Artists 2026
The Mike Mitchell Band (USA)
Joe Newberry & April Verch (USA/CAN)
The Michael Prewitt Trio (USA/UK)
The Original Five (SWE)
Brooks Williams & Aaron Catlow (USA/UK)
Flats & Sharps
Dan Walsh
The Often Herd
Hippy Joe’s DBC Mofo’s
Foggy Mountain Breakup
The Caution Horses
Joff Lowson Trio
Paul Armer & The Dawn Chorus
The Charlotte Carrivick Band
Rocking Horse Money
Green Tree
Kidmarton Kids
The Mike Mitchell Band (USA)
The Mike Mitchell Band (USA) features masterful fiddle work, strong harmonies and rising young pickers. Their dynamic performances blend tradition, family and original songwriting into a compelling, modern bluegrass sound. The current configuration of the Mike Mitchell Band reflects Mike’s passion for mentoring the next generation of bluegrass artists, carrying forward the style, discipline and joy of traditional music. Mike’s commitment to education led him to establish The Floyd Music School, where he has taught hundreds of young musicians.
Throughout his career, Mike has collaborated with some of bluegrass music’s most respected artists and his recordings have featured top-tier talent from the genre. His album, “Fathers & Sons”, became a milestone project, not only because of its deeply personal theme, but also because it was the final album session for the late Jason Moore. The release elevated Mike’s national profile, earning airplay on Sirius XM’s Bluegrass Junction and top chart recognition across the bluegrass industry.
With a wealth of critically acclaimed music to choose from and new bluegrass album out this year, “Love Songs, Torch & Bluegrass”, produced by Darin Aldridge, you can expect The Mike Mitchell Band to be a highlight of Didmarton 2026.
Joe Newberry & April Verch (USA/CAN)
Growing up, Joe Newberry and April Verch absorbed traditions of home and hearth – in his Missouri Ozarks and her Ottawa Valley of Canada. Newberry comes from a family of singers and dancers. He took up the guitar and banjo as a boy and learned fiddle tunes from great Missouri fiddlers. Verch grew up listening to her Dad’s country band play for dances in the Ottawa Valley. She started step dancing at age three and fiddling at age six.
In a Newberry & Verch show, delighted audiences see first hand the roots of their music, their love of performing and their strong musical connection. Original songs join timeless classics. Stories warm the heart and give audiences a chance to understand where the music comes from. Lively fiddle and banjo numbers combine with traditional dance steps to illustrate happy times when people made their own fun.
Known around the world for his clawhammer banjo playing, Newberry is also a powerful guitarist, singer and songwriter. The Gibson Brothers’ version of his song “Singing As We Rise,” won an IBMA “Gospel Recorded Performance” Award. With Eric Gibson, he shared an IBMA “Song of the Year” Award for “They Called It Music.” A longtime guest on A Prairie Home Companion, he was a featured singer on the Transatlantic Sessions 2016 tour of the U.K. and at the Transatlantic Session’s debut at Merlefest in 2017. Also a sought-after instructor, he plays and teaches at festivals and workshops in North America and abroad.
Before launching her professional career, Verch was the first woman to win both the Canadian Grand Masters and Canadian Open Fiddling Championships. She has recorded 18 albums, receiving JUNO, Canadian Folk Music and Independent Music nominations and awards for several of those releases. She has also released an instructional stepdance DVD, a book of original fiddle tunes and a Canadian Fiddle tune teaching method for Mel Bay. Verch was one of 6 fiddlers who represented the Canadian fiddle tradition to the world at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, as part of a segment called “Fiddle Nation” featured in the Opening Ceremonies.
Whether it is the power of two voices lifted in harmony, or the sound of traditional tunes calling people to get up and move, these two masters of tradition put on an unforgettable show. When their feet kick up the dust in perfect rhythm and those two voices become one, Newberry & Verch help remind folks why this music existed in the first place.
The Michael Prewitt Trio
Hailing from the hills of East Kentucky, Michael Prewitt, known for his creative and hard-driving approach to the mandolin over the last few years with Grammy-nominated and IBMA award-winning bluegrass band Special Consensus, has journeyed all around the world and now come home, releasing a debut vocal album of original songwriting, titled Something He Can Handle.
On this album, which Bluegrass Today termed “a brilliant effort,” he showcases his fresh, inventive take on bluegrass songwriting. In his live shows, these original songs are paired with many detours onto the bluegrass back roads of forgotten B-sides, respectful covers, and old fiddle tunes, forming a unique blend of thoughtful lyricism and hot picking that has been enthusiastically received by audiences at dive bars, festivals, rock clubs, theaters, listening rooms, and breweries across the USA, Canada, and Europe.
Michael will be joined on stage at Didmarton by Kieran Towers on fiddle and Eleanor Wilkie on double bass.
The Original Five (SWE)
The Original Five mixes traditional Bluegrass with their own material, more well-known, crowd-pleasing country songs and musical excursions into both folk music and gospel. A wide spectrum of musical experiences that are held together by the band’s solid bluegrass background.
The band started in 2010 as a Jam session at Far I Hatten in Folkets Park in Malmö, but since then the music has taken them around to festivals and gigs all over Europe and of course the homeland of bluegrass, the USA. Five own studio albums and many collaborations with other musicians over the years, e.g. a live album in collaboration with a Swiss chamber orchestra.
For the past decade, The Original Five, perhaps one of the world’s smallest quintets, has consisted of: Dan Englund – double bass, vocals, Jonas Svahn – guitar, vocals, Johan Malmberg – banjo, fiddle, vocals, Daniel Olsson – dobro, vocals.
Brooks Williams & Aaron Catlow (USA/UK)
Brooks Williams & Aaron Catlow are equal parts Americana, folk and country blues and create joyous and virtuosic music that not only tugs at the heart-strings, but also gets you up on your feet. AmericanaUK writes, “How such a complete and sensational sound can come from just two voices and two instruments is awe-inspiring.”
Aaron Catlow is half of the Bristol-based duo Hawes And Catlow, with guitarist-singer Kit Hawes. He is also the fiddler in UK festival favourite Sheelanagig. Catlow’s other credits including playing with Grammy Award-nominated Yola, Mad Dog Mcrea and Afro Celt Sound System.
Cambridge UK-based, Georgia US-born, Brooks Williams has a long-standing solo career in both North America and the UK and is also known for his collaborations with Boo Hewerdine, Dan Walsh, and Rab Noakes, among others. He is named one of WUMB-FM Boston’s Top 100 All-Time Artists.
The music this duo create with just a guitar and fiddle is not to be missed!
Flats & Sharps
Flats & Sharps are a five-piece British bluegrass band originally from the deep southwest… Cornwall. They’ve been thrilling audiences with tasteful musicianship, powerful harmonies and high energy for over a decade. From their humble beginnings busking on the rainy streets of Penzance as teenagers to playing sell out shows across the globe and incredible venues such as The Royal Albert Hall. The boys have played hundreds of major festivals across the UK, Europe, Australia and the U.S., they’ve built a reputation as one of the UK’s standout acts.
Known for their mix of traditional bluegrass roots and fresh original songwriting, their live shows are a blend of virtuosity, humour and raw passion that leave crowds smiling and wanting more. Looking ahead, Flats & Sharps are embarking on their most ambitious chapter yet. With new music in the works, fresh collaborations on the horizon and tours planned at home and abroad, the band remain dedicated to bringing their music to new audiences while keeping their long-term fans dancing, laughing and singing along. Their story is one of friendship, grit and a deep love of music. Flats & Sharps are charging full steam into their most exciting chapter yet.
Dan Walsh
Dan Walsh’s virtuoso picking, emotive songwriting and infectious charm have seen him gather international acclaim. The BBC Folk Award nominee has playfully explored the full breadth of folk, breaking boundaries and winning new converts to the potential of the banjo – an instrument he has made his own – on multiple continents. Well known as solo artist, band member, in-demand session musician and star teacher, his new album returns to one of his first loves, American country music. In fact, Dan is making his most joyous, surprising and above all entertaining music yet.
The Often Herd
The Often Herd transcend the traditional boundaries of bluegrass music. Although they might resemble an American string band, complete with driving energy, tight vocal harmonies and dazzling instrumental interplay, their vibrant, transatlantic sound is deeply coloured by their surroundings; the striking natural and industrial landscapes of Northern England. This unique approach won them the title of “Best European Bluegrass Band 2018” at the prestigious La Roche Bluegrass Festival in France.
Rupert Hughes (guitar) and Evan Davies (mandolin), write songs steeped in personal experience whilst drawing from a wide pool of influences ranging from old-time to psychedelia. American-born fiddler Niles Krieger and jazz bassist Sam Quintana add fiery instrumental skills to the mix, launching the band’s arrangements into the stratosphere. Together, their sound is both boldly contemporary and soothingly familiar, taking time-honoured traditions to new places with a fresh perspective. Flock to the herd, you won’t be disappointed.