Alex Krug
Alex Krug is an Asheville-based singer/songwriter playing Appalachian dream rock, rollicking organic Americana and heart-driven blues-rock. Krug is a colossal force of power, strength and charm with mountain-crushing vocals and evocative storytelling that reflects on life as a queer musician, being an outsider and the kind of heartache that transforms your soul.

Annie in the Water
Annie in the Water’s music is a groovy combination of rock, reggae, funk and blues instilled with a conscious dose of positive vibes, impromptu jams and heartfelt lyrics rooted in real life. Hailing from Lake Placid, NY, their driving energy fuses genres to uplift the body and soul.

Bella's Bartok
Bella's Bartok is a combustible kaleidoscope, an uproarious and ecstatic dance party mixing Eastern European, Americana, punk and pop into a soulful sonic circus. The spirited seven-piece set sail from Massachusetts to unleash a theatrical onslaught with lyrics that defy oppression and embrace their massive manifesto of joy.

Big Fat Gap (Reunion Band)
Big Fat Gap is a back porch band known for their own brand of exceptional Carolina bluegrass featuring sweet harmonies, smoking solos, excellent songwriting and engaging performances. Their compelling artistry proves why they remain at the top of the Triangle bluegrass scene, with members later appearing at Shakori Hills with Leftover Salmon, Town Mountain, Bill Evans’ Soulgrass and the Jon Stickley Trio. Shakori Hills is thrilled to welcome this special Reunion Band, and who knows who might turn out to join the fun!

Bubba George Stringband
Bubba George Stringband plays breakdowns at breakneck speeds, combining the influences of the master fiddlers with the feel of rock and roll, reggae and punk. Born of the Ithaca, NY old-time music scene in 1974, their original members included Jeb Puryear, Richie Stearns, Shane Lamphier and Jordan Puryear. Bubba George went on to spawn numerous significant bands including Donna the Buffalo and the Horse Flies.

Butcher Brown
Butcher Brown is a Richmond-based groove quintet playing a forward-thinking and expansive hybrid of jazz and hip hop they call “solar music.” The result is a Southern-leaning, sometimes psychedelic sound heavily influenced by '70s funk, soul, rock and R&B. Their warm and free-spirited explorations range from blissed-out atmospherics to firebolt fusion shot through with pure joy.

Colby T. Helms & The Virginia Creepers
At the bottom of the Southwest Virginia foothills half a mile from his nearest neighbor lives Colby T. Helms, whose starkly honest songwriting strikes a dynamic balance between country storytelling, bluegrass energy and blues power. He pens the kind of raw and ragged country music that cuts to the bone, drawing from classic Appalachian traditions to “tell a story about people who came from nothing - like my dad and me - and made something out of it.”

Del Ward
Hailing from Greensboro, Del Ward is a versatile multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter with an expansive sonic palette encompassing indie rock, funk and soul. He crafts an intimate and wholesome sound topped with inspirational lyrics and a big voice to sing them. He also shares his passion for dance as an instructor at UNCG and performer with the American Dance Festival.

Donna the Buffalo
From Cajun to country, reggae to improv, zydeco boogie to roots-rock riot, Donna the Buffalo aims for the best of what music has to offer. Their singular sound features upbeat grooves, inspirational lyrics, memorable hooks, superb musicianship and an overwhelming sense of celebration. They're an American institution, socially conscious yet eternally danceable. Donna the Buffalo started the GrassRoots Festival over 30 years ago outside of Ithaca, NY to raise money for local charities and spread the sounds of their friends and heroes from around the world. The band includes multi-instrumentalist Tara Nevins, guitarist Jeb Puryear, keyboardist Dave McCracken, bassist Kyle Spark and drummer Mark Raudabaugh.

Donnie Deneil
Raleigh-based artist and singer Donnie Deneil creates soulful electronic R&B with smooth vocals and a laid-back mood. Donnie can also be seen at Shakori Hills fronting the energetic funk band Duck. Expect to catch a vibe!

