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KRISTY COX BAND (AU/US)
A rising star in Nashville from Australia Vertical Divider
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Nashville based Kristy Cox played at La Roche in 2014 with a band of European musicians. Now she’s back with her own band of American artists. During the years between, she has released 5 studio albums in the USA that have all received critical acclaim for her songwriting and arrangements, been nominated more than once for IBMA emerging artist and female vocalist awards, and won female vocalist and Bluegrass recording awards at the Australian CMAs. We have followed her through these years as she has toured Europe and her native Australia and become an established international Bluegrass star on the US circuit. We are delighted to welcome her back to La Roche with her killer band. Kristy Cox (guitar), Ellie Hakanson (Fiddle), Jason Bailey (mandolin), Carter Lesteer (banjo), Tyler Griffith (bass) Album : [Title] 2026, Let it Burn (2024)
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PIOTR BULAS & GARAGE FOLKS (POL)
When a top luthier leads a band ... Vertical Divider
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We know Piotr in La Roche because of the beautiful banjos and mandolins he shows in the Luthier’s Hall every year. His daughter in law already played here twice (Stacja Folk). We finally got to see the band at the EBMA 2025 summit in Prague and we were impressed enough to invite them to play on the main stage at Bluegrass in La Roche this year. They play quite traditional Bluegrass with contemporary style covers and plenty of original songs — all with a nice touch of humour. They will provide us with an important moment of joy. Musicians and instruments?? Album ???
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PAUL & THE ALLEY CATS (NL/ES)
European heavyweights ... 
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Here is another band that grew out of cross-European connections, this time at Al Ras Bluegrass Festival in Barcelona in 2024, where Paul presented his new album backed by a band of Spanish musicians. Paul is another of the European pioneers with a long list of Bluegrass related achievements that include touring with Bryon Berline, Jim Eanes and Chris Jones (Bluegrass in La Roche 2009). Lluís and Maribel are well known to the La Roche audience and Jorge played with Flamengrass in 2022. Other than a fleeting appearance in 2025, Noah is new to La Roche this year, also appearing with his own band). Paul and the Alley Cats played at La Roche in 2025 at a private event that went very well and we decided to invite them back to share their music with our festival audience. Paul Von Vlodrop (mandolin), Lluís Gómez (banjo), Maribel Rivero bass), Jorge Rodriguez Cros (guitar), Noah Hassler-Forest (fiddle) Album : Alley Cat (2023)
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THE SENTIMENTAL GENTLEMEN (USA)
East Nashville sur Foron ... Vertical Divider
Photo © Michael Weintrob
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We met these guys at IBMA WOB in Chattanooga last September and knew they would be a good fit. They are part of the buzzing East Nashville Bluegrass community that know and play with everybody in every style. As a band they form a powerhouse collective that seamlessly blends deep-rooted traditional bluegrass with fresh, contemporary influences. The core members of the band, Josh, Oliver and Jeff, have backed some top artists on tours around the world and currently enjoy their day job as Sierra Ferrell’s touring band. Joining them on this trip are Jacob Groopman (Bluegrass in La Roche with Front Country in 2015) and George Guthrie. Joshua Rilko (mandolin), Oliver Bates Craven (fiddle), Geoff Saunders (bass), Jacob Groopman (guitar) George Guthrie (banjo) Album : ??? (2026 - 5 tracks)
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VERANDA (CAN)
Fun Bluegrass in Canadian French/English Vertical Divider
Photo © Camille Gladu-Drouin
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Veranda are from Montreal and have the distinction of playing Bluegrass in English and French.We got to see Veranda play on the International Stage at IBMA WOB in Chattanooga last September. They immediately captivated us with their eclectic and dynamic performance of Bluegrass that shows clear respect for old country roots and a love of exploring more modern sounds — with a strong desire to inject humour into their set to make sure the audience has a good time. When they told us they were thinking of building a tour to Europe in the summer, we jumped on the opportunity to bring them to La Roche, where the French speaking audience will appreciate their unique brand of Canadian Bluegrass. Léandre Joly-Pelletier (mandolin), Catherine-Audrey Lachapelle (guitar), Jean-Philippe Demers-Lelotte - aka Johnny Slapper (bass), Kieran Poile (fiddle) Album : Veranda (2026)
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NEW ALIQUOT & DAVID BENDA (CZE)
Welcome back ... 
