YAPA!

Rooted in an eclectic mix of Latin America cumbia and Andean folk music, Yapa weaves together influences from Africa, Appalachia and the Canary Islands. Yapa is a musical journey inspired by many rich cultures. From indigenous melodies of the Andes Mountains to the traditional and popular dance musics of the world, Yapa always brings a little "extra gift" for your ears...and your heart! Yapa! features musicians from Ecuador, El Salvador, Canary Islands, and the US.

OkCello

Okorie Johnson is an American cellist-songwriter who performs under the moniker OkCello. His artistry integrates cello performance, live-sound-looping, improvisation, and storytelling – all culminating in original compositions that collide classical with jazz, EDM, reggae, and funk. OkCello is inspired by the exploration of African Diasporic melodies and narratives and their intersection with people’s perceptions and assumptions about the classical and European nature of the cello.  As well, his work with improvisation attempts to embody the phenomenon of wordless prayer.

In September 2022, Okorie OkCello Johnson was one of the presenters at the Democratic Republic of the Congo Biennale for his proposal of a sound installation project entitled “Vessel of Breath,” a meditative cello composition comprised of harvested sound, collaborative compositions, and community interviews. In March 2022, he participated in the Kennedy Center’s artist residence program entitled Office Hours, in which he began workshopping the process for the above sound installation. The Kennedy center residency culminated in a performance at the REACH, the Kennedy Center’s “living theater where diverse art forms collide to break down boundaries between audience and art.”

Restless Leg String Band

This group of skilled pickers has been forming and shaping itself since 2013 into a traditional-like bluegrass ensemble featuring the musical stylings of Casen Baumgardner (Guitar), Daniel Bailey (Bass), Ishi Wooton (Fiddle), Jonathan Bramel (Banjo/Resonator) and Chris Cupp (Mandolin). All coming from different backgrounds, but having the common denominator of KY roots, their unique combination of original jam grass, party tunes and country/rock/blues/contemporary cover songs has captured audiences all across the region and gained a reputation as a must see festival experience.

Joanna Hyde & Tadhg Ó Meachair

Tadhg Ó Meachair of Dublin, Ireland, and Joanna Hyde, a native of Colorado, have an eclectic artistic partnership that extends back to 2012, where they met while studying and teaching at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick. Now married and working together on various projects, Tadhg (piano, piano accordion) and Joanna (vocals, fiddle) first came to know each other as artists rooted in the musical traditions of their respective countries, and their collaborations comprise a continuous conversation about the interplay between American and Irish artforms.

Tadhg, an All-Ireland piano champion and founder-member of traditional group Goitse, grew up in an Irish-speaking family steeped in Irish traditional music. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Ethnomusicology & Folklore. Joanna grew up loving bluegrass, classical, jazz, Appalachian, Irish and other folk musics, performing with her brother, Iain, as The Hydes. Along the way, she gathered numerous musical awards, including the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Graduate Arts Award, which first brought her to study music in Ireland some 11 years ago.

Tyrone Cotton

Tyrone Cotton’s earliest musical revelation was listening to the raspy, inspirational voice of his grandfather, the Reverend Cleveland Roosevelt Williams, at his childhood home in Louisville, KY. At a young age, Cotton began playing guitar along to the sounds of popular rock and blues artists. Overtime, he was influenced by Jerry Garcia, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, and Mississippi John Hurt, who intrigued Tyrone with his “ finger pickin’ and soft, wispy voice.” 

Inspired by this wide variety of artists, Cotton developed a style of writing that blended soul, folk, blues, jazz, and rock n roll. He has become a staple in the Louisville music scene over the past 30 years, being well recognized for his stirring voice and lyrics. 

Cotton has toured throughout the United States and Japan, with plans to continue performing in the US this year. He is currently working on a new album with longtime collaborator Ray Rizzo and producer Josh Kaufman, best known for his work with The National, Bob Weir, and Josh Ritter.

The Buffalo Strings

After almost convincing himself he couldn’t sing, Andrew met several people who did not agree with him and drug him onto stages and in front of audiences. He was a member of the Crossroads Blues Band in Kampala, Uganda where Dede Majoro would sometimes pull him onto stage to play harmonica. He later played with Double Barrel Darrel, writing original Americana music and touring throughout the midwest. Double Barrel Darrel released three albums over a decade. He plays guitars he has built, harmonica, and is sometimes known to pull out an accordion. His songs speak of his wonder for this life and the grief that accompanies that. He has lived in Paoli, Indiana for seven years and his newer songs speak of that beauty and struggle.

Wyatt Blankenship is 19 year old musician and 2023 graduate of Paoli High School. He specializes in old-time country, bluegrass, and gospel music. He was brought into those genres by his late grandfather who introduced him to various artists from a very early age. He mostly sings and plays guitar, however he also likes to hop in on mandolin, bass, dobro, fiddle, banjo, and harmonica whenever he gets the chance.