Music was an important facet of Ben Brown's childhood on a rural Midwestern farm. It had always been a vital part of his Cherokee, Irish and African American heritage; his mother commonly expressed her thoughts and feelings through song. His parents' appreciation for the music of the big bands, jazz, country-western and the music of so many other cultures exposed him to a great variety of musical styles and interpretations. His first exposure to the harp was Harpo Marx playing boogie-woogie and jazz.

Years later, in a harp world dominated by orchestral pedal harps and classical music, Ben singlehandedly reintroduced and helped repopularize a singular variety of folk harp which had been obsolete for close to 100 years with only three or four original European examples still in existence. He has proven this harp to be uniquely suited to the jazz, blues and improvisational music of his youth.

Twenty years after Ben Brown's reintroduction of the cross strung into the American folk harp world, the instrument boasts several hundred players and growing.

Blue Mountain Sunrise has been playing to the enjoyment of Bluegrass and Bluegrass Gospel fans in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and beyond for nearly 30 years. We enjoy every opportunity to bring joy and entertainment to our fans whose appreciation and encouragement make it all worthwhile! If interested in bookings or more info, please contact Roy

The Burnt Possum Poets is a trio of wordsmiths based in Harrisonburg, Virginia. They explore the minute differences between romance, nature, the divine and taxicabs. A musician first and foremost, Dan Easley composes and records songs and sound-scapes. In love with the world and everything in it, Jeremy Frey generates poems and creative nonfiction. Chad Gusler delivers short stories and sermons, often mixing both genres to expose and surpass the embedded boundaries of prose and the pulpit. Their work can be found at Burnt Possum and at Towndowner Records.

Daphna Creek plays a mix of orginal, familiar and traditional gospel bluegrass songs.

JD Martin is an award-winning songwriter of 5 Number One and 10 Top Ten singles. His songs have been recorded by such luminaries as Reba McEntire, the Oak Ridge Boys, Peter Cetera, and new country pop star Kellie Coffey. After 20 years of writing for other artists in Nashville and Los Angeles, he released his first solo CD, "One Heart," an inspired collection of original songs featuring his soulful voice, and a musical style ranging somewhere between the best of Marc Cohen and Michael McDonald. He recently released a new CD with his wife and musical partner, Jan Garrett, entitled "I Dreamed of Rain." JD is also the writer of two songs used extensively by the Mennonite church, "Unity"(Jesus, help us live in peace) and "Jesus, Rock of Ages."

JD is a true poet and heart-master who knows that the music IS the message. He and Jan live in the mountains of Colorado.