Dr. Bacon
Dr. Bacon is a manic musical detonation - a genre-defying Appalachian soul-grass funk-rock band from Asheville breaking the sound barrier with an infectiously uplifting blend of styles. Their diverse instrumentation caresses ears with lush beauty and whips crowds into a tribal romp. Their unique and multicultural voice is a joyous shout from the mountaintop!

dub Addis
Hailing from Ethiopia, dub Addis dreams up soulful melodies embedded in the intricate polyrhythms of Africa. Heavenly horns and traditional Ethiopian rhythms bring forth their sublimely hypnotic grooves and positive roots reggae philosophy to move your body, heart and mind.

Duck
Duck flies out of Raleigh with highly rhythmic tunes that are funky, bluesy, jazzy and a little dirty - all the ingredients needed to start the boogie. Their cheerful, soulful and groovy sound is guaranteed to make you move!

Gastón Reggio Group
Gastón Reggio is a multifaceted musician, educator and composer whose original compositions are a captivating medley inspired by the pulsating traditions of Candombe and the passionate rhythms of Afro-Uruguayan music. Alongside a mosaic of other eclectic influences, the ensemble skillfully infuses timeless Uruguayan folk music classics with the unconstrained spirit of jazz.

Jacoozy
Jacoozy is a polished five-piece improvisational rock, funk, folk and indie jamband from Boone seamlessly blending styles from a vast range of influences. Their enthralling high-energy live shows are renowned for both precision and unpredictability. Their bubbling beats have quickly spread their sound soaks across the state and the South.

Joe May's Month of Mondays
Bridging pop, soul, rock and R&B elements with vintage keyboard tones and old-school techniques, Joe May’s Month of Mondays create a collage of sonic textures seasoned with tasty vocal harmonies, sharp guitar riffs and earworm keyboard soundscapes. Hailing from Charlotte, they sincerely aim to create an uplifting atmosphere that embraces all those in search of beauty both known and unknown.

Jose Albizu Trio
Bass virtuoso Jose Albizu brings the Miami heat to move your feet! Noted for specializing in straight-ahead jazz and Cuban music, his talented troupe combines modern styles with the traditional in intimate performances packed with soulful sounds and soaring improvisation.

Joslyn & The Sweet Compression
Hailing from Lexington, KY, Joslyn & The Sweet Compression deliver a hook-filled mix of old school funk and silky soul with powerhouse vocals and a skillful and swaggering horn section. Unbound by modern cliches, their inviting grooves and brassy attack ignite a spirit of relentless determination. This magical music is made to spread joy.

Jupiter & Okwess
Backed by his longtime band Okwess, Jupiter Bokondji cooks up a vibrant Afro-pop stew and brings a blast of energy to bewitch the body and feed the spirit. Drawing out the superpowered rhythms of the Congo, the Rebel General and his fellow pyrotechnicians merge styles like Congolese rhumba, kwassa kwassa and cavacha, as well as Western guitar-driven rock and funk music to create a globally inclusive sound.

King M Dot
King M Dot is an acoustic soul rap artist out of Greensboro melding acoustic and electric guitar with lyrical rap, spoken word and soul singing. His sonic alchemy defies musical boundaries, pulling from and fusing a multitude of genres to create a unique and eclectic sound that moves and resonates deeply.

Kym Register + Meltdown Rodeo
Kym Register + Meltdown Rodeo, formerly known as Loamlands, is a transgressive and distorted country music outfit formed in Durham. With an energetic hook-driven sound, they artfully place queer storytelling at the helm, delving intimately into themes of identity, retribution, reconciliation and the essence of queer existence.

Laura Boswell
Pennsylvania-based singer/songwriter Laura Boswell plays folk music with classical influences in a minimalist Americana approach reflecting the profound intimacy and vulnerability of her lyrics. She constructs deeply honest songs on loving, struggling and simply existing, conveyed with compelling depth and poetry.

Lua Flora
The electrifying passion and introspective lyrics of Asheville-based Lua Flora meet a mesmerizing blend of Caribbean, Eastern and American music to create “Beach Folk” -  a floral mixture of rhythmic reggae and world folk music. Laidback and light, their sun-kissed melodies are rooted in the harmonies of Appalachia, the rhythms of the West Indies and the lyricism of American folk.