Photo © Joey Horáková
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Ondra Kozák is recognised as one of Europe’s foremost Bluegrass artists, performing at Bluegrass in La Roche more than any other musician and winning the Band Contest 4 times in 3 bands on 4 different instruments: Kreni (guitar 2009), Blackjack (fiddle 2010) East West (mandolin 2013), G-runs N Roses (guitar 2016). His current project, New Aliquot, “only” came 2nd in 2019, on their only appearance here. The band has since performed all over Europe, releasing 2 albums and, since last year, has been collaborating with leading banjo player David Benda, (Milkeaters, La Roche 2022). The music is modern, innovative, timelessly rootsy and masterfully performed. In March 2026, they headlined the EBMA meeting in Prague. We are truly excited to welcome back to Bluegrass in La Roche this year, which they say will be the highlight of their year celebrating ten yeas as a band! Ondra Kozák (guitar, fiddle), Pavel “Tim” Duda (bass, guitar), Vít Hanulík (mandolin, guitar), Karel Začal (dobro), David Benda (banjo) Album : Keep Going (2024)
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NO MAN'S LAND (DK/NL//SK/BE/US)
Pan European girl power ... Vertical Divider
Photo © Owen Schinkel
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As more events happen across Europe, musicians meet and jam; they build connections and look forward to the next meeting until one day something special happens. No Man’s Land is a great example of that, showing that European Bluegrass is becoming more “European” and also more … feminine! These ladies now form a genuine “supergroup” of top European talent on their individual instruments. They have all performed on the La Roche stage at various times and in various configurations. We are proud to be the first major European festival to introduce them to the world as a full band. Signe Borch (DK - guitar), Kylie Kay Anderson (US- mandolin), Loes van Schaijk (NL- bass), Simona Uhereková (SK - banjo), Esther Duerinck (BE - fiddle) |
NOAH HASSLER-FOREST (NL/ES)
Multi band contests winners ... Vertical Divider
Photo © Jessica Guirao
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We were first in touch with Noah back in 2023. Nothing came of that contact and then last year at the EBMA meeting in Prague, we saw them showcasing and decided on the spot to book them for this year. Original and cover material with powerful harmonies and real musicianship and virtuoso playing, they really impressed with their jazz and world music infused take on Bluegrass. It’s easy to see why they won 1st prize in the Rotterdam Bluegrass band contest and we are delighted to introduce them to our audience in La Roche Noah Hassler-Forest (fiddle), Thijs Vrolijk (guitar) Joshua ten Doornkaat: (mandolin) Maribel Rivero (bass) Lluís Gómez (banjo) Album : ???
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SHELBY MEANS BAND (USA)
Riding on a wave ... Vertical Divider
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Born in Kentucky, raised in Wyoming, now making her home in South Carolina, Shelby Means is recognised as one of the foremost bass players in Bluegrass and Americana music. We first came across Shelby in 2009 when she was playing with Della Mae (Bluegrass in La Roche 2019 & 2025) at IBMA WOB in Nashville. In 2019, she played bass with Rachel Baiman for a one-off show at La Roche during Rachel’s tour of the UK. Later that year she made it to the festival stage with husband Joel Timmons in Lovers Leap (with Billy Cardine and Mary Lucey). She then got called up by Molly Tuttle (Bluegrass in La Roche in 2018) and went on a whirlwind few years with the electrifying, record breaking band Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, winning 2 Grammys along the way. She now leads her own band with Joel, supported by a roster of Nashville A list Bluegrass musicians. Her solo album released in 2025 is mostly self composed (one cover of George Jones, and one of Lady Gaga) and joyfully stretches across a wide range of Bluegrass and Americana styles. Shelby Means (bass), Joel Timmons (guitar), Jacob Means (mandolin) Ellie Hakanson (fiddle) George Guthrie (banjo) Album : Shelby Means (2025)
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SWEET SALLY (USA)
More young talent from the CBA stable ... Vertical Divider
Photo © The Bluegrass Situation
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Here is yet another talented young band from the California Bluegrass Association stable that we wanted to bring to La Roche, following in the footsteps of Molly Tuttle, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Broken Compass and Crying Uncle. We first came across Sophia (mandolin) at Father's Day festival in 2024, playing with her other band Salty Sally, and joining onstage jams with Alison Brown, Sister Sadie and others! We saw her again when in 2025 she played at the IBMA awards reception. Sally also won the 2024 Rocky Grass mandolin contest. she just won a scholarship to Berklee College of music in 2026; Lucy is a 3-time Young Arts Award winner and has twice been featured at Monterey Jazz Festival and also won a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music in 2025; and Clare has an extensive background in percussion and jazz and is studying jazz and law at UC Santa Cruz. They already compose many of their own songs and have already performed at Delfest, CBA Father’s Day and IBMA World of Bluegrass and more. Lucy Khadder (fiddle, guitar) Sophia Sparks (mandolin, guitar) Clare O’Grady (bass) EP 5 songs : When the Night Falls (2025)
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COUNTRY GONGBANG (KOR)
Coming back as stars of the US Bluegrass circuit ... 
