Rolf Sieker was one of the first 5-string banjo players in Europe. In 1975 he recorded the very first bluegrass album in Germany. In Europe Rolf played with Bill Monroe, Byron Berline, Dan Crary, Mark O’Connor, Dave Dudley, Bill Clifton and many more. Now living in the US he won the Texas State Banjo Championship in 2001. He recorded studio sessions with Ray Benson & Asleep At The Wheel, Kelly Willis, Bill & Bonnie Hearne, Dale Watson, Red Volkaert, Trace Atkins, Rod Moag, Julie Chadbourne, Lantana, Bruce Robison, The Carper Family, Malford Milligan and many others. Rolf also played with Bob Schneider’s Texas Bluegrass Massacre which was named ‘Best Performing Bluegrass Band’ at the 2008 and 2009 Austin Music Awards. His way of playing the banjo is highly influenced by the blues-melodic style of Bobby Thompson, one of the most requested studio musicians in the 60s, 70s and 80s in Nashville. The two were close friends and Rolf received Bobby’s banjo in 1996. Rolf is a creative songwriter. For The Siekers he wrote a lot of original material.

Patrick Sauber is one of the new breed of bluegrass pickers – talented, fast, inventive, creative, fluid, frictionless, highly developed fast twitch muscles, great singer – he does it all.  Patrick plays guitar (he’s Roland White’s favorite Clarence White guitar stylist), banjos with the best, mandolins like it was his first instrument, and then can sing any part in any band.  How could he not be that good, he had the great advantage of being the son of bluegrass and old time great Tom Sauber. He plays regularly in the Laurie Lewis Band.

Roger Bush is one of the blue bloods of the California bluegrass scene. Beginning in the late fifties as a banjo and a guitar player, he was recruited by Roland and Clarence White to join their emerging group, The Kentucky Colonels, as a bass player and singer. Roger toured with the Colonels performing at clubs and events in Southern California and appearing at the prestigious Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island. The live recordings of this group were treasured resources for the serious bluegrass aficionados. Many of those rare recordings have since been released making the bulk of the Colonels recorded output. Roger
also performed in the Doug Dillard Expedition during the late 1960s. Roger toured with the Flying Burrito Brothers appearing on their highly acclaimed live recordings, Last of the Red Hot Burritos, and Live in Amsterdam. In 1971, Roger along with Byron Berline founded the seminal bluegrass unit, Country Gazette, recording a wealth of gold-plated music for bluegrass fans beginning with United Artists release in 1972 of A Traitor In Our Midst followed by Don’t Give Up Your Day Job. Roger’s singing, mc work, and buoyant bass slapping have given the needed lift to any ensemble he appears in. Roger will be with us on Wednesday and Thursday of Camp Bluegrass sharing in the Kentucky Colonels tribute and showing us all how you really are supposed to slap a bass.

Herb Pedersen began his career in Berkeley, California in the early 60’s playing 5 string banjo and acoustic guitar with people like David Grisman, Butch Waller, David Nelson, and Jerry Garcia. Herb has done well in adding his talents to the recordings of many folk and country music artists of today.

For the last thirty years, Herb has lived in southern California, and participated in select music groups, either in recording, or traveling on the road doing concerts. His recording discography is like a who’s who of the singer/songwriter scene, so prevalent in the 70s and 80s. His own groups, like The Desert Rose Band, and The Laurel Canyon Ramblers, show why Herb is so respected in the industry.

With his lifelong pal, Chris Hillman, Herb is in the process of continuing the type of music they both grew up playing and singing. There is a work in progress most of the time and that the way Herb likes it.

Television and motion picture sound tracks are something Herb has been involved in since the early 70s. Shows like The Rockford Files, Smokey and the bandit, the Maverick movie with Mel Gibson, Hunter, The Simpsons, have used Herb either on 5 string banjo, or vocals for many years.

Artist like Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Johnny Rivers, Dan Fogelberg, Jame Taylor, Gordon Lightfoot, Jennifer warned, John Prine, and Jesse Winchester have used Herb’s talents in the past, and in all probability will continue to do so…..

From Carnegie Hall to the Ryman Auditorium, Herb’s been on the scene enjoying every minute of it.

“If You’re Gonna Play In Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)” proclaims the 1984 Billboard Hot country Single #1 song. So who did supergroup Alabama call upon to fiddle the memorable chart topper and the entire Roll On Album? Blaine Sprouse.

Sprouse continued to carve an impressive niche, performing with both Grand Ole Opry members and young turks of bluegrass, including those who would pick together regularly at Nashville’s world famous Station Inn; The Dreadful Snakes, The Sidemen, Nashville Jug Band and The Cluster Pluckers, with whom
Blaine played for former president and vice-president Bill Clinton and Al Gore.

Blaine’s professional career started with Jimmy Martin and continued with Hames Monroe, Jim and Jesse, the Osborne Brothers, Charlie Louvin and as a fill-in Blue Grass Boy for Bill Monroe.

Sprouse fulfilled a lifelong desire to return to school to complete his education and earn a law degree. Bit in 2009, music interest resurfaced when his fourth solo recording, Dogwood Winter, was re-issued as Appalachian Mountain Fiddler.

Camp Bluegrass is thrilled to have Blaine Sprouse join us this year.

Becky Buller is a multi-instrumentalist and singer from St. James, MN, who has traversed the globe performing bluegrass music to underwrite her insatiable songwriting habit.  She has co-written songs for Grammy award-winning albums by The Infamous Stringdusters (2018) and The Travelin’ McCourys (2019).  Becky has received 8 IBMA awards, including the 2016 Fiddler and Female Vocalist Of The Year.  She was a 2020 nominee for SPBGMA’s Fiddle Player Of The Year.  She tours extensively with the Becky Buller Band and is about to release Distance And Time, her third album for  the Dark Shadow Recording label.  Equally passionate about music education, Becky has 20 years experience teaching fiddle, singing, and songwriting at workshops worldwide.  She serves on the board of the IBMA Foundation and an alumnae of the Leadership Bluegrass class of 2003. BeckyBuller.com

Jim Hurst  – His unique picking style and mastery of bluegrass guitar wows audiences and is revered by both novice guitar players and his musical peers. His eclectic career has made him a remarkable performer, and experienced instructor and a highly sought after session musician.  His affability and gregariousness make him one of the most approachable musicians of his caliber.

The product of a musical family, Jim hones his musical style after being influenced by the likes of Tony Rice, Clarence White and Jerry Reed. He received national exposure with Holly Dunn’s Rio Band playing acoustic guitar and mandolin, and singing harmonies; followed by several high profile television and radio appearances while touring with Trisha Yearwood playing acoustic and electric guitar, and harmony vocals. Jim also experienced performances with Travis Tritt and Sara Evans.

Itching to play more bluegrass, Jim joined the Grammy nominated Claire Lynch and her Front Porch String Band in 1995 where he teamed up with kindred spirit bassist Missy Raines. While with Claire Lynch, Missy and Jim formed a duet, creating ground-breaking arrangements. They earned IBMA Guitar and Bass Player of the Year for 2001 and 2002.

In 2010 Jim left the Claire Lynch Band to pursue a solo career. He produced a number of solo works; Open Window, Second Son, A Box of Chocolates, Intrepid and in 2014 Looking Glass. Jim’s virtuosity consistently sways audiences with his deft finger work and smooth vocals. He performs with his current band The Jim Hurst Trio and teaches at guitar workshops and music camps in North America and Europe. For more info check out his website http://jimhurst.com