Events

Main Stage: Jonny Estep Music

Jonny Estep & Lonesome Blend is an exciting bluegrass band based in Covington, Kentucky. With their decades of combined experience in the music scene, they bring a unique blend of classic bluegrass and folk covers, cutting-edge newer material, and heartfelt original songs to every show.

Guitarist and bandleader Jonny Estep is the primary singer and emcee of the group. Mandolinist Phil Lawrence adds his “high lonesome” tenor vocals to the mix. Banjo player Ahmad Maghathe brings the punch and drive expected of any premier bluegrass ensemble. Gil Benson’s fiddle playing adds that smooth sound that gets toes tapping and eyes watering. Rounding out the group, Adam Hicks provides a rock solid foundation with his thumping bass playing.

Even folks who don’t typically consider themselves “bluegrass fans” get caught up in the Lonesome Blend that Jonny and the guys bring to the stage every single time.

The Grove: Nicole Polara

Nicole Polara is a soulful singer/songwriter and cover artist known for her expressive lyrics and melodies. Nicole draws inspiration from a blend of indie, folk, and pop music. Originally from New York, Nicole is now a Cincinnati based artist and she enjoys playing local bars, restaurants, and special events.

Main Stage: Jake Speed & The Freddies

Jake Speed & The Freddies play a mix of traditional & original folk, country blues, and ragtime tunes that muse on Cincinnati’s unique past & present. Known as the Woody Guthrie of Cincinnati, Jake Speed uses a traditional folksy delivery to compose timely and timeless songs that tell great stories with a bit of a lyrical edge. The band, built out of guitar, mandolin, fiddle, tenor guitar and upright bass (with hints of harmonica, kazoo, and washboard), has been hailed by CityBeat magazine as a “…a fixture of Cincinnati’s traditional Folk scene” since releasing its first of five albums, Queen City Rag, in 2002. Speed’s tongue-in-cheek stories and crowd-engaging antics (such as watering can solos, sing-alongs, and dance moves) keep audiences thoroughly entertained. Just two years after hitting the Cincinnati scene, the band won the 2002 Cincinnati Entertainment Award (Cincinnati’s equivalent of The Grammy Awards) for Artist of the Year. The band is now a five-time winner of the CEA for Best Folk Musicians (2001-2004; 2008). Jake Speed is a two-time winner of the CEA for Best Songwriter (2002, 2006). Cincinnati Magazine’s 2007 “Best of Cincinnati” edition named the band as one of the Top 40 Best Things About Cincinnati. In 2004, the readers of CityBeat Magazine voted them Best Local Musicians.

The Grove: Clark Jenkins

Clark Jenkins is a Cincinnati-based Americana and folk singer-songwriter whose music blends warm vocals, acoustic grit, and honest, story-driven writing. Rooted in the Midwest and shaped by his Tennessee beginnings, his songs reflect real moments, small-town details, and the quiet truths that linger.

His albums Key 46 and Walker showcase that storytelling voice through simple melodies and emotional depth. Clark performs throughout the Midwest, bringing a grounded, heartfelt, and family-friendly presence to every stage.

Main Stage: Shelby Lore Band

Up a holler in Eastern Kentucky is where you can find the melting pot that created the sound of Shelby Lore Band. Take the screaming guitars of southern rock bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, blistering blues from Stevie Ray Vaughan, mix in a little attitude from punk bands like Social Distortion, and finish it off with a heaping mess of honky tonk from Waylon Jennings. Stir all that up and you get the sound of Shelby Lore Band. The band consists of Tyler Kiser on bass and harmony, Luke Estep on drums and percussion, Wayne Neal on pedal steel, guitar, and fiddle, and Shelby Lore on guitar and vocals.

The Grove: Cecil Jackson & Dry Ridge

Cecil Jackson & Dry Ridge is a dynamic bluegrass group known for their engaging performances and rich, traditional sound. Blending energetic instrumentation with heartfelt harmonies, they bring a fresh yet authentic take on the genre. Whether performing at festivals, local venues, or special events, their music resonates with audiences of all ages, creating an unforgettable experience filled with storytelling, rhythm, and soul.

Main Stage: The Tillers

The Tillers have been thumping their own distinctive sound of string band-style folk music for nearly two decades, riding it all over the country and across the sea. Five studio albums and one live record have earned them praise as modern folk storytellers of the national soundscape.

The Grove: Stick & Bindle

Stick & Bindle, a folk duo out of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, bring rootsy, multi-instrumental storytelling and harmonies to the alt-country/Americana scene. They released their debut album, Lore and Laments, in 2024.