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Tennessee Shines – 11/5 – East Nash Grass / A.J. Lee & Blue Summit / Alex Leach, Wyatt Ellis / The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys
November 5 @ 7:00 pm
East Tennessee’s Own WDVX presents Tennessee Shines Radio Show Wednesday night, November 5th at 7PM at the historic Bijou Theatre in downtown Knoxville. It’s WDVX’s 28th Birthday Party!, and to celebrate we’re bringing AJ Lee and Blue Summit, East Nash Grass, The Po’ Ramblin Boys, Alex Leach, Wyatt Ellis and your host Jim Lauderdale to the Tennessee Shines stage, for a full night of live Bluegrass at the Bijou on November 5th.
AJ Lee & Blue Summit are an award-winning, energetic, charming, and technically jaw-dropping band — and one of the most exciting and fast-rising Bluegrass / Americana bands on the scene today. Based in the California Bay Area, the group met as teenagers, picking and jamming together as kids at local bluegrass festivals. Currently made up of AJ Lee on mandolin, fiddler Jan Purat, guitarists Scott Gates and Sullivan Tuttle (younger brother of Molly Tuttle), and bassist Sean Newman, the band still carries that youthful, festival-parking-lot energy with them, yet there’s a genuine ease and confidence to their music making. A breakout year for the band, 2024 saw them release their critically acclaimed album, “City of Glass,” their first label release on Signature Sounds recordings, combined with becoming one of the most in-demand bands in the Bluegrass scene. In 2025, the band continues to pack major venues around the country, along with major festival plays, and the release of “Cover to Cover V1,” an EP of cover songs being released throughout the year.
East Nash Grass exemplifies the best of what bluegrass has to offer — as being named the 2024 IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) New Artist of the Year would suggest. But their talent as singers, instrumentalists, and composers is just the beginning. The secret to East Nash Grass lies in their unflinching ability to be themselves. It certainly helps that they are a veritable supergroup of award-winners who have been performing longer than some might guess they’ve been alive, with experience working with Dan Tyminski, Tim O’Brien, Sierra Hull, and Rhonda Vincent, as just a start. After hundreds of sets (and countless late-night jams) in Nashville, East Nash Grass has coalesced into the hair-raising ensemble of Harry Clark (mandolin), Cory Walker (banjo), James Kee (guitar), Maddie Denton (fiddle), and Jeff Partin (bass/dobro). Their love of both bluegrass and the absurd can be felt in both their live shows and on their new album “All God’s Children” (Mountain Fever, 2025), which keep listeners on the edge of their seats, marveling at irrefutable mastery and wondering just what might come next.
In 10 years as a band, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys have covered a lot of miles. Their love of bluegrass — playing it, sharing it, growing it — has been the fuel for their remarkable journey through every corner of America and into the hearts of fans drawn to their hard-charging, true-blue sound.
“We live what we play and sing about,” says bandleader C.J. Lewandowski. Indeed, the band has weathered their fair share of the highs and lows that bluegrass songs are known for (except for the murders, of course). They’ve been road-weary, longing for home. They’ve felt the heartbreak of band members leaving and embraced the joy of welcoming new ones. They’ve worked hard to see their dreams come true, playing on some of music’s most celebrated stages. And they’ve been nominated for a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album (2019’s Toil, Tears & Trouble) and for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year award.
Amid all their travels, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys have seen every nook and cranny of the country, met people from all walks of life, and kept a keen eye toward the truth, which rings out loud and clear in the songs they write. “Wanderers Like Me,” the title track from their most recent album and the band’s first No. 1 song on the Bluegrass Unlimited chart, shoots straight from the heart: “Wanderers like me don’t settle down for no one / don’t mind being lonesome, chasing dreams is all I ever need.”
Lately, they’ve been chasing their dreams in a new configuration, one that expands the band’s age span and geographical roots. Guitarist John Gooding from California and fiddle player Max Silverstein from “the great bluegrass state of Maine,” as the band likes to say during onstage introductions, are the newest additions, both in their 20s. They join Lewandowski on mandolin, Jereme Brown on banjo, and Jasper Lorentzen on bass, relative elders in their 30s.
Lewandowski describes this new chapter for the band as one of “expansion and growth.” There’s a new energy to the group onstage, with appreciative glances and the occasional good-natured laugh between them as they play. They’re listening to each other and responding. And audience members feel like part of the conversation.
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys have always been known for barreling bluegrass forward, and as they move into their second decade as a band, they’re maintaining that momentum, both onstage and in the studio. Lewandowski envisions the band’s next project as “kicking it back to the beginning and cutting a record that is solid damn ’grass.” And then, of course, they’ll take it right back on the road, living what they sing about and sharing it with others, just the way they like it.
“We take bluegrass and put it where bluegrass isn’t,” says Lewandowski. “It’s not about putting music that is different into bluegrass music to attract more people.”
Alex Leach and his band are redefining modern roots music and bluegrass, bringing exceptional musicianship and high energy to every stage. Bluegrass Today praises them for their skill and exuberance, marking Alex as a leading figure in the young bluegrass vanguard.
Wyatt Ellis has achieved more milestones in his 16 years than most musicians achieve in a lifetime. The teen multi-instrumentalist from East Tennessee is rapidly emerging as one of bluegrass music’s brightest stars. With a fiery passion and a profound respect for the genre’s traditions, he skillfully blends the influences of bluegrass pioneers with youthful energy. Known for his virtuosic mandolin playing, soulful vocals, and original songwriting, Wyatt has built a dedicated fanbase excited to support him as he grows up before their eyes. His band performances, marked by raw energy and tight harmonies, breathe new life into traditional bluegrass, seamlessly fusing the rich traditions of Appalachia with a modern edge.
Wyatt and his bluegrass band are picking up steam as one of the most exciting young acts in bluegrass today. Each member brings their own authentic Appalachian flavor. Performing around a single microphone in the classic Appalachian style, the band’s live shows echo with the sound of high-lonesome harmony, powerful rhythm, and blazing solos. Their stage presence and chemistry evoke the timeless spirit of bluegrass while offering something fresh and compelling. From the Grand Ole Opry to festivals like MerleFest, Gray Fox, and Big Ears, Wyatt Ellis and his bluegrass band are gaining momentum and turning heads at every stop. With a debut band album on the horizon and a growing national fanbase climbing aboard, Wyatt Ellis and his bluegrass band are rolling forward on a track laid by the legends, bringing youthful energy to the heart of tradition.
Wyatt’s talent has earned him notable recognition, including the title of Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year and an unprecedented nomination at age 15 for New Artist at the International Bluegrass Music Association Award Show in 2024. His virtuosity and understanding of the roots of traditional bluegrass have earned collaborations with bluegrass pioneers Peter Rowan, Marty Stuart, and Bobby Osborne. His rise to prominence has been featured in Rolling Stone and The Tennessean, cementing his place in the spotlight. Wyatt’s innovative approach to traditional bluegrass has already begun to influence the next wave of acoustic musicians, furthering his generational impact on the genre.
In 2024, Wyatt made his solo debut at the Newport Folk Festival, and his band became a fan favorite at major festivals such as Gray Fox, MerleFest, and Big Ears. That same year, Wyatt was a guest of Dailey & Vincent at age 13 and became a regular performer on the Grand Ole Opry after making his official Opry debut playing original music with his own band at just 14 years old. Wyatt’s debut album reached number one on Billboard’s bluegrass sales chart in its first month of release, with multiple songs charting as bluegrass airplay number one hits. Ten of his twelve tracks charted in the Top 10, with “Blue Smoke” holding steady there for most of the year, solidifying his status as one of the genre’s most promising emerging talents.
In January of 2025, Wyatt released Winds of Rowan County alongside bluegrass legend Peter Rowan, a collaboration that honors Rowan’s legacy while passing the torch of the “old-school” to bluegrass music’s newest flame-keeper. Currently, Wyatt is preparing to release a debut vocal album, which will feature brand new original material. This album marks a significant milestone in his career and promises to showcase even more of his unique sound and growing artistry. With relentless dedication to his craft, Wyatt is making a lasting impression on the bluegrass world and beyond. As he continues to push boundaries, Wyatt is poised to captivate music lovers around the world. You won’t want to miss the next chapter in this unstoppable young artist’s journey.
