
2026 ARTISTS

Dom Flemons and The Traveling Wildfires
6:05PM :: MAINSTAGE
The Traveling Wildfires is a supergroup created and led by Grammy Award-winning musician and American Banjo Hall of Fame Inductee Dom Flemons, “The American Songster”. Flemons is widely recognized as a roots music icon, and he is one of the founders of the groundbreaking Carolina Chocolate Drops, making him one of the most influential voices in the music industry. His newly anticipated young band features a powerhouse lineup of multi-instrumentalists whose collective talents deliver high-energy performances and innovate new sounds that showcase the depth of American roots music. Flemons formed The Traveling Wildfires as the next chapter in his lifelong mission to celebrate, preserve, and innovate within roots music traditions and beyond. Inspired by his GRAMMY-nominated Folkways albums “Black Cowboys” and “Traveling Wildfire” and the 20th Anniversary of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, his new supergroup is taking it to another level. Flemons has performed as a soloist for over a decade and has collaborated with world-renowned musicians, from Tyler Childers, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Yo Yo MA, Taj Mahal, Mike Seeger, Tony Trischka, Sam Bush, Leyla McCalla, and many more. Now, the musicians joining Dom Flemons' supergroup are Bassist/Fiddler Brian Farrow (formerly Gangstagrass), Banjoist/Guitarist Tray Wellington (formerly New Dangerfield), and Singer/Drummer Dante Pope (formerly Old Crow Medicine Show). Each member of the band brings a cool new style, an enormous amount of music experience and connections, and they have all exchanged in powerful music collaborations at venues and festivals across the country. Together, Dom Flemons and The Traveling Wildfires create a sound that’s both fiery, fresh, and fiercely rooted in a good time—while carrying the cultural musical legacies of Bluegrass, Country, Folk, Blues, and Black string band music into the present and future.

THE BABERHOOD BLUEGRASS BAND
7:15PM :: SIDE STAGE
The Baberhood Bluegrass Band pays tribute to Jeff Blanchard, the original founder, heart and soul of the long-time purveyor of bluegrass music in Iowa and the Midwest, Mr. Babers Neighbors. The Baberhood Bluegrass Band consists of various members who participated in the multi-decade history of Mr. Babers Neighbors. Their mission is to carry the torch lit by Jeff to bring a good time filled with traditional and original bluegrass music to audiences in Central Iowa and beyond.

BUFFALO GALAXY
8:15PM :: MAINSTAGE
Buffalo Galaxy (Minneapolis, MN) is where heavy hitting psychedelia meets old timin’ bluegrass. Their songwriting, patience, and personalities prove they go deep!
Banjo, Mandolin, Upright Bass, and Acoustic Guitar play off each other reaching both interstellar space and a universal familiarity. Their song catalog ranges from short and sweet Bill Monroe to here and now Lil Nas X. As well as catchy originals like "Time Machine" and long renditions of Grateful Dead classics.
Since 2019 Buffalo Galaxy has played over 300 shows around the US from the West Coast to the Blue Ridge Mountains. In 2024, they revved up their tour schedule playing further and farther from their home base in Minneapolis. Noticeable appearances include: Palisade Bluegrass Bash (Colorado), Blue Ox Music Festival (Wisconsin), AVL Fest (North Carolina), Summer's End Smoke Out & Porcupine Music Festival (Michigan), Bluegrass & Butterflies (Oregon) and playing dozens of new markets in and beyond the Pacific Northwest, West, Midwest and the south.
Buffalo Galaxy released their debut album “New Escape” in 2021. Their sophomore album “Greeting’s From” was released 2024.

FLASH IN A PAN
4:15PM :: MAINSTAGE
The Iowa City-based quartet has been playing across the Midwest since 2012. Founded by guitarist Blake T. Daly, the current line-up also consists of banjo player Alex Flesher, mandolinist Max Lipnick, and bassist Blake Shaw. Flash in a Pan has cultivated a unique tonality balancing tradition and innovation in folk and bluegrass music. Noted for their shining vocal harmonies, vibrant stage energy, and modern sensibility in composition, Flash in a Pan has become a darling to festival stages, theaters, and bar rooms alike. Their musical style offers a blend that is all at once familiar and refreshingly unexpected.