Photo © Emanuel Marin
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Our chairman’s love for this band is not secret! Since they last played in La Roche in 2022, we have seen them in California and Raleigh (2023) and in Busan, Korea (2025). They never disappoint with their original, tasteful and delightful Bluegrass performances singing standard covers or personal compositions in Korean. They received the IBMA grant for international bands and stole the hearts of Bluegrass fans across the USA receiving standing ovations from Greyfox to the Gand Ole Opry (with a memorable backstage jam with their hero Rhonda Vincent).. They have already been back multiple times. We are so excited to have them back on the stage at Bluegrass in La Roche. Jongsu Yoon (fiddle), Yebin Kim (mandolin), Sunjae Won (guitar), Ki Ha (bass), Hyun Ho (banjo) Albums : “We All Need Bluegrass” (2025 - compil.) — Unknown Poets (2023)
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MONOGRAM (CZE)
Ten Years After ... Vertical Divider
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Our president’s first personal memory of Monogram was an old EWOB festival in 2002. They were headlining that year and made a strong impression. They are still at the top of the Bluegrass tree in Europe. While there have been changes in the band the Jahoda brothers have been at core of the band since its foundation 30 years ago. They won the La Roche band contest in our 3rd year (2008) and came back the following year as contest winners. Their last visit to La Roche was Ten Years Ago. That’s too long to wait to bring this hard driving, creative European force of Bluegrass to the biggest stage in the continent. Jaromír Jahoda (banjo), Zdeněk Jahoda (mandoline), Jindřich Vinkler (guitar), Erik Banič (bass) Album : Simple Man (2019)
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YONDER BOYS (US/CL/AU/DE)
An international pot pourri from Berlin ... Vertical Divider
Photo © Johannes Gerblinger
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Yonder Boys have followed a path trodden by others at La Roche, with a Street Festival show catching the eye and leading to set on the Lunchtime Stage, where again they were well received. While their music is hard to pin down we have always enjoyed how they dance in and out and around the Americana, Bluegrass and folk styles, with their standard Bluegrass instrumentation and excellent harmonies. Their music always feels authentic and personal, while being artistically excellent. They deserve their place on the main stage this year! Jason Serious (Guitar) David Stewart Ingleton (Banjo) Tomás Peralta (Mandolin, Banjo, Bass, & Dobro) Album : A Makeshift Family (2025)
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GADAN (IT/IE/US)
Irish music, American flavour, Italian seasoning ... Vertical Divider
Photo © Kenzie Trezise
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We were at the Irish music conference Your Roots Are Showing in January 2025 and saw this band showcasing. It would be fair to say they blew us away with their electrifying, contemporary take on Celtic-Americana fusion grass. The big news back then was that banjo legend Enda Scahill (We Banjo Three) had just joined the band with his own brand of high energy. They were also joined by Appalachian clawhammer banjoist Eric Long (now living in San Francisco) bringing a deep, rootsy flavour to the whole. Well, with 3 outrageous banjo players, mandolin, fiddle and guitar, this band has taken roots, Celtic and folk scenes by storm, touring the US many times, and we just had to bring them to La Roche for our Sunday evening “nearly but not quite Bluegrass” session to blow you away too! Jacob Ventura (guitar, bass), Lorenzo Testa (tenor banjo, mandolin), Joan Gatti (fiddle), Enda Scahill (tenor banjo), Eric Long (clawhammer banjo) Album : May the Divil tune your Banjos (2025)
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HAYDE BLUEGRASS ORCHESTRA (NOR)
Bluegrass-pop at its purest and best ... Vertical Divider
Photo © Katy Gaines
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In 2022, two non US bands were making all the noise at IBMA WOB in Raleigh. One was Curly Strings (Bluegrass in La Roche 2025) and the other was Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra from Norway. Firstly, they were nominated for 2 “Momentum” awards (for young artists): band of the year, and vocalist of the year, won by Rebecca; secondly their song selection, tasteful arrangements, generosity of spirit and sheer talent made everyone want to see them and be their friend. We have not been able to get them to La Roche because it seems they are always touring the United States, but luckily this year they have been able to fit us in between two tours. We are very excited to introduce them to the European Bluegrass community. Rebekka Nilsson (vocals), Ole Enggrav (guitar), Moa Meinich (fiddle), David Buverud (bass), Emil Brattested (dobro/mandolin), Sjur Marqvardsen (accordion) Album : Broken Circle Breakdown (2023)
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BLUE LASS (GBR)
Putting the Lass in Bluegrass ... 
Photo © Christopher James Hall
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Blue Lass is following a growing tradition here at La Roche, having played the Street Festival before being invited to play as a "Young Talent" artist on the Day Stage in 2024. That show earned them a recall to the Main Stage this year. They have plenty of musical talent that they put to good use. We enjoyed their mix of Bluegrass with Old Time and Folk music, in both original songs and covers, that reflect a broad range of influences - not only from acoustic music. We can't wait to see them again! Abbey Thomas (mandolin) Holly Wheeldon (fiddle, guitar) Ruth Eliza - (clawhammer banjo) Esther Duerinck (fiddle), Noémie Charmetant (bass) EP : Skyline and Coalmines (2024)
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WILLIAM JACK (AUS)
If you gave Christ Thile a cello ... Vertical Divider
Photo © Darkroom Productions UK
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William Jack is a solo cello player. So you are maybe wondering what is he doing at a Bluegras festival? Well, we first met him in January 2026 at the Your Roots are Showing Gig Fair in Belfast. We knew straightaway there was something there, so we watched his showcase the next evening, where he took us through every sound and every style imaginable on the cello — and even more. We all hooted and hollered at various points during the show, and we gave him a standing ovation at the end — a rare event for a 30-minute showcase. He is from Australia and classically trained in Austria ("I don’t think they’d let me back if they heard me now!”), and he cites Chris Thile and Tony Rice as influences (the title of his album ‘This Old Cello Box” is taken indirectly from Church Street Blues!). So he does a bit of Bluegrass, a bit of jazz and he wanders in and out of classical music. And within two weeks of meeting him, we had booked him and the contract was signed. You are going to love him. William Jack (cello) Album : This Old Cello Box vols 1, 2 & 3 (2022, 2024 and 2026)
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YELLOFOX (NDL)
Americana that sounds like a road trip full of dreams and ideals ... Vertical Divider
Photo © Shari De Boer
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A chance encounter in Belfast ... a pint of Guiness ... and a feeling. Hey, the camp at Bluegrass in La Roche every year! And then there's the music : blending the warmth of the seventies with a modern, heartfelt touch inspired by artists like Paul Simon, Gram Parsons, Nick Drake, Eels, and Fleet Foxes ; a bluesy, soulful, Folk-Americana sound full of emotion with rich harmonies, acoustic grooves, and honest storytelling. These are songs for melancholic dreamers, naïve idealists, and tender bon vivants. Yellofox gives an intimate and uplifting concert experience—a musical road trip that leaves you inspired, moved, and longing for more. A perfect way to bring the festival home. Jorieke de Vet (cello) Ronald de Jong (bass) Marc Mosmans (acoustic guitar) Pauline de Vet (fiddle) Roger Verbeek (drums) Frans Pruis (lead guitar) EP : Dream On (2025),
Album : For the Dreamers (2023) New ablum coming later in 2026 |