Thomas Automotive Music Stage

Saturday, September 16

10:00 AM Jay Smar

Armed with two guitars, baritone vocals, claw-hammer banjo and fiddling, singing and flat-footin’ (a form of clog dancing), Jay Smar serves his audience an “acoustic buffet” of traditional American and original folk, old-time mountain music, bluegrass and gospel tunes, as well as the coal-mining songs of Northeast Pennsylvania.

10:40 AM The Time Travelers

The Time Travelers - Group photo Primarily based out of Hampshire County, W.Va., the Time Travelers are keeping folk traditions alive through their powerful rendering of some of the most traditional tunes, songs and coal-mining ballads of the Appalachian region. The group brings three-part harmony alive.

11:20 AM Dakota Karper and Pete Hobbie

Dakota Karper and Pete Hobbie Perfomers Pete Hobbie and Dakota Karper are a father daughter duo who embrace the heritage and traditions of oldtime appalachian music. Pete began playing music as a child, and in his teen years picked up the guitar. Through a lifetime of musical experiences he has been influenced by rock, blues, cajun, classical music and so much more. When he moved to West Virginia for the second time in the 80s and started a family he discovered a love for the banjo and mountain music. The Hobbie home was always filled with music. When Dakota was 8 years old he gifted her her first fiddle and she began learning folk music as well as studying classical violin through the Suzuki program. Now as an adult Dakota has continued to pursue music and has opened her own folk music school in Capon Bridge, WV called ‘The Cat and The Fiddle’ where Pete is now learning to play the fiddle as well. Through the years they have performed as a duo combining the haunting melodies of fiddle, driving rhythm of banjo and guitar and the earnest rising of their voices.

12:00 PM Davis Bradley Duo

Davis Bradley Duo Performers Kathy Davis and Bradley Bishop has teamed up to present a one of a kind musical experience for everyone! They draw from their individual Bluegrass, Oldtime and Swing influences to create something magical, while remaining true to the roots of the music they love. Fans can expect to hear fresh renditions of the classics as well as several original compositions, played on more than a dozen traditional instruments, and presented in a historic context. This dynamic song mix has helped to extend their combined reach, holding the door wide open to welcome those in search of something new and unique!

12:40 PM Don DePoy and Martha Hills

Don DePoy and Martha Hills Performers Performing together since 2004, husband and wife duo Don DePoy and Martha Hills have earned a solid international reputation as authentic masters of Appalachian Mountain Music. Performing as Me & Martha from concert hall to street busking their crowd-matched mix of mellow folk, sizzling bluegrass, sultry swing, Jazz standards and a smattering of Classic Country delight audiences of all ages.

1:20 PM Jeff and Myles Thomas

Father and son Jeff and Myles Thomas team up to present Traditional Irish Music. With decades of experience as a concertina maker and player, Jeff has nurtured a love for Irish Music in his twelve-year-old son, Myles. Determined to play fiddle, Myles began his musical journey at age six. Recently, he had a busy musical summer attending the Baroque Early Music Camp in Cumberland and the Catskills Irish Arts Week in New York.

2:00 PM Amy Lough, Anne Lough and Amanda Barger

Amy Lough, Anne Lough and Amanda Barger Anne Lough is an internationally known traditional musician with over thirty-five years’ experience in performance and education. With a Music Education Degree and a Masters of Music Education Anne now devotes her time to festivals, workshops, performances, Road Scholar classes and school residencies. In addition to being a frequent instructor of mountain and hammered dulcimer since 1991 at the prestigious John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC, Anne has taught at major festivals and workshops throughout the country, in Ireland, the British Isles and Belgium. Her daughter, former Frostburg resident Amy Lough, a regional dulcimer player and ballad singer featured in the Mountain Traditions Project, will join her along with dancer Amanda Barger.

2:40 Loretta Hummel and Paul Dix

Loretta Hummel and Paul Dix Local musician Loretta Hummel has been delighting regional audiences for many years. Residing near Frostburg, she is a singer and songwriter who has recorded and released several music albums. An ordained music minister, she plays guitar, mandolin and performs various country, gospel and bluegrass music in the tri-state area and throughout the US. Loretta has won 3 international awards in the past year. In July 2022, she was honored by being the recipient of the ICGMA Gold Cross Award as Bluegrass Artist of the year in West Plains Missouri. Paul Dix grew up in Westminster, Md., playing mandolin and guitar. He has played with many musical groups in Maryland and Pennsylvania, such as The Salem Bottom Boys, Maple City Bluegrass, and Loretta Hummel. Hummel and Dix will perform her original songs and cover songs.

3:20 PM The Famous International Hillbilly Singin’ Stars

The Famous International Hillbilly Singin' Stars with Frankie Revell The FIHSS are multi instrumentalists who cover over 100 years of Rock, Bluegrass, Old Time, Blues, Country, Rockabilly, Folk, Gospel, Pre-War Jazz and Ragtime so that you’re sure to hear something that you like and want to sing along with.

4:00 PM Black Guy Fawkes

Black Guy Fawkes emerges as a magnetic force in the realm of Folk Singer-Songwriters, having been deeply rooted in the DIY music scene throughout his upbringing. With a unique and captivating sound, he weaves together the threads of heartfelt folk music and the raw, energetic spirit of punk to create a truly memorable experience for his listeners. Drawing inspiration from an eclectic mix of renowned artists, Black Guy Fawkes pays homage to the likes of Frank Turner, Bob Dylan, and Against Me! while simultaneously infusing his own authentic voice into each song. This fusion of influences allows him to transcend musical boundaries, bridging the gap between the introspective nature of folk and the unapologetic rebellion of punk.

4:40 PM Gilbert Lee and the Ghost on the Radio

Gilbert Lee and the Ghost on the Radio performers Gilbert Lee & the Ghost on the Radio is an eclectic indie-rock, roots, & Americana band led by singer-songwriter Gilbert Lee Christian Cochrum. Since 2016, he has released a number of albums & EPs both solo and with the band. A reviewer for HuffPost (2017) described Gilbert’s voice as "wonderfully clear and rich... vaguely reminiscent of Paul Simon’s, but brighter and more lavish," while the Music Street Journal (2018) described the versatility of his songwriting, noting similarities to a wide range of classic artists from The Beatles to Sade. Similarly, the band is noted for its engaging, dynamic live performances, which includes multi-instrumentalists, Derek Shank (drums, guitar, organ, etc.) & Hanna Livingston (fiddle, trumpet) along with bassist, Tom Fair. Their most recent release is the 2023 EP, Cold, Cold Ground.

5:20 PM Old Towne Strings

Old Towne Strings Performers Old Towne Strings is influenced by members from Allegany County and Winchester, Va., which both have “old towns.” They perform standard bluegrass classics with solid vocals and traditional sound. The lineup includes Gregg Wolff on the five-string banjo and Chuck Andrews on guitar and features 2010 Maryland state fiddle champion Heather Twigg and former Johnson Mountain Boy, Dave McLaughlin.