Artists

John Harlow
Peter Henderson
Susan Henderson
Barbara Hennig-Loomis
Anne Holland
Dianne Hottenstein
Carrie Jacobson
Daniel Jasper
Jamie Kirkpatrick
Jennifer Klein
Bill and Lynne Kretzer
Kurt & Sally Lewin
Melanie Lewis

Andrew Alli and Josh Small

Andrew and Josh provide a unique blend of acoustic blues, folk, and soul music with an honest and loving approach. Andrew Alli is a Richmond, VA, native who recently received a nomination for Best Emerging Artist by the Blues Music Association. He took up music relatively later in life at the age of 20. After being inspired by a busker playing harmonica on the street one day, he hit the local music store and got his own harmonica. From then on, Andrew committed himself to learning the instrument's history. He soon fell in love with the blues and began studying all the harmonica greats, including Big Walter Horton, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Junior Wells, and more. He has developed his unique playing style while still paying his respects to his biggest influences from the past. 

His musical partner, Josh Small, is a slide guitarist, banjo player, and singer/songwriter. He also hails from Virginia, learning music by watching his father play guitar and banjo and listening to his mother's beautiful mountain singing style. 

Ken Heath and the True Disciples

Ken Heath is a native of Petersburg, Virginia, where he was raised up to the sounds of the gospel music of the Black Holiness Church and Virginia's rich Gospel quartet tradition. At 14, Ken had the opportunity to perform on drums with his idols, Richmond's Maggie Ingram and the Ingramettes, at the Masonic Temple in Petersburg. The group instantly recognized his talent, and he went on to perform widely with the Ingramettes. He formed Ken Heath and The True Disciples in 2014 with fellow singers Kenneth "KJ" Jones and Chris Robertson. The trio is joined by Maurice Johnson, Sr. on drums, Rodney Easter on bass, Joe Brown on guitar, and Bryan Pitt and Justin Brown on keyboards. The True Disciples are known for their spirited, electrifying performances, and their mission can be summed up into four words: Building Relationships Through Christ.

The Mustard Cutters

The Mustard Cutters are a powerhouse string band of women based in Southwest Virginia that plays highly danceable tunes and great two-stepping songs. The band includes Gina Dilg (fiddle), Trish Fore (banjo), Ashlee Watkins (guitar), and Brett Morris (bass).

Linda Lay and Springfield Exit 

With a powerhouse voice and remarkable range, Linda Lay is one of the best singers in grassroots bluegrass and country music. She leads an exceptional ensemble of award-winning musicians in Springfield Exit. The core trio of Linda, her husband David Lay, and multi-instrumentalist David McLaughlin formed nearly two decades ago, joining their varied experiences and creating a feeling of their very own, combining elements of bluegrass and country with sounds stemming from their Appalachian roots.

Sheryl Warner
and Gregg Kimball

“Dynamic, expressive, and soulfully powerful” - That’s how national publications describe Sheryl Warner. Add the propulsive guitar of Gregg Kimball, and you have a powerful duo delivering straight-ahead blues, ragtime, and roots music.

10:45 - 11:45 a.m. Gregg Kimball and Sheryl Warner

Noon - 12:45 p.m. The Mustard Cutters

1:00 - 1:45 p.m.  Andrew Alli and Josh Small

2:00 - 2:45 p.m. Ken Heath and the True Disciples

3:00 - 3:45 p.m. Linda Lay and Springfield Exit

Are you ready for a toe-tapping educational experience that will bring a smile to your face? Then, check out the intimate musician workshops that occur throughout the day at Art & Music on the Farm. Hosted by music historian Gregg Kimball, these up-close and personal conversations with our award-winning musicians reveal their musical influences and inspirations interspersed with impromptu jam sessions that highlight the depth and richness of Virginia's traditional music.

Gospel and the Blues: Andrew Alli, Josh Small, and Ken Heath and the True Disciples
Noon - 12:45 p.m.

Twentieth-century gospel and Blues music are musical cousins. Blues influenced the fiery performance styles of Black Pentecostal and Holiness churches and street singers. Gospel greats such as Sister Rosetta Tharpe sometimes delved into the Blues repertoire—often to the chagrin of church people—while Blues singers recorded Gospel songs under pseudonyms. Andrew Alli, Josh Small, and Ken Heath will discuss these connections while demonstrating the evolution of Blues and Gospel styles.

Southern Vocal Traditions: Linda Lay and Springfield Exit, and Ken Heath
and the True Disciples
1:00 - 1:45 pm

Singing traditions in the American South range from gospel harmony to British ballads to work songs and blues. The region’s musicians not only preserved Old World musical traditions but also created new ones based on the region’s deep roots. Ken Heath and his group will demonstrate the evolution of Black gospel traditions, while Linda Lay will bring that discussion into the realms of bluegrass, gospel, and country singing.

Ballads, Barn Dances, and Bluegrass—Roots of Country Music:
The Mustard Cutters and Linda Lay and Springfield Exit
2:00 - 2:45 pm

Country music has roots extending back to Colonial Virginia. British and African traditions contributed to the development of dance music on the fiddle and banjo, while church music brought vocal harmony and new singing styles to the fore. All of these influences and more produced a musical hybrid that formed the foundation of country music and its many genres, especially bluegrass. Members of the Mustard Cutters and Springfield Exit will discuss their own musical roots and influences as part of this musical family tree.