Band Spotlight: The Hillbenders

     I hope everyone is getting all geared up for the 8th annual festival, because June will be here before we know it!  We almost have a full roster of bands, and will release an official schedule just as soon as everything is tacked down.  One of the bands already in our line-up are The Hillbenders.  If you have never had the opportunity to hear The Hillbenders, or even see them live, then you HAVE to be front and center when they take our stage!
    The Hillbenders were formed in 2008, and have been up and rising ever since.  They have performed at many great venues such as Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Walnut Valley Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and many many others.  They have performed at our festival in the past with great festival-goer reviews, and this year will be back again for more. 
     It has been said that the Hillbenders have all but created their own music genre, combining country, bluegrass, jazz and roots.  The wildly talented group consists of five members who are now based in Springfield MO; Mark Cassidy on banjo, Gary Rea on bass, Jim Rea on Guitar, Nolan Lawrence on mandolin, and Chad Graves on dobro.  This band pours their heart and soul into their music, and their spectacular stage performance. 
     The Hillbenders released their first album "Down To My Last Dollar" in 2010, featuring 11 original compositions, which you can check out here.
   

 The Hillbenders have a great website, www.hillbenders.com, and you can find them on facebook.  Go "like" them and let 'em know that you'll be catching them at the Eight Annual TallGrass Music Festival!


   Don't forget!  The TallGrass Music Festival is May 31st, June 1st, and June 2nd, and will be great fun for the whole family!  You can find us here, and on facebook. 

See you all there!