2026 Lineup+Schedule
Schedule of Events
10:45AM
Opening Ceremony
11:00-11:30PM
Lucas Ross "Banjo Farm" Puppet Segment
11:45AM-12:30PM
Blue Diggity
12:45PM-1:45PM
Ettore Buzzini
2:00PM-2:45PM
The Biscuit Eaters
3:00PM-3:45PM
Lucas Ross
4:00PM-5:30PM
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
5:15PM
Parade of Kids announcing CBCBF27 Lineup / Closing Jam: "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?"
5:30PM
End
About the Artists
Michael Cleveland
and Flamekeeper
On Stage from 4:00PM-5:30PM
The tension between tradition and innovation is at the core of bluegrass music, and the fiddle playing of Michael Cleveland exemplifies this musical tug of war. As a boy, Cleveland heard a local fiddler play "Orange Blossom Special," which sparked a lifelong obsession with the tune that mimics that sound of a train. Cleveland's improvisational versions push the piece's descriptive tones and percussive bowing to a new level. With an encyclopedic memory for melodies, and an uncanny intuition for improvisation, Cleveland's music is both rooted in tradition and fueled by his melodic imagination.
From an early age, Cleveland heard old-time and bluegrass music at local jams and festivals near his hometown of Henryville, Indiana. His grandparents hosted regular bluegrass gatherings at the American Legion, and at age four, he began playing the fiddle. He attended the Kentucky School for the Blind in Louisville, where he learned the Suzuki method of violin.
Widely considered the bluegrass fiddler of his generation, Cleveland has been recognized 12 times as the IBMA's "Fiddler of the Year" and in 2018 was inducted into the National Fiddler's Hall of Fame. His recording Fiddler's Dream was nominated in 2018 for a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album, and in 2019, he won a Grammy for his album Tall Fiddler. In 2019, Flamekeeper: The Michael Cleveland Store. and in 2022, he was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship. Cleveland also received a GRAMMY nomination for Best Bluegrass Album for his 2025 collaboration album Carter and Cleveland with Jason Carter.
Joining Cleveland in his band Flamekeeper is Nathan Livers on vocals and mandolin; Chris Douglas on vocals and bass; Josh Richards on vocals and guitar, and Cody Looper on banjo
Banjoist and Muppet Artist:
Lucas Ross
Lucas will perform on CBC's Front Stage from 11:00AM until 11:30AM with his "Banjo Farm" puppet segment. He will perform again on stage at 3:00PM-3:45PM and close his set with a kids' interactive version of "Rainbow Connection" that you won't want to miss!
Lucas Ross is an EMMY award winning actor, comedian, and musician who has worked alongside everyone from Steve Martin and Willie Nelson to Matthew McConaughey and Kurt Russell, and more. He currently holds the title of "banjo advisor to Kermit the Frog" and provides banjo tracks for Disney's The Muppet Studios. Fans heard his work in the recent popular revival of The Muppet Show that aired in February. He is a Deering Banjo artist who has released five albums. He also works with the American Banjo Museum as Community Outreach and Promotions Coordinator, appearing alongside Kermit the Frog in the museum's award-winning "Banjo Roots" program.
Ettore Buzzini
On Stage from 12:45PM-1:45PM
When you think about bluegrass music, you don't think about grand emotional and spiritual journeys that pierce your soul; yet that is exactly what Swiss-American songwriting and banjo prodigy Ettore Buzzini is creating with his innovative, classical-infused but deeply traditional bluegrass music. Imagine Earl Scruggs had been influenced by Led Zeppelin and Chopin and you'll get an idea of Ettore's sounds.
Ettore (pronounced like "Letter-A") has a decidedly youthful take on traditional bluegrass, rooted in tradition, but with an innovative, distinctive picking style, and a unique gift of songwriting.
His unique, fresh style is a product of his roots on both sides. He was imbued with the classical tradition while living with his family in Italian-speaking Switzerland, as a toddler. At age 6, his East Tennessee grandfather introduced him to Flatt & Scruggs, and he was hit by bluegrass like a lightning bolt. At just 11 years old, he won the Kruger Brothers' Young Songwriter's Contest with an original banjo and lyrical composition about the Norse mythology of Ragnarok. By age 14, he had released his first album.
Ettore has collaborated and performed with bluegrass legends Pete Wernick, Danny Paisley, Christopher Henry, and many others. He has been featured at celebrated festivals such as Merlefest and Floydfest, PBS's Woodsongs, and more. At age 16, competing against industry professionals, he won the prestigious Fresh Grass Competition with his original composition, "The Birth of Eros," a hard-driving banjo instrumental with a classical romantic theme of a lost soul's hope of redemption and love.
Blue Diggity
On Stage from 11:45AM-12:30PM
Since 2021, Blue Diggity has hit the bluegrass music community with an enthusiasm and dedication that has given them a reputation as one of the hottest bands on the scene. This four piece band composed of Isaiah Childers on guitar, Bailey Childers on banjo, Lilli Gadd on bass, and Jimmy Hall on mandolin demonstrates proficiency instrumentally, vocally, and as entertainers. Based out of Wheeling, West Virginia, Blue Diggity is a nationally touring band that offers a refreshing and unique take on the music which has quickly made them a favorite at festivals. Each member is a dedicated student of traditional bluegrass with their own distinct flavor of contemporary influences that combine to make an unforgettable stage experience. Blue Diggity has a high-energy approach to the stage that audiences will find contagious. They perform a variety of bluegrass covers, classic country songs, original material, and thrilling instrumentals. Between their passionate vocal leads, energetic stage presence, tight harmonies, and powerful instrumental arrangements, Blue Diggity generates a dynamic presence on stage that is sure to engage spectators at any venue or event!
The Biscuit Eaters
On Stage from 2:00PM-2:45PM
This close-knit family band hails from Surry County, North Carolina, and has fast become a favorite at Carolina Bible Camp. In fact, several members have attended summer sessions of Camp! Featuring siblings Sam, Jo, Maggie Jane, Silas, Molly, ages 16 to 7, plus mom Meredith and father Jason, this dynamic group has been spreading joy since 2022. Both parents work for Samaritan’s Purse ministries while providing academic and musical instruction for their children.
With harmonies learned around their kitchen table and a repertoire of traditional and Gospel bluegrass songs cherished across generations, The Biscuit Eaters (also known as the Wilkerson family) deliver performances that are heartfelt and memorable. They have won numerous competitions, had original songs recorded, and released their first album this spring.