Grammy-award winner and five-time Grammy nominee Peter Rowan is a legend in folk-rock and bluegrass music.  Having performed as rhythm guitarist and lead singer with Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys from 1964 to 1967, he then joined David Grisman in the folk-rock band Earth Opera. The group recorded a couple of albums and toured (frequently opening for the Doors) until the early '70s.  After leaving Earth Opera, he became a part of Seatrain, a rock-fusion unit whose records were produced by George Martin.  Rowan left the band in 1972 to form the Rowan Brothers with siblings Chris and Lorin.  After the group disbanded, Rowan then recorded Old & in the Way with Grisman, Jerry Garcia, Vassar Clements, and John Kahn.  Their 1973 album remains the biggest selling bluegrass record of all time.  In 1974, Rowan, Grisman, Clarence White, and Richard Greene formed Muleskinner, a bluegrass band.  Muleskinner released one album and then disbanded.  He then reunited the Rowan Brothers, who this time played together until the early '80s. Meanwhile, Rowan also began playing rock and bluegrass with Mexican Airforce, which featured accordion player Flaco Jimenez.  Peter has since performed solo and with numerous talented musicians including his recent collaborations with the Tony Rice Quartet.

Pete Wernick, Jody Stecher, and Mike Bubb will appear with Peter.  Pete Wernick, "Dr. Banjo", is renowned worldwide for his accomplishments and contributions to bluegrass music: the hot-picking force in several trend-setting bands including Hot Rize, respected author and teacher, songwriter, and long-term President of the International Bluegrass Music Association.  Playing mandolin, Jody Stecher is considered one of the leading traditional folk artists of today.  Jody has been twice nominated for a Grammy with his wife Kate: in 1993 for "Our Town" ("Best Traditional Folk Album"), and again in 1998 for "Heart Songs: The Old Time Country Songs Of Utah Phillips" ("Best Traditional Folk Album of 1997").   Playing bass, Mike Bubb is one of the best instrumentalists in the industry having played with the Del McCoury Band and the Dale Ann Bradley Band.  Mike was the IBMA’s Instrumental Performer of the Year for the bas for 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003, and 2005.

Three time national fiddle champion Byron Berline and his band featuring John Hickman, Jim Fish, Richard Sharp, Steve Short, and Barry “Bones” Patton will get your feet stomping.  Berline's early career included playing fiddle with bluegrass legends Bill Monroe, Dillard and Clark, and Country Gazette. After moving to Los Angeles in 1969, he soon became one of the most popular fiddlers in the music business.  His long list of performing and recording credits includes The Rolling Stones, The Eagles, The Band, The Byrds, Elton John, Alabama, Mary Chapin Carpenter, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Rod Stewart, John Denver, Earl Scruggs, Emmylou Harris, Tammy Wynette, Mason Williams, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, and Vince Gill.  He also has extensive television and movie sound track credits and has appeared in Star Trek, Blaze, Back to the Future III, Basic Instinct, and the HBO series Deadwood.  Berline has recorded seven solo albums including his highly acclaimed Fiddle & A Song with guest performances from Vince Gill, Mason Williams, Earl Scruggs, and Bill Monroe.  In 1996, the album was nominated for two Grammy awards, 'Best Album of the Year' and ' Best Song of the Year'.

Appearing with Byron will be Barry “Bones” Patton, a featured performer at our 2007 festival.  Probably the premier bones player in the country, Barry “Bones” Patton has been a regular performer with the Byron Berline Band since 1995.  He has performed with some of the best, including Bill Monroe, Buck White & the Whites, Ricky Skaggs, Albert Lee, John Hickman, Vince Gill, Hot Rize, Mason Williams, Willie Nelson, Sam Bush, and Jerry Douglas.

Regarded as one of the great masters of the banjo, the legendary John Hickman continues his almost 30 year collaboration with Berline. Hickman has played with bluegrass greats like Red Allen, Frank Wakefield, and Earl Taylor's Stoney Mountain Boys. His work can be found on major label studio sessions as well as motion picture and television soundtracks.
 
Playing guitar for the band, Jim Fish began his career as a musician playing washboard in a jug band in the early 1960's, but the lure if the guitar was too powerful to deny.  Jim toured the states with a southern rock band called the Henry Paul Band, releasing two albums on Atlantic Records in the late 1970's. The band's first gig was opening for the Rolling Stones in Lakeland, Florida. Jim's interest in Clarence White's singular guitar playing guided him towards bluegrass music.
 
Greg Burgess has been playing fiddle for over 30 years.  Greg has won the Oklahoma state Fiddle Championship numerous times, and has been ranked in the top 10 at a number of national level fiddle contests. Greg has recorded and/or shared the stage with a number of musical greats including Hank Thompson, Leon Raush, Jody Miller, Mel Tillis, Moe Bandy, Billy Walker, Wanda Jackson, Becky Hobbs, Red Stegall, Suzy Bogguss, Asleep at the Wheel and many others.
 
Richard Sharp is at home on the left-handed upright and electric bass. Richard has toured with Oklahoma's own Harlow Wilcox, recording on his Grammy nominated album Groovy Grubworm. He has shared the stage with Hank Thompson, Texas Playboys, Chris Hillman, Vince Gill, Alan Munde, John Anderson, Boxcar Willie, Wanda Jackson, Colin Raye, Les Gilliam as well as entertaining Oklahoma Governors George Nigh and Frank Keating.
 
Steve Short began playing drums with his parents' family band at a very early age and has recorded and played with every big name imaginable, including three years with Reba McIntyre. Steve is an accomplished recording and sound engineer, and produces the Byron Berline Band's album projects.

Learn more about the Byron Berline Band at www.byronberlineband.com and Barry "Bones" Patton at www.barrybonespatton.com.