The Homegrown String Band is a “100% Natural Organically Grown” band,homegrown by Georgianne and Rick Jackofsky and their two daughters,Erica and Annalee. This “family that plays together” has been performing around the country, from the National Theatre in Washington, DC, to the Festival of American Music and Crafts in Branson, Missouri, since 1997. During this time they have released four CDs and shared their music with hundreds of concert audiences throughout the US, taking listeners on “a rollicking ride through the sounds of American music.” Inspired by the rural string bands of the early 20th century, this 21st century incarnation of the traditional family band utilizes unique instrumentation including guitar, banjo, fiddle, dulcimer, mandolin, banjo-ukulele, harmonica, jawharp, doumbek, and percussive dance to put their own stamp on a repertoire drawn from the classics of rural American music, including blues, bluegrass, country, and folk. Their original music has been lauded as “heartfelt, original, insightful, and impressive” by major music publications Sing Out!, Dirty Linen, and Grammy nominated author Bill Dahl. Homegrown String Band stage shows have been voted audience favorite at festivals around the country, including the Appalachian Fiddle and Bluegrass Association Bluegrass Festival at Wind Gap, Pennsylvania. We really enjoyed having them as our 2010 featured performers.  Thank you. Jackofsky Family!

Deep Hole Road is a fun string band comprised of two couples: Sue & Phil and Nick & Sharon (Nick has been our esteemed festival emcee for these past few years). Sharon and Sue play the fiddle (and a couple of other instruments), Phil plays the guitar and banjo, and Nick says he plays whatever else is laying around. The gentleman also provide vocals. The foursome have been playing for open mics and benefits in southeastern New Hampshire and are currently working on a CD. They have a delightfully full sound that is extremely entertainly. What a wonderful surprise!

The Blueberry Jammers performed twice during the festival. The group is composed of the more advanced fiddling elementary and high school students of Immaculate Heart of Mary School (Richmond, NH).

IHM is a very small school and all the students from fifth grade through high school learn to play an instrument.  Whether they have just started the once-a-week group lessons this year or have been playing for five or six years, these students will sing, dance, and play a variety of old-time American music for your entertainment. For one of the performances, they were joined by The Future Famous Fiddlers (the elementary school choir - grades 1-4 - and beginning fiddlers). The littlest ones always steal the show!

The Well-Tuned Trio is growing into a larger group with the young Smarts joining in. From Fitzwilliam and Troy, they specialize in Irish and old-time music, but, then again, you never know when a little bluegrass or blues will creep in. Guitars, mandolins, tin whistles, fiddle, bodhran, and concertina combined with classic lyrics for a delightful show. The Well-Tuned Trio performed twice; it has been wonderful watching their repertoire grow along with the children.

New this year: We welcomed New Hampshire Dance Institute's SWAT Team. Perfoming two short excerpts from NHDI's performance "Are We There Yet?", these spirited, willing, and talented children really opened some eyes!