite: Parsonsfield (Poor Old Shine), Storrs, CT

Other bands who competed in 2012:

Hub Hollow, Peapack, New Jersey
The Jersey Corn Pickers, Philadelphia, PA

2011 Competition

Winner: Travers Chandler and Avery County, Nashville, TN

Fan favorite: Jim Gaudet and The Railroad Boys, Albany, NY

Other bands who competed in 2011:

The Grass Pistols, Russia
Grace Adele & The Grand Band, Nashville, TN
Reunion Hill Band, New Hampshire

2010 Competition

Winner: Katie Wilson and the Two Time String Band, Connecticut

Fan favorite: Chasing Blue, Boston, MA

Other bands who competed in 2010:

Crunchy Western Boys, New Hampshire
Nitpickers, Maine

Chasing Blue, Boston, MA
The Crossfire Bluegrass Band , Rhode Island

2009 Competition

Winner: The Packway Handle Band, (Athens, GA)

Fan favorite:Hoe, (CT)

Other bands who competed in 2009:

Broken Blossoms (Boston)
Hoe (CT)

The Liberty Bluegrass Band (Wisconsin)
Mason Porter (PA)

2008 Competition

Winners: Gold Heart, Virginia

2008 Fan Favorite Winner: 49 Fingers, CT

Other bands who competed in 2008:

The Dewayn Brothers, KS
Adirondack TrueGrass, NY
Hillbilly Water, NJ

2007 Competition

Winner: Joy Kills Sorrow, Boston, MA

Fan Favorite: Blue Trail, CT

Other bands who competed in 2007:

Blue Detour, NY
Jaded Mandolin, MA
Long Ryde, PA

Redstone Ridge, CT
Tripping Lily, MA