Our main stage videographer Dean Loomis captured this video of Donna the Buffalo, new to the Grey Fox Main Stage this year:

Our perennial favorites, The Gibson Brothers, brought their delightful brother harmonies to our stages. There’s just something about the Gibsons, with their sweetly blended vocals, fine musicianship and overall fun stage presence. The group features Eric (guitar here, but normally on banjo) and Leigh Gibson (guitar), Joe Walsh (mandolin) and Mike Barber (bass). Here’s a clip from their show in Fred Robbins’ continuing series from our Masters Stage:

The Hillbenders, the Midwest band that won the 2009 Telluride Band Competition Winners, debuted at Grey Fox 2010. Here they are rehearsing before their Main Stage performance:

More Della Mae is a treat worth savoring, with fine harmonies and superb musicianship. Della Mae consists of Grace Van’t Hof (banjo), Jenni Lynn Gardner (mandolin), Avril Smith (guitar), Amanda Kowalski (bass), Kimber Ludiker (National Fiddle Champion).

Grey Fox will sponsor the kick-off event for IBMA World of Bluegrass Week in Nashville, TN. Grey Fox producer, Mary Tyler Doub, will introduce this year’s keynote speaker, the inimitable Sam Bush, on Monday night at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Nashville. She will also speak about the 100th anniversary of the birth of Bill Monroe… programs at the International Bluegrass Music Museum to celebrate Monroe life and legacy. Stay tuned for more from Grey Fox at World of Bluegrass!

Our banjo workshops feature the top performers in the country. Grey Fox 2010 was no exception. Below, we feature former Bluegrass Boy Bill Keith, the Hillbenders’ Mark Cassidy, Crooked Still’s stylist Greg Liszt and Jason McKendree of the Josh Williams Band performing at the banjo workshop on the Masters Stage:

Continuing our series from the Masters Stage are Josh Williams, Tony Watt and Bob Harris:

Our next installment from Grey Fox 2010 by Fred Robbins features newcomers (as a band) Della Mae, featuring Grace Van’t Hof , Jenni Lynn Gardner, Avril Smith, Amanda Kowalski, Kimber Ludiker.

Sam Bush was interviewed by Voice of America journalist, Catherine Cole at this summer’s Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in Oak Hill, NY. Bush, who will be the keynote speaker at IBMA’s World of Bluegrass in Nashville next week, likened Grey Fox to Telluride, saying that the audience is welcoming, ready for traditional AND new music, and makes artists like Bush feel right at home. You can read or listen to the VOA piece by CLICKING HERE — or by copying and pasting the link below into your browser:

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/arts-and-entertainment/music/Grey-Fox-Festival-Showcases-Stars-of-Modern-Bluegrass-102876359.html

The Steve Martin Charitable Foundation has selected Punch Brothers banjo player Noam Pikelny as the winner of the first annual Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass. Earl Scruggs, Pete Wernick, Tony Trischka and Béla Fleck were on the committee that selected Pikelny, who will receive “an unrestricted cash prize of fifty-thousand dollars, as well as a bronze sculpture created expressly for the prize by noted artist Eric Fischl.” Martin describes Pilkeny as “the extraordinary banjoist for the Punch Brothers, playing not only traditional bluegrass, but classical, rock and jazz oriented music. He is a player of unlimited range and astonishing precision.” Martin adds, “This award has been created to bring recognition to an individual or group for outstanding accomplishment in the field of five-string banjo or bluegrass music. It is hoped that by highlighting the extraordinary musicianship of these artists, that bluegrass, and bluegrass-related music will enjoy an increased appreciation world-wide.” (Jambands.com)

Martin will see Pikelny in action on November 4, when Punch Brothers join him for a performance on The Late Show with David Letterman.