Michael Cleveland & The Flamekeeper Band w/Round Mountain
Performing Friday, April 23 at 8 PM:
Award-winning fiddler Michael Cleveland brings his dynamic traditional bluegrass to the stage with his band, Flamekeeper, in a show that will leave the audience talking. A five-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association's Fiddle Player of the Year award, Mike and his talented band present a program of tight vocals, blistering instrumentals, and fiddle-and-banjo duets that echo the first-generation stars of bluegrass. The show is rounded out with Mike's dry wit and the band's sense of fun.
Considered one of the premier bluegrass fiddlers of his generation, Mike first picked up a fiddle at age four, and his talent was quickly recognized. In 1993 he was chosen to be part of the Bluegrass Youth All Stars at the IBMA's award show. Later that year, Mike made his Grand Ole Opry debut as a guest of Alison Krauss. At the 2001 IBMA awards, Mike took his first Fiddle Player of the Year award, and shared the title of Entertainer of the Year with Rhonda Vincent & The Rage.
Mike's first project as a Rounder recording artist, Flame Keeper was released in February 2002 and was selected as IBMA's Album of the Year. In 2004, Mike shared the Instrumental Album of the Year award with Tom Adams for Tom Adams and Michael Cleveland Live at the Ragged Edge, an album of fiddle and banjo duets. In 2006 and 2007 respectively, Mike took home his fourth and fifth IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year awards, and today he is a highly sought-after fiddler having performed with Vince Gill, Marty Stuart, The Mark Newton Band, J.D. Crowe and the New South, Audie Blaylock and Redline, and Melvin Goins and Windy Mountain.
"It's obvious he was destined to become one of bluegrass's contemporary stars."—the Boston Globe
Folk-pop outfit Round Mountain will open the show. The Santa Fe based group has been described as "a treasure of sound…which you’ll want to share, as well as treat yourself to."—Songlines Magazine, UK