Machaka Band
Machaka Band is a new wave Cuban funk and fusion trio from Miami mixing son, timba and contemporary Latin American music into an exciting and festive sound. Fronted by enchanting vocalist Monica Sierra and composed of highly accomplished Cuban musicians, they draw influence from the classics of their culture while animating every performance with charisma and heart.

Magic AL
The dreamy folk-pop of Magic AL chases the mysterious technicolor universe of feeling that radiates from the heart of every great dance song. Alex Bingham is one of the most in-demand bass players and producers in local folk and indie rock, including playing with Watchhouse and Hiss Golden Messenger. His music is an ode to endurance by way of joy-making, and to dancing as both destination and cure.

Moonholler
Moonholler is a neo-traditional old-time band consisting of multi-instrumentalists Corey Johnson-Erday, Emily Johnson-Erday and Gray Buchanan. Emily’s musical theater background, Gray’s classical vocal training and Corey’s extensive fine guitar skills combine with their love of traditional music to create a unique blend of new and old sounds.

Nappy Head Funk Army
Nappy Head Funk Army returns from the 22nd century with 4th dimensional funk to feed your soul. The universal funk soldiers formed in NYC over 25 years ago to spread peace and love to the planet with in-yo-face funk inspired by Prince, Sly Stone, P-Funk and other pioneers and legends. In 2023 they were inducted into the Funk Hall of Fame for their ground-setting work as ambassadors of a true form of black American music.

Onyx Club Boys
Onyx Club Boys are a hot Pittsboro group drawing inspiration from the old days of Gypsy jazz, French musettes, Brazilian sambas, swing and ragtime. It's a lively trip around the world to make you swoon, tap your feet and realize how universal music really is. Their members have performed in an assortment of Shakori Hills favorites including Squirrel Nut Zippers, The Old Ceremony, Kaira Ba, Midtown Dickens, Club Boheme and Paperhand Puppet Intervention.

Oxente
Excitement, rhythm and dance will echo through the hills as we welcome in the festival with the dazzling community-based drumming group Oxente. The samba-reggae rhythms of this Afro-Brazilian band will kick off the celebration with a rhythmic spectacle to resonate throughout the weekend.

Paperhand Puppet Intervention
Come explore the amazing world of Paperhand Puppet Intervention! North Carolina's imaginative puppeteering troupe uses cardboard, papier mache, trash and a variety of puppetry styles to help promote social change, peace and hope for a better world. Their magical programs include giant puppets and masks with thrilling musical accompaniment. Join the puppets in a parade around the festival grounds on Saturday and be prepared to let your spirits soar!

Plum
Renowned Greensboro-based saxophone virtuoso Eli Fribush collaborates with inventive keyboardist Julian Sizemore of The Mantras and masterful drummer Jordan Zomparelli from The Wright Ave to form Plum. This dynamic trio emerges as an improvisational powerhouse, drawing inspiration from the vibrant realms of electronic synth music, funk, and jazz to create music that connects with your mind, heart and soul.

Preston Frank
Accordionist Preston Frank has laid down his blazing bayou boogie and fearless yet traditional Louisiana zydeco for over half a century. His trademark swamp groove combines Cajun, funk and soul to cook up smooth and flowing Creole tones that instantly make you move. With jumping rhythms and festive vibes, he remains an important force in preserving traditional zydeco and Creole French music.

Ranford Almond
Bringing the soul straight from Greensboro is Ranford Almond, a young troubadour with a flare for songwriting and a soulful voice impossible to forget. Sweet Appalachian acoustic fingerpicking and energetic electric guitars synthesize in folksy tunes abundant with lyrical and emotional depth.

Richie Stearns
The spooky mantra-groove banjo of Richie Stearns expands the boundaries of traditional music to create an experience that is sometimes ethereal and sometimes just plain old down home. Performing gorgeous music rooted in the Americana tradition, he became a lynchpin of today’s American roots music revival as a member of bands including Donna the Buffalo and The Horse Flies.

