East Tennessee’s Own WDVX presents Tennessee Shines Live from the Bijou Theatre on Wednesday night February 11th at seven. We kick off 2026 with a jam from Shadowgrass, Tidalwave Road  and Asheville Mountain Boys!  Tickets go on sale just in time for the holidays this Friday morning at ten at Knox Bijou dot org. Be part of the live radio theatre audience for Tennessee Shines February 11th.

When their instrumental prowess earned them a vast following on social media, childhood friends turned all-star act Shadowgrass found sudden success. But as a young band, the expectations that went along with a large audience proved daunting. “We felt a lot of pressure to make something uniquely us, because we had such a big following, and we felt that they deserved more than what we had given them as of yet.” explains the band. The group dug deep into their own musicality, and tried to block out the noise for their sophomore release All That Will (release date: Oct 4, 2024). “It turned out that dropping those self-imposed expectations and just writing/making music for our own enjoyment was the key to finding our collective voice and making a record we are all proud of.”

Shadowgrass began in 2014 when Clay Russell (Banjo), Luke Morris (Mandolin), Kyser George (Guitar) were jamming at the Grayson County Fiddler’s Convention in Elk Creek, VA. Sometime before their first real show, the name Shadowgrass was suggested simply because they thought it sounded “cool”. Kyser, Clay, and Luke were 9, 13, and 14 years old at the time. Now in their early twenties, their influences and listening habits have changed drastically, but the group has always grown in the same direction musically. They have welcomed fiddle player Madison Morris, who also lends vocals and songwriting prowess, and bass player Evan Campfield. Luke and Madison trade off lead vocals, and harmonies seamlessly with one another. Their commitment to and keen interest in songwriting brings additional dimensions to the band, allowing the group to appeal to listeners outside of the expected jam-band community.

As a very young band that has already been playing together for a decade, Shadowgrass has a unique bond. “We’ve grown up together and have watched each other evolve into the people we are today”, they say. “It sounds cliche but we definitely act more like siblings than bandmates”. On All That Will, the group explores themes of anxiety and uncertainty, and questioning the people they want to become. Luckily, they’ve had each other to share these experiences with, and it seems that their companionship has only pushed their artistic and musical abilities to new heights.

Tidalwave Road hails from Williamsburg, KY in the heart of the Daniel Boone Country, the “Gateway To The Cumberlands,” and a hotbed for high energy, foot-stomping bluegrass music. First formed in 2012, the current members include Ben Parker (banjo), Carlie Parker (mandolin), Daniel Parker (bass), and Robert Sulfridge (guitar).

As winners of the 2023 SamJam Festival Band Competition, sponsored by Pinecastle Records, the band was launched with their grand prize recording from Pinecastle’s Bonfire Recording Studio in Piedmont, SC. Recorded and Produced by Steve Wilson, the BONFIRE SESSIONS became Tidalwave Road’s first professional collection to be released worldwide.

Newly signed on to Pinecastle Records and industry agent, Wilson Pickins Promotions, with the success of their first effort, the band began pre-production on their first full length project due out in 2025. SKIN AND BONE released October 24, 2025 following three successful single releases that included a heightened level of airplay on SiriusXM Bluegrass Junction, terrestrial and streaming radio. Tidalwave Road is excited looking forward to to the 2026 touring season.

By their name, you know where they are from, and by their sound, you know what they are about. The Asheville Mountain Boys are on a mission to capture not just the style but the spirit of traditional bluegrass. Asheville, NC has long been known for great music and its roots in bluegrass go back to the founding of the genre (Bill Monroe’s first broadcast performance as the Bluegrass Boys was at Asheville radio station WWNC in 1938) A group that firmly stakes its claim to the tradition of the music from the area, The Asheville Mountain Boys spring onto the scene with a thought,” What happened to bluegrass?” It’s not a disparaging one that condemns current styles in the genre but rather asks, “Why do we love this music in the first place” and answers with an approach that is true to the originators of the genre in the sense of both style and philosophy. Bluegrass is raw emotion, excitement, drive, and authenticity. It is not sanitized or compromised but a reflection of the lives of those who play it. It’s storytelling that follows a throughline of tradition. With these priorities in mind, they offer their first in a series of live-recorded singles.

Your introduction to the band is “Another Day” a classic tune written and first recorded by Reno and Smiley in the late 50’s. This song choice and performance fit the ethos of the Boys showing the musical prowess of the group which includes John Duncan on banjo, Zeb Gambill on mandolin, Jacob Brewer on bass and vocals, and Marshal Brown on guitar and vocals. The group plans to release more live music this year with studio recording to follow.