Two Lane Adventures: Day 51 of 166 Days of RV Adventures in the Summer of 2026

Today, June 26th, we got to mix bluegrass and high school graduation!

12:00, noon the music started with the Open Mic. We only had Radio Bob and Bill, the accordion man, play some "old timey" music.

At 12:30, Full Steam took the stage. They are five youngsters that have been part of the kids programs in past years. They are often introduced as "The Future of Bluegrass". It is a title they are proud to honor as they look to continue the music and traditions of their heroes.

Full Steam comes together from across several states to perform the music they love! The original players all met at the International Bluegrass Music Awards' Kids on Bluegrass program and some came together as a band in 2025 to compete at the SPBGMA band competition.

They take turns singing lead and all support each other with harmonies and instrumentals to deliver a stage show beyond their young years. On banjo today was Izaak Schwartz (14); on bass, Jerry Ankney, Jr. (13); on fiddle, is Mollie Longenecker (13); on guitar is Corbin Easton(14), and last but not least holding down the chop on mandolin, was Leopold Schwartz (14). Adam Burrows even joined them for one song. Mollie the fiddler was surprised and elated with the accompaniment!

At 1:00pm the Country Gentlemen Tribute Band came on. They are continuing to honor the legacy of this historic bluegrass ensemble by creatively adding the Country Gentlemen stamp to fresh and inventive material right alongside the timeless songs that are known and loved by legions of fans. Mike Phipps was on guitar and lead vocals. He began playing mandolin and singing while in his teens. The first bluegrass band he saw in person was The Country Gentlemen, who performed at his high school. His love of Classic Country Music and the influence of Bluegrass artists contributed highly to his current musical style. One of the more seasoned voices and instrumentalists in the world of Americana and bluegrass music, Darren Beachley approaches music like the wide-eyed twenty-something he was so long ago when he began his career. He was the lead singer and guitarist for Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver he became one of the most recognizable voices in the world.

Lynwood Lunsford is a familiar face to Bluegrass Music. In 2019 he joined The Country Gentlemen Show and has been here ever since. An established songwriter Lynwood has pinned over 100 titles with his most popular "Molly Rose" that has been recorded by Sand Mountain , Jeff Parker and Lorriane Jordan. Eric Marshall plays bass and was raised in an area known for its rich heritage of traditional mountain music. He grew up loving to sing. He and his brother started a bluegrass and gospel band, The Marshall Brothers. Eric has written and recorded over 50 of his own songs. Eric cites his biggest influences as Doyle Lawson, The Bluegrass Cardinals, Lost and Found and of course the Country Gentlemen! Wayne Lanham grew up listening to bluegrass and country music and was exposed to live performances early on with his Father. He started playing mandolin as a teen and over the years has developed his own fluid sound. With the Country Gentlemen being a favorite band while learning to play, his mandolin style was greatly influenced by players like John Duffey and Doyle Lawson. Though baritone is his favorite, singing one of the lower parts beneath a tenor or high lead line to help make a great trio blend is what brings it home and pulls the music together, and it feels great to be able to sing a lot of the Country Gentlemen songs.

At 2:00pm Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road played another set today. Randy Graham joined Carolina Road today on guitar. He is a bluegrass mandolinist, bassist, and high-tenor vocalist who helped shape the genre's vocal harmonies through his work with The Bluegrass Cardinals. Graham pivoted to playing bass and singing for the elite bluegrass gospel group, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Later, he reunited with David Parmley to form the band Continental Divide, cementing his legacy as a top-tier harmony singer.

Adam Burrows joined in for a two fiddle tune. He is a highly accomplished bluegrass and traditional old-time fiddle player and vocalist. Known for his high tenor to deep bass vocal range and energetic "sawing" fiddle style, he is a prominent performer on the bluegrass festival circuit.

At 3:00pm, Gail Towle's and Patty Steven's favorite Bluegrass Band came on stage, Nothin' Fancy. They are a highly celebrated, award-winning bluegrass band formed in 1994 in Virginia. They are renowned across the acoustic music community for their intricate vocal harmonies, stellar instrumentation, lighthearted stage humor, and their distinctive bright yellow tour bus. Over their decades-long career, they have released over 10 full-length albums and have earned the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA) "Entertaining Group of the Year" award six times.

Mike Andes began performing publicly at age 14. Mike will tell you his music ability is God-given. He plays by ear and has never had any lessons or professional training. In 1994, was a founding member of Nothin’ Fancy. Mike always wanted a full-time career in music and Nothin’ Fancy has given him the opportunity to fulfill this goal. During his time with Nothin’ Fancy, Mike has been nominated for Mandolin Player of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Individual Entertainer of the Year and Songwriter of the Year through the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA). Multi-instrumentalist Chris Sexton is usually seen with a fiddle, and sometimes contributes to the vocals. He debuted with the band in 1998. He appeared as a guest on the band's second and third self-released albums and joined the band in the summer of 2000. Although his first instrument was a mandolin, Chris soon focused his energies on the violin. Throughout middle and high school, he grew as a violinist in symphony orchestras, the All-Virginia Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra Youth Apprenticeship Program, while keeping his bluegrass roots.

Jacob Flick is a student at East Tennessee State University. He is majoring in Appalachian studies with a concentration in bluegrass, and is among a new generation of bluegrass musicians who are pursuing the study of the music in institutes of higher learning. Jacob has been a fan of Nothin’ Fancy for years, and considered playing with Nothin’ Fancy “a dream job” ever since. The crew of Nothin’ Fancy are happy to make that dream a reality! Curt Gausman is returning to bluegrass after a stint off the road with bands based out of Northern Virginia in the 1980s. He enjoyed success as a charter bus tour coordinator operating his own tour bus company until the pandemic of 2020. Curt came to the Nothin’ Fancy festival and delivered some impressive tenor on his audition with strong rhythm guitar to back it up. He joined them at several performances and the responses from the crowd over Curt’s seasoned voice and affable smiles were enough to earn his place with Nothin’ Fancy. Jenkins is the fresh face to Nothin' Fancy and carries the torch of bluegrass music in his heart. Jenkins is an entertainer both on the stage and while hanging out with you in the fields of bluegrass festivals far and wide, and he only asks that if you're going to throw tomatoes at him, remember to take them out of the can first.

At 4:00pm the Little Roy & Lizzy Show was on stage. They are a highly energetic, award-winning bluegrass, gospel, and country music group based out of Lincolnton, Georgia. Formed in 2009, the band is fronted by legendary multi-instrumentalist Little Roy Lewis and virtuoso vocalist & musician Lizzy Long.

Little Roy Lewis is a bluegrass icon who played for 58 years with his family's legendary group, The Lewis Family ("The First Family of Bluegrass Gospel"). He is a master of the banjo, guitar, and autoharp, and is inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame. Lizzy Long is the daughter of Little Roy. She is a multi-Dove Award-winning vocalist and multi-instrumentalist who plays fiddle, banjo, guitar, autoharp, bass, and mandolin. Mentored by bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs, her solo album Blueberry Pie peaked at number two on the Billboard bluegrass chart.

Every member of their band are multi-instrumentalists... just look at these pictures!

After the dinner break, the second set for the Country Gentleman Show, had the guys all dressed up! Our friend, Billy Lee Cox, joined them for a song. He is an award-winning bluegrass musician and National Banjo Champion. He is recognized for his driving 5-string banjo style. Making it his career didn’t happen until after a stint in the Air Force. He got a gig playing with Chief Powhatan, one of the most colorful bluegrass acts of the 1970s and ’80s. Billy learned a great deal watching the Chief, as a natural entertainer. He is best known for his 15-year tenure touring with the prominent bluegrass band Remington Ryde. That explains his love of this festival!

Lorraine Jordan & Country Grass played tonight, since their set was rained out last night! It is their take of classic country hits with a little bluegrass flair.

Modern technology also allowed us to watch our granddaughter in NY graduate! Congrats Natalee! You are destined for great things!

Graduating from a small school is so cool, because they highlight each student! Grandpa and I counted 7 or 8 awards and scholarships! Way to go, kiddo!

Watching this BIG moment in her life was awesome!

I loved the candles representing the class of 2026 and their bright futures!

Each senior "signed off" from high school in their senior video!

Larry Efaw & Bluegrass Mountaineers were up next. Larry is the promoter of this festival. They are an acclaimed traditional bluegrass band known for keeping the authentic, hard-driving "mountain sound" of first-generation bluegrass alive. Deeply rooted in the style of the Stanley Brothers, the band represents multiple generations of the Efaw family, who originally brought their musical heritage from Appalachia up into Ohio. They have nearly a fifty-year history.

The band was started by Larry’s Dad, the late Ed Efaw. Larry grew up immersed in the music and first took the stage with his father's band at just 10 years old. Larry’s grandson, Chris Wilcox keeps the family tradition alive as the band’s guitar player. He has also started singing a few leads!