Sam Fribush Organ Trio
Greensboro-based showman Sam Fribush is on the front lines of the Hammond organ revival, playing old-school instrumental funk music that forges a soulful vibe and a ceaseless sense of celebration. He recently released two amazing albums with guitar virtuoso Charlie Hunter and joined the esteemed Durham outfit Hiss Golden Messenger.

Sam Grisman Project
Sam Grisman formed the Project to showcase their genuine passion and appreciation for the music of his father, the legendary mandolinist David Grisman, and Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia. The powerful ensemble of Aaron Lipp, Ric Robertson and Chris J. English ignites powerful bluegrass burners alongside touching moments of reflection and appreciation. Their setlists weave a rich tapestry that includes revered luminaries such as Doc Watson, Peter Rowan, Bob Dylan and the Beatles.

Sarah Shook & The Disarmers
Sarah Shook & The Disarmers is a hardcore country band from North Carolina with a wild, reckless energy and songs that threaten to burst apart from emotional pressure. Twangy, aching and true, they’re an angelic and gritty singer with bruises and scars on display.

Satellite Dog
Taking sonic inspiration from the psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll whirlwind of the ‘60s and ‘70s, Satellite Dog combines a plethora of inspirations to form a uniquely retro-modern psych-groove soundscape. Relying heavily on improvisation in their live shows, they twist and turn in and out of original tunes as well as spun covers of iconic bands such as the Grateful Dead and Phish.

Scythian
The high-energy, adrenaline-pumping music of Washington, DC’s Scythian ranges from Celtic rock to Romani klezmer, featuring two dueling classically trained fiddlers powered by the precision of a jazz drummer. Tight grooves, outstanding musicianship, and spontaneous crowd interactions result in creative, infectious, hilarious fun!

Sketoes Ghost
Sketoe's Ghost, the winners of the Shakori Hills Fall Festival Band Contest, emerged from the red clay soil of south Alabama. Their high-energy style transcends genres, fluidly blending Southern Americana, soul, funk, and rock infused with infectious jams that bring the boogie. Enriched by lyrical narratives reflecting their lives, their engaging and thought-provoking journeys skillfully explore each wave from the shimmering surface to the haunting depths.

Sonny Miles
Sonny Miles is a rapper and multi-instrumentalist from Raleigh whose densely packed sonic outlook lands between neo-soul, pop, R&B and hip-hop - call it intergalactic soul. He bends and blends genres, leaning into his gospel and rock roots to unify nostalgia with innovation, the political with the personal, and despondence with joy.

Taylor Aaron Parker Williams
Multifaceted Greensboro-based guitarist and songwriter Taylor Aaron Parker Williams stylishly meshes soulful vocals and R&B emotions with the vibrant hues of synthpop to craft lush and immersive soundscapes. As a self-proclaimed purveyor of "sad boy songs," Williams brings an introspective perspective to his danceable music and carves out a distinctive niche in the musical landscape.

The Faux Paws
The enchanting groove and feel-good melting pot folk music of The Faux Paws brings together bluegrass, Americana and jazz into a joyful sound that’s deeply rooted in the raw humanity of folk dance and music traditions. Their irreverent and surprising live shows are explosive rollercoaster rides bursting with tight harmonies, playful interplay, intricate details and soaring improvisations.

The Gone Ghosts
The Gone Ghosts is a mighty Alt-Country Americana/rock band from Carrboro who set out to carve a distinctive niche in American rock music. Their musical mission is delivering deeply personal lyrics atop spirited songs fueled by eternal themes of love, loss and heartache. The talented band includes singer/songwriter and guitarist Dave Hedeman, bassist Dillon Partin, guitarist Justin Bowlin and drummer Scott Jones.

The Great Indoors
The Great Indoors is an indie pop/rock band from Wilmington fronted by singer/songwriters Jared Stilley and Mason Marcantel with bassist Carter Rucker and drummer Christian Verardi. They smoothly fuse retro and contemporary styles into a uniquely melodic and immersive sound that pulls the listener along on an atmospheric ride.

