Jonah Riddle & Carolina Express Roll into Festival Barn

Join us, MONDAY, July 7, in Festival Barn for a bluegrass concert with Jonah Riddle and Carolina Express along with the ARK Caribbean food truck. Dinner will be ready to sell by 6:15 p.m. and music starts at 7 p.m. From the hills of Western North Carolina, two brothers set out to show the world their brand of bluegrass music, as so many brother duets have done before them. Jonah, age 20, and Grayson, age 15, grew up playing gospel bluegrass in their church services. From the very beginning the brothers clung to the roots of the music, something that many young pickers tend to overlook. The love for music pushed Jonah to start his own band, Jonah Riddle and Carolina Express.  

Jonah takes care of banjo duties in the group, playing a style that is quickly fading away in today's business. You can easily hear the Stanley, Scruggs, and Osborne influences in his sound, the sounds of the pioneers! Grayson is on guitar and does all of the group's lead singing. Grayson’s style of guitar playing will take you back to the days of the great Jimmy Martin; strong, steady rhythm, full of all the runs that helps make bluegrass what it is! The Brothers father, Benjie, holds down upright bass duties for the band. 

We’ll have standard seating available, first come first serve. We also have a family-focused social area of picnic tables in the back. You’re welcome to bring your dinner, card games, carving, sewing project, or set up on the grass and let your kids play. A donation of $5-15 per adult is suggested, but all are welcome regardless of contribution. Any funds raised help with equitable pay for performers.