Two Lane Adventures: Day 12 - Bluegrass Special

Today is Friday September 19th, we are still at the IBMA World of Bluegrass events in Chattanooga TN. I have not started my blogs out with my walks, but... yes, I have been walking every morning. Raccoon Mountain gives me plenty of "flights" in my stats! The sun coming up over the mountain is a beautiful sight each morning!

Today, is the first day of the Bluegrass LIVE events. Chattanooga has literally shut down several city blocks to create the LIVE area. Inside the LIVE area are two stages with the "bigger" names on them. There are food and drink vendors. Just outside of the LIVE area, in Market Street. Market Street is lined with craft, food and other vendors with a stage at each end. This area is not inside the ticketed LIVE area, so anyone is welcome.

The stage at the one end is the IBMA Youth Stage the other is the One Chattanooga Stage.

We spent most of our time today at the IBMA Youth Stage. We truly enjoy watching the future of Bluegrass.

The first band that we watched Full Steam. They are a collective of youth musicians that perform and compete together for large bluegrass events and competitions. They may have different players at different events. Their 2025 players have been Jerry Ankney, Shay Morgan, Izaak Schwartz, Mollie Longenecker, Rita Perloff & Serafina Salvaterra.

Funny story. In mid-August we were home, because we purchased the new rig. I saw an ad on Facebook for a band playing live bluegrass at The Ale and The Witch in St. Pete. It turns out that, Shay Morgan, was going to be on mandolin there. We did not end up going, too bad because Shay is very good!

The next band up on the IBMA Youth Stage was The Brothers Five. There are 11 members of the Lindblom family in all. Headin’ Home is a family band hailing from Bloomingdale, GA, near Savannah. The group consists of Jon, dad, Marina, mom, Luke, 27, Libby, 25, Lucy, 23, and Timothy Lindblom,21. This seasoned family band is a refreshing burst of youthful energy, red-hot picking, chilling vocal harmonies, an entertaining stage show, and uplifting, faith-based music rooted in the traditional bluegrass sound. Their repertoire is a fascinating fusion of both traditional and original material.

The five younger boys make up The Brothers Five. They are the next quintet of siblings, all boys, and all with names beginning with L. They are a young, multi-sibling bluegrass band that includes Leo, Logan, Liam, Levi, and Linus. Their performances feature traditional bluegrass instruments like mandolin, bass, fiddle, and banjo, with Leo on mandolin and lead vocals, Linus on guitar and lead vocals, Logan on bass and harmony, Liam on fiddle and harmony, and Levi on banjo.

The youngest of the clan, 11-year-old Leo, has released his own album, titled Just Leo, where the pint-sized grasser offering eight classic songs and tunes with him playing all the instruments and singing all the parts.

The next group up was Bluegrass and Company is a band of three multi-talented musicians from Pickens County, SC. The three members of Bluegrass and Company met through the Sweet Potato Pie Kids, YAMS (Young Appalachian Musicians) elite performance band. It was here they discovered their mutual love for bluegrass music. This mutual bond led to them forming their band. By calling themselves Bluegrass and Company, the band is not restricted to playing bluegrass music, but many genres in the style of traditional bluegrass music. The bands goal is to share their Faith and their love of music.

They enjoy sharing their Faith and their love of bluegrass music for all to enjoy, at festivals, and private events in and around their community and neighboring states. Members are Elijah, Alyssa and Malachi. Elijah is a high school graduate who plays banjo and upright bass for the band. Elijah began his musical journey in the "Young Appalachian Musicians" program at the age of 10 and enjoys teaching banjo and guitar for the YAMS program weekly. Alyssa is a high school graduate who plays guitar and sings lead and vocal harmony for the band. She began her musical journey with the "Young Appalachian Musicians" program at age 11. She now teaches guitar and mandolin weekly for YAMS. Malachi is a rising Sophomore in high school. He plays fiddle and mandolin and sings lead and harmony for the band. Malachi began his musical journey at the tender age of 7 in the "Young Appalachian Musicians" program and enjoys teaching fiddle and mandolin weekly through the YAMS program.

The next band up was really good, and if I remember correctly no one was over 16-years old! They are Take Your Pick Bluegrass Band from the Hampton and Virginia Beach area. There is not much information on line about them, but the band is comprised of three family members, Aiden Dunlap - Banjo, Ella Dunlap - Mandolin, and Kaleb Dunlap - Bass. The other two members of the band are Asa Robertson - Fiddle and Jesse Ankney - Guitar, lead.