The Green Grass Cloggers
Founded in 1971 in Greenville, NC, the Green Grass Cloggers are influenced by traditional mountain-style clogging teams as well as older flatfoot and buck dancers. They developed an original, eclectic style based on four-couple Western square dance figures in short energetic routines. While the groups’ footwork is synchronized, their free-spirited performances include head-high kicks and other unconventional steps. They were honored with an induction into the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame in 2014.

The Lover Boyz
Do you want to dance and feel good? Durham’s hometown heroes The Lover Boyz are a four-part singing and stepping group whose smooth vocal harmonies and tight dance steps will lift you up and get you moving. Stepping is a form of percussive dance where the performer's entire body is used as an instrument to produce complex rhythms and sounds. Their animated shows are backed by the soul crushing twang of Meltdown Rodeo, who are also appearing at Shakori Hills.

The Psycodelics
The Psycodelics’ potent flavor of Black American music has foundations in blues, jazz and disco laced with fresh funk rock and saturated with dancing bass lines, boom-bap grooves and lush harmonies. The Charleston-based septet brews a powerhouse soul funk alchemy with performances drenched in their unmatched energy.

The Shoaldiggers
The Shoaldiggers were hatched in the heart of Hillsborough as a nine-piece swampgrass piratebilly band playing down and dirty Americana. The tunes are fun and full of spirit, with an edgy inner fire stoked by old-fashioned honky-tonk and modern Southern rock. 

The Unsustainables
The Unsustainables play groovy and traditional ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub from the heart of NC. Drawing inspiration from the legendary sounds of Studio One, Treasure Isle, and Black Ark Studios, they craft irresistible heavy groovers made to move your feet to the sweet melodies of lover’s rock.

The Wilted Plums
Hailing from across NC, The Wilted Plums deliver new acoustic Sax-Grass flavored with vibrations reminiscent of days past and energy cultivated in the purest form. Their high-intensity performances pair an inclusive audience-forward experience with mind-boggling soulful instrumentation.

The Wright Ave.
The Wright Ave. is a six-piece groove unit from Greensboro tearing their way through mean rock and blues featuring funky backbeats and thrilling guitar solos. With soaring vocals and endless energy, they dig deep into the pocket to produce electrifying musical onslaughts that are bubbling over with excitement.

Time Sawyer
Standing at the crossroads of indie folk, rustic bluegrass and rocking alt-country, Time Sawyer crafts catchy and uplifting tunes that retain the uncertainty and grit of daily life. Rooted in tradition and Southern spirit, they’re a young band with plenty of old soul. The energetic Charlotte-based quartet delivers an easygoing organic sound and forges an authentic sense of community with the audience.

Tre. Charles
Tre. Charles is an alternative/indie soul artist with an expressive blend of warm and soulful undertones, profound and powerful lyrics, and emotive crooning. With hints of avant-garde R&B, modern indie flares and ambient soul, his honest and thought-provoking music makes each show a transformative experience.

Watchhouse
Carrboro-based folk/Americana duo Watchhouse are beloved for their heartfelt songwriting, intricate instrumentals, and close vocal harmonies. Andrew Marlin and Emily Franz sweetly sing soft songs about the hardest parts of our lives. Formerly known as Mandolin Orange, their backwoods lovebirds aesthetic is something charming and all its own.

Zac Richey
Zac Richey is a maestro of classical acoustic guitar, skillfully interpreting compositions by the greatest guitarists through the ages. His music transcends time, guiding listeners on a captivating journey from the Baroque period to the modern era, with a particular emphasis on Brazilian and Spanish styles. His beautiful and virtuosic playing won the 2012 Appalachian Guitarfest Competition and 2015 UNCSA Artist Showcase.

Zephyranthes
Zephyranthes is a futuristic rock trio that melds psychedelic, progressive and math rock together with a sense of accessible minimalism to breathe a new organic sound into the prog rock aesthetic. The Raleigh-based trio fuses chaotic explorations and frenetic rhythms into unified and cohesive presentations.

Zoltar’s Fortune
Zoltar's Fortune is a Triangle-based five-piece band specializing in modern interpretations of traditional instrumental Roma and Russian fiddle music. Their repertoire effortlessly blends klezmer, jazz and rearranged classical songs with elements of Western music to form a diverse and spellbinding sound.