Day 162 of 166 Days of RV Adventures in the Summer of 2026

Thursday October 15th was day 162. It started out like it did so many days on the Yankee RV Tours - 250th Anniversary of America Tour that we did in May & June! 

"Sister" Cathy Cady came by to grab some coffee! She is in a small tow behind and needs coffee, but does not brew any for herself! It was awesome to be able to share a cup with her again! You never know who you might meet at a bluegrass festival!

The music started promptly at 12:00pm with Bells Highway. They are a traditional bluegrass music group from the South Carolina Lowcountry. We have never heard them before, the played classic Southern bluegrass and gospel-infused acoustic songs. They frequently perform across the Southeast at community centers, local parks, and regional festivals (including past performances at the Veterans Victory House in Walterboro, SC, Swainsboro, GA, and Mossy Oak Music Park.) The leader of the group was Larry Duncan on Banjo. He was joined by Roger Baker on Guitar, Luther Gravitt on the Mandolin and the guy who missed the text about white shirts.... Mike Lynch on Bass.

They "bluegrassed" up the song "Amie" which was a country rock staple written and originally performed by the band Pure Prairie League in 1972. It was awesome!

They went back a bit further to "bluegrass" this song! The "Last Train to Clarksville" was originally recorded and released by The Monkees in August 1966, with lead vocals performed by Micky Dolenz. It was The Monkees debut single. I bet they never thought it would be a bluegrass song!

No Reputation was up next, at 1pm. No Reputation is a Bluegrass Gospel Band that performs at church revivals, fall festivals, and community worship events.
They regularly play live worship services and regional gatherings—such as appearing at the Solid Rock Community Church in Sanford, Florida, and for the Headin' Home Fest at Stagger Lee Music Park in Hazlehurst, Georgia. The band's name comes from Philippians 2:7. "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:" They give all the glory to God, therefore they have "no reputation." 

At 2:00pm The Little Roy & Lizzy Show took the stage. They offer the best of bluegrass, gospel and old time music. Lizzy paired up with Little Roy Lewis from the legendary Lewis Family. Her extraordinary voice shimmers with strains of America’s musical roots. Lizzy has won “Bluegrass Song of the Year” for a several songs called “Mountain Top”, a duet with Ty Herndon called “When We Fly”, and "He Washed My Soul". Most recently at the 2015 GMA Dove awards she was awarded Best Bluegrass Song of the Year for a Duet with Rhonda Vincent called "God is There". She is one of the youngest fiddlers to be inducted into “America’s Old Time Fiddler’s Country Hall of Fame” in LeMars, IA.

Little Roy is a true banjo master, a picker's picker' Little Roy can also play the guitar and autoharp. In fact, the song 'Good Time Get-Together' was written to highlight his instrumental skills. Little Roy is multi-talented - he sings, plays many instruments, tells stories, and acts. When you see this Duo, you are sure to notice Little Roy, and he'll make you smile. He has been inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, SPGBMA Hall of Greats, IBMA Hall of Honor, and the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Nick Chandler & Delivered took the stage at 3:00pm. Nick Chandler is an award-winning mandolin player, singer, and songwriter who leads the high-energy traditional bluegrass band Nick Chandler and Delivered. Hailing from Weaverville, North Carolina, Chandler is a four-time North Carolina State Mandolin Champion and has also claimed the title in Georgia. Signed to Pinecastle Records, the band is known for a driving, polished sound that closely mirrors the classic bluegrass style of the 1980s while incorporating powerful original compositions.

The band members are, Nick Chandler on Mandolin, lead vocals, and songwriting. Gary Trivette on Bass, vocals, and songwriting, Spencer Atkinson on Guitar and tenor vocals and Jake Burrows on Banjo and composition. Jake is a bluegrass veteran, having worked previously with Lonesome Will Mullins, The Kody Norris Show, and The Kevin Prater Band. The band released their highly anticipated album, Look For Me, on August 7, 2026. The record features a blend of original material, like Chandler’s single "Maria" and Jake Burrows' instrumental track "Don't Cry For Me"

4:00pm was the Dinner Break. It gave us a chance to get out of this exceptional heat in Georgia in October and cool off in the RV!

At 5:30pm No Reputation was back on stage for their second set. Don't let the name and the modest bio of the band fool you, they are packed with heavy hitters in the Bluegrass world! Nick Keen plays Mandolin and signs Tenor Vocals. He also joined Volume 5 in early in 2025. Chase Bennett was playing Banjo today, but he recently, July 2026, left Caroline Owens and joined Hammertowne. Zak McLamb played Upright Bass and he is a Grammy Nominated Artist for Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album - 'Tell Someone' with the Kenny & Amanda Smith Band.

Daniel Norton was on the Dobro. For those non-bluegrass friends, a Dobro is a type of Resonator guitar that uses internal metal spun cones to amplify sound instead of a traditional wooden soundboard. Daniel is one of the best dobro players in bluegrass and has played with Hammertowne in the past. He is currently a preacher in Tennessee, but still has music in his veins! The leader of the band is Cooper Marona on Guitar. He may not yet be a familiar name. But as a new bluegrass artist, and a recent graduate of the bluegrass music program at ETSU. Cooper has released his first recorded project, On My Way Back Home, which features him on guitar and lead vocals. The tracks were cut in the ETSU studio, along with a number of fellow players he knows through the program, including a couple of his teachers. The project shows Marona to be a compelling vocalist, worthy of your attention, with a promising start to a career in bluegrass music.

Chase Bennett's wife, Maggie, came on stage for a few numbers during their second set.

At 6:30pm, the host band took the stage, Headin’ Home. They are a band of six family members from coastal Georgia, who are lighting up the bluegrass scene with their brand of tight, refreshing, inspiring family music. Jon and Marina Lindblom, both classically trained professional musicians, are joined by their four adult children Luke, Libby, Lucy, and Timothy to create a true powerhouse family band. This close-knit group has music in their genes, which shines through in their polished sound and tightly-woven blend of instruments and voices. These four siblings grew up playing music together since their earliest memories. The family began touring as a bluegrass band in 2018, with the name Headin’ Home to reflect their faith-based values and their focus on sharing songs with an uplifting, positive message.

The group performs heartfelt original music along with traditional bluegrass and gospel classics; and whether they’re burning up a fiddle tune or blending their voices in harmony, Headin’ Home is a band that stays true to who they are in every song. They take their music seriously, as a family unit with something special and meaningful to share. All of the individual band members are award-winning instrumentalists. Together, their virtuosic show captures the hearts of audiences, igniting touching memories of a time when family togetherness was a way of life. Bluegrass Unlimited remarked after the band’s second album release, “Headin’ Home’s wholesome, celebratory music is almost irrepressibly appealing and uplifting.”

At 7:30 Nick Chandler & Delivered was back on stage for their second set. Just my opinion, but this group was my least favorite of the day...

The finale act for the night came at 8:30pm with the second set from The Little Roy & Lizzy Show. I learned that Little Roy Lewis and his wife, Bonnie, became Lizzy Long's foster parents when she was roughly 14 or 15 years old.  Little Roy began mentoring Lizzy when she was a young girl growing up on the same rural road in Lincolnton, Georgia. He taught her how to play the banjo and later brought her on tour with his legendary family band, The Lewis Family. After The Lewis Family retired, the duo formed their own bluegrass group in 2009. They have spent nearly two decades touring together, recording multiple albums, and hosting music festivals.

Stay tuned for more music and more Two Lane Adventures!