I hope the videos do this band justice, as the sun kept moving, so did we!

The fiddle player and the bass player changed instruments mid set!

Denim & Plaid was up next. They are a youth bluegrass band from Virginia and North Carolina known for its high-energy performances and classic bluegrass sound.

The band's name and origin story come from two of its founding members, Hollace Oakes, who was wearing plaid, and Berkley Stewart, in jeans, meeting at a youth music contest in 2022.

They still keep the denim and plaid theme going today!

Dear Maribella and the Pigpickers are an up-and-coming sibling bluegrass band. Born and raised near Wilmington, NC, the band formed in 2021 when the siblings decided that there was no reason not to! The band features Isabella on the fiddle, AnnMari on the guitar, Pete on the banjo, Chris on the mandolin and Dad on bass. They are set to serenade your soul with their harmonious melodies and foot stomping fun. Catch a live show and get ready to be swept off your feet as they infuse their performances with a blend of music, faith, kinship, and a whole lot of heart.

Dear MariBella and the Pigkickers were recently honored to be chosen as the opening act for Sam Bush in Wilmington, NC. They played on the IBMA World of Bluegrass official youth stage in 2024 and this year, Merlefest 2025, and they are also selected to play at the NC Folk Festival later this month!

Creekwater Collective is a vibrant group of young, award-winning, multi-instrumentalist. Hailing from what has become a hotbed of young bluegrass talent in and around Pickens County, SC. They share a love for traditional bluegrass music inspired by the legends of bluegrass like Rice, Monroe, & Scruggs. For five kids 16 and under their list of accomplishments is long! Their parents and fans wear shirts that say "Creekwater Collective, the future of Bluegrass" I agree with that!

JonPaul Sepulveda: 16 years old from Travelers Rest in Upstate SC. He sings lead and harmony, and plays guitar for Creekwater Collective. In addition to the piano and guitar, JonPaul also plays Alto Saxophone, bass guitar, and mandolin.

Ethan Chappell: 14 years old from Pickens, SC. Raised in a musical family, Ethan was surrounded by the sounds of Appalachian folk and bluegrass from an early age. His background also includes piano, and music theory - but years later the upright bass would capture his heart and he was drawn by its rich, resonant tones. Having finally found his instrument, Ethan is inspired by musicians which include Edgar Loudermilk, and Tim Surrett.

At only 15 years old, Lilly Anne Svrlinga is already an accomplished musician! She began playing the guitar at age 5 and the banjo at age 7. At 10, she was awarded the top scholarship by the SC BTMA - South Carolina Bluegrass and Traditional Music Association. She has been invited to perform onstage with Balsam Range, Edgar Loudermilk Band, and Kevin Prater. Currently, she is the first place champion in the youth guitar category at the Galax Old Fiddlers Convention August 2024.

Judson Stone: 13 years old from Six Mile, SC. This middle school student, is typically on mandolin and vocals for Creekwater Collective. Current SC State Fiddler’s Convention “Wildcat” champion. Member of All County Band on Trombone. When he’s not picking one, he loves to shoot guns, hunt, fish, and ride four wheelers and dirt bikes.

Ayden Chappell is a rising star in the world of bluegrass music, known for his skills on the banjo. At just 16 years old, Ayden has already made a name for himself in the tight-knit bluegrass community. A native of Pickens County in Upstate SC, Ayden’s love of banjo and bluegrass/old time music began at the early age of 9. From the moment he picked up the banjo, Ayden demonstrated a natural ability for the instrument. His dedication led to rapid progress, and by the time he was 13, he was given the title of youth bluegrass banjo champion at the Galax Old Fiddler’s Convention. That same year at the SC Fiddler’s Convention at Hagood Mill in Pickens, SC, Ayden placed 3rd in the adult guitar category. In 2024, Ayden was featured in an article in the February/March 2024 issue of Plateau magazine. Ayden aspires to continue his studies in bluegrass and become a famous, well-known, accomplished musician.

We enjoyed our dinner at Community Pie. It was located directly behind where we were sitting, so it was convenient and it was very good! They offer Wood Fired, New York Style and Detroit Style pizza, craft cocktails, and authentic gelato. We went there because of the location, but the staff (Noah) and the food wood bring us back!