Schedule 2010

Scott Gates and