This band was a real big hit last time and has been only getting better.
Weaving together modern and traditional styles of American music, Never Come Down is a Portland, Oregon based band composed of Joe Suskind (guitar), Crystal Lariza (vocals), Lillian Sawyer (fiddle), and Kaden Hurst (mandolin). Their dedication to thoughtful songwriting and dynamic arrangements highlight polished technical skills and a commitment to listening to each other. Formed in 2018, the band began touring extensively- steadily cultivating a passionate fan base at home in the Pacific Northwest, and eventually around the country. NCD released their first studio album “Better Late Than Never” in 2021 and their second LP “Greener Pastures” in 2024. They’ve toured internationally and have found acclaim at festivals such as Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Iceland Airwaves, John Hartford Memorial Fest, Americanafest, FreshGrass and RockyGrass.
Looks like fun to me….
ABOUT FOUR SHILLINGS SHORT https://www.4shillingsshort.com
Four Shillings Short are Aodh Og O’Tuama from Cork, Ireland and Christy Martin from California. We are international touring artists who perform traditional and original music from the Celtic lands, Medieval & Renaissance Europe, the Americas and India on over 30 instruments including the Hammered & Mountain Dulcimers, Pennywhistles, Recorders, Medieval and Renaissance woodwinds, Mandolins, North Indian Sitar, Psaltery, Charango, Banjo, Guitar, Ukulele, World Percussion and vocals. We have been touring the US & Ireland since 1997, perform 80 – 100 concerts a year, have produced 13 albums and perform at a variety of venues including festivals, performing arts & community centers, folk society concerts, libraries, museums, schools, house concerts & churches.
Anna Tivel is an American indie folk artist from Portland, Oregon who is critically recognized as “one of the finest songwriters of her generation.” She is noted for being a “masterful storyteller” with her music often compared to that of Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker, as well as Elliott Smith and Paul Simon
Shadow Basket is a four-piece dog rock/indie folk band from San Juan Island, WA. The band is co-led by Jacey LaManna (vocals, guitar) and Kyle Lutz (vocals, guitar), whose harmonies and songwriting shape the heart of the project. They are joined by the steady rhythms of Andrew Cullinane (bass) and Brendan Casey (drums), who together weave a rich and dynamic soundscape that sets Shadow Basket apart.
Rooted in lyrical storytelling, Shadow Basket blends elements of folk Americana with driving, emotionally-charged rock. Their sound drifts between the ethereal and the grounded, at times light and whimsical, and at others, powerful and intense. This diversity in musicality is captured through what the band affectionately calls their genre: Dog Rock. It’s a sound that, much like a dog following its nose through the neighborhood, meanders and explores with a sense of freedom and spontaneity.
Their debut album Frog Swan Song—released in August 2025—encapsulates this unique approach, balancing delicate, atmospheric moments with heavier, more heartfelt tracks. The album’s contrasting soundscapes showcase the band’s versatility, where songs can shift from hauntingly sparse to expansive and raucous, all while maintaining a cohesive energy. Whether it’s the warmth of their folk roots or the urgency of their rock-driven anthems, Shadow Basket’s music invites listeners into a world that holds both the light and the dark.
Leah will be doing a cowboy poet workshop and concert. Her bio and a link to the workshop are below.
Leah will be teaching an evening songwriting workshop called “The Heart of the Cowboy Poet”. This workshop aims to honor western tradition, while practicing essential skills of observation and sense bound writing techniques. We will call upon the use of empathy as a tool for character-based writing, and do a few potent timed writing prompts during the session. Come with a notebook and pen and be ready to write.
Workshop flyer: The Heart of the Cowboy Poet_Workshop 2026_LGJ
L G J
Leah Grams Johnson is an artist and songwriter, hailing from the rugged coast of Northern California. With a distinct timbre akin to the untamable spirit of the American West, Leah’s authentic take on Folk and Country music has resonated with fans of all musical backgrounds nationwide. Raised on the voices of strong impassioned women like Emmylou Harris and Joni Mitchell, Leah discovered early on her path the magic of music and power of a well-written song. She is an alumna of both the Berklee College of Music and the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation, and has been a finalist in numerous songwriting contests including the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival. With the release of her debut record in the spring of 2026, Leah divides her time writing songs in Nashville— where she has resided for over a decade— and riding horses in the West.
Like those who came before her she so deeply admires, Leah is a woman of heart and mind. She is her own breed of cowgirl mystic, living on gut feelings, with an unshakeable love for the world.
Dylan Bautista, Garon Jones , and Simon Hickey are a jazz trio from the UM music program that will provide some cool jazz for your hot evening. They will be performing on piano, bass, and percussion. Jazz shows, especially local, have been really popular here.
Aberdeenshire folksinger, Iona Fyfe, has become one of Scotland’s finest young ballad singers, rooted deeply in the singing traditions of the North East of Scotland. Winner of Scots Singer of the Year at the MGdescribed as “one of the best Scotland has to offer.” ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2023 and 2018, and Musician of the year 2021, Iona has been (Global-Music.de) Iona has toured throughout the UK, Europe,, Canada and Australia, and performed with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra as part of the World Premiere of Disney Pixar’s Brave in Concert at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Iona’s debut album “Away From My Window” was held to critical acclaim and received nationwide airplay on programmes such as BBC Radio 2 The Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio Scotland’s Travelling Folk, Take The Floor and BBC Radio Nan Gaidheal, and premiered at a sold-out Celtic Connections performance. Released in 2019, her follow up CD “Dark Turn of Mind” is Iona’s first EP entirely in English and features six ballads and songs found in both Appalachia and Aberdeenshire and has been described as “a new interpretation to the country genre” – Maverick. ” Rolling Stone, France, called her a “Scottish folksinger, magical and charismatic.” She was nominated for “One to Watch” and “Best Live Performance” at the Sunday Herald Scottish Culture Awards 2018.
You know them and love them and they are back at Longstaff House this summer. I recently had the pleasure of accompanying them at MT Fiddle Camp and got a chance to play many of the cuts from the new progect and it is a dandy. Sure, the cowboy theme is present, but there is ssooo much more to this record, Including a good dose of Joanne’s beautiful singing . Don’t miss this MT icon.
