Sam Bush headlining Song of the Mountains

The legendary Sam Bush will headline the June 1 Song of the Mountains television taping at the historic Lincoln Theatre. Special opening band will be Jeff Parker and Company.

This will be Sam Bush’s first appearance on Song of the Mountains. Originally from Bowling Green, Kentucky Bush was a champion teen fiddler. He was a founding member of New Grass Revival. Shunned by some traditionalists, New Grass Revival played bluegrass fests slotted in late-night sets for the “long-hairs and hippies.” Quickly becoming a favorite of rock audiences, they garnered the attention of Leon Russell, one of the era’s most popular artists. Russell hired New Grass as his supporting act on a massive tour in 1973 that put the band nightly in front of tens of thousands. Americana Music Association awarded Bush the Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist. Punch Brothers, Steep Canyon Rangers, and Greensky Bluegrass are just a few present-day bluegrass vanguards among so many musicians he’s influenced. His performances are annual highlights of the festival circuit, with Bush’s joyous perennial appearances at the town’s famed bluegrass fest earning him the title, “King of Telluride.”

“With this band I have now I am free to try anything. Looking back at the last 50 years of playing newgrass, with the elements of jazz improvisation and rock-& amp;-roll, jamming, playing with New Grass Revival, Leon, and Emmylou; it’s a culmination of all of that,” says Bush. “I can unapologetically stand onstage and feel I’m representing those songs well.”

Jeff Parker is a multi-album recording artist and bluegrass fan-favorite from central Kentucky. Famous for his mandolin-playing and vocal lead singing with over 30 years in music, Jeff has been part of the musical staff at the Renfro Valley Entertainment Center and performed and recorded across America and internationally with musical acts such as Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers, the Lonesome River Band, Dailey & Vincent, and many more. With Dailey & Vincent, Jeff has performed multiple times at the Grand Ole Opry and Madison Square Garden, and on national media networks like PBS, RFD-TV, Sirius XM, to the acclaim of critics and fans alike.

Jeff began playing guitar at age six with his father and biggest influence, Vester Parker, who encouraged Jeff, imparting the lesson that “You need to practice. You have to know what you’re doing, and keep learning.” Jeff started playing the mandolin after he saw his first live performance of the Russell Brothers. For ten years, he performed at Renfro Valley where he was broadcast in over 200 radio stations with its Renfro Valley Sunday Morning. In 2001, Jeff began his partnership with the Lonesome River Band, and in 2007, he joined with The Dailey and Vincent band. Jeff’s collaboration with these groups has only grown his reputation as a leading vocal and instrumental talent and leading personality in bluegrass music.

As Jeff Parker & Company, he has produced four albums, “Two Roads to Travel” (2004), “Go Parker!” (2012), “It’s Christmas Time” (2013), and “Jeff Parker and Company” (2015), and “Time Has Made A Change” (2019). In 2020, Jeff Parker, as Jeff Parker & Colin Ray released a studio album, “My Hometown.” He is currently in the studio recording new music for 615 Hideaway Records. 

Song of the Mountains presents concert tapings every month at the Lincoln Theatre in Marion. The concerts are taped for broadcast across America on Public Television. The June 1 tickets are available online and at the box office.

For information visit  www.songofthemountains.org or call 276-783-6092.

The next Song of the Mountains taping will be on Saturday, July 6 and will feature the music of The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys and Wyatt Ellis.