Compton & Newberry with The Ramblin’ Bluegrass Ensemble

Name: Compton & Newberry with The Ramblin’ Bluegrass Ensemble
Start: 2025-04-11T19:00:00-04:00
Location: Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center of Worthington

Schedule

Fri Apr 11 2025 at 07:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center of Worthington | Worthington, OH

Mike Compton and Joe Newberry, masters of old-time mandolin and banjo/guitar, dig deep into early country music and blues. Their duet-singing, two-man string band ranges between traditional songs, instrumentals, ‘mother’ ballads and original tunes. It’s not about the number of notes with Compton and Newberry, but telling the truth and respecting the song.
Mike Compton is a Grammy award winner, IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year nominee, a steady sideman for John Hartford from 1994 until Hartford’s death in 2001, and mandolinist for the Nashville Bluegrass Band. Mike is inarguably the world expert on Bill Monroe-style bluegrass mandolin, and is also steeped in old-time fiddle tunes, early string band music and Delta blues. He’s entertained from Carnegie Hall and the White House.
Known far and wide for his powerful banjo playing, Joe Newberry is a prizewinning guitarist, songwriter, and singer to boot. In addition to his work with Mike, Joe plays with fiddler and step-dancer April Verch. He was a frequent guest on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion, and was a featured singer on the Transatlantic Sessions. He won the songwriting prize for “Gospel Recorded Performance” at the 2012 IBMA Awards for his song, Singing As We Rise, and was co-writer, with Eric Gibson, of the 2013 IBMA Song of the Year for They Called It Music.
The Ramblin’ Bluegrass Ensemble is a super-group of roots-based musicians pulled from active central Ohio bands. United by a shared love for Appalachian heritage, harmony singing and innovative improvisational acoustic instrumentation, they each share their unique talents to perform a mix of traditional bluegrass covers with a touch of Western swing and original compositions. George Welling (bass) is otherwise part of the Appalachian Swing project, devoted to the music of the White Brothers and Kentucky Colonels. Brandon Shull (violin) is an Ohio State Fiddle Contest winner and graduate of the Denison University Roots Music Program. John Alge (rhythm guitar) is the founding member of the Slate Ridge Bluegrass Band, now celebrating more than 20 years of performing. Cincinnati-based Trina Emig (5-string banjo) performs nationally including appearances at Nashville’s legendary Station Inn and at venues from the East Coast to Southwestern Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Rich Baker (mandolin) has played banjo and mandolin for several Ohio bands and has co-hosted WOSU’s Bluegrass Ramble radio program for 38 years. From hard-driving instrumentals to gentle love ballads, the unique blend of talent within The Ramblin’ Bluegrass Ensemble is guaranteed to entertain, energize and leave you with a deeper appreciation of authentic traditional American music.
Tickets: $25 Adults, $10 Students