The 2025 Mountaingrass Line Up Is A Stellar Collection of Local and International Talent.
Mountaingrass 2025 will feature a host of stunning Bluegrass and Old-Time musicians and bands from across the world and around Australia to head up a weekend of music and song.
Tone Rangers
The Tone Rangers
Coming to Mountaingrass in 2025 are The Tone Rangers, Toronto’s preeminent Bluegrass band. The members of this group of Bluegrass, Old-Time, and string band vets are well- established in the Canadian Bluegrass and acoustic scene and have individual bios (with awards and award nominations) that fill pages. The band features: Andrew Collins on mandolin, James McEleney on bass, Chris Quinn on banjo & Ben Plotnik on fiddle. All are multi-instrumentalists who play straight up bluegrass in their sleep. Andrew & James (of the Andrew Collins Trio) are excited to return to Australia.
The Knackered Ramblers
The Knackered Ramblers from the USA. Mandolin master Mike Compton brings his raw Southern sound, joined by Laura Boosinger, a standout North Carolina vocalist and multi-instrumentalist known for her work on traditional Appalachian music.
Grace Honeywell and Jeri Foreman
Grace Honeywell and Jeri Foreman, dynamic multi-instrumentalist duo. Grace, a soulful singer-songwriter from Oregon (USA), blends fiddle, guitar, and heartfelt lyrics with Jeri, an acclaimed fiddler from Adelaide, now based in Glasgow (UK).
Moranz & Fremlin
Dynamic Canadian Bluegrass duo Moranz & Fremlin. Multi-instrumentalist Ryland Moranz is an internationally touring singer-songwriter and mandolin aficionado. Dan Fremlin champions the love and spirit of a disappearing art, evoking a simpler ethos of string and
timber.
The Louis Family Band
The Louis Family Band (NSW). Veteran performers Karen Lynne and Martin Louis, with their amazing multi instrumentalist son William, present a mix of very traditional style Bluegrass songs tunes, and acoustic country. They will be joined by Quentin Fraser on Dobro and Liz Frencham on bass.
Charley Castle & the Boys in the Well
Blending traditional and modern Bluegrass with high energy, fast-paced, infectious dynamic songs, Charley Castle & the Boys in the Well (NSW) will bring their holler-inducing music to Mountaingrass in 2025. Charley was the winner of the National Busking Championships and shortlisted for the Songwriting Contest.
The Borough
From the crucible of the infamous Brisbane West End music venue comes The Borough (Qld), a stunning four-piece Bluegrass band ready to bend your brain with blisteringly fast precision picking, blended harmonies and a serious helping of fun.
Bluegrass Parkway
Bluegrass Parkway
One of Australia’s favourite Bluegrass bands, Bluegrass Parkway (WA), perform authentic Bluegrass music in the ’40s style, remaining faithful to the era playing into a single microphone with strong harmonies and traditional sounds.
Watkins & Montgomery
Watkins & Montgomery (Vic), feature Daniel Waktins (guitar and vocals) and Padday Montgomery (mandolin and vocals), two of Australia’s finest pickers. Veterans of the Australian folk festival circuit, they’ve played with many different lineups over the last 15 years.
The Dempsey Brothers
Another festival favourite The Dempsey Brothers Band (NSW) will bring their strong Bluegrass credentials to Mountaingrass. This progressive Bluegrass string band combines classic Bluegrass instrumentation and harmonies with masterful playing.
Montgomery Church
Multi-Golden Guitar and Australian Folk Award finalists Montgomery Church (NZ), blend acoustic folk, Americana and Bluegrass with a union of dobro, guitar and harmony vocals. The band features Cielle Montgomery and James Church, who have been compared to Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings.
Dave Diprose and Darryl Thompson
Dave Diprose and Darryl Thompson (Vic) have been performing music together for an incredible fifty years, cultivating a deep musical chemistry and an innate understanding. Dave is twice winner of Bluegrass Song of the Year and twice winner Instrumental of the Year.
My-T-Fine Trio
My-T-Fine Trio (NSW). Rod Jones, fiddle and mandolin, Judy Jones, banjo and guitar and Lindsay Mar, guitar have been performing Old-Time songs and tunes together for more than two decades.
Rhiz, Pete & The Taggin’ Along Band
Delving into the heart of classic country, Rhiz, Pete & The Taggin’ Along Band (Vic/ACT/Tas) feature Rhiannon McArthur and Pete Daffy as they bring to life the timeless duets of the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Joined by a number of talented sidemen, the band will present a snapshot of the golden-era of country music.
Craig Woodward
Craig Woodward (Vic) is an exceptional multi-instrumentalist and Southern American roots music specialist, including clawhammer banjo tunes, fiddlin’ and singin’, mountain blues and ballads, Cajun two-steps, waltzes, and stomps from the swamps.
The Old Crossroads
Five-piece Bluegrass band The Old Crossroads (Vic) bring a full and vibrant sound reminiscent of the Bluegrass performed by its founders. The group delivers the classics and deep cuts of the genre including fast-paced instrumentals, and powerful high and lonesome harmonies
John Boothroyd
Well-known and respected singer and instrumentalist John Boothroyd (Vic) has performed internationally playing clawhammer banjo and guitar, remaining true to the spirit of Old Time music as performer, teacher and walking encyclopedia.
Newbury Fog
Newbury Fog (Vic) are Nara and Karina Demasson, an Old-Time duo presenting the raw honest energy of traditional songs, fiddle tunes, country ballads and rural music while expressing the deep love of music they share
Fiddle We Must
Adelaide-based Fiddle We Must (SA) will bring their treasure of Old-Time music from fiddler Ashley Turner, banjo and fiddle playing Geoffrey Bridgland, guitar picker and banjo playing John Yerxa, and Stephen Loss holding it all together on bass.
Oh Gibson
Years of mutual admiration between banjoist Elwood Sze and guitarist/singer Tom Kendall have resulted in a long-awaited collaboration as Oh Gibson (Vic). Now in their second year of gigging as a quartet, they take cues from the second wave of Bluegrass in the 1980s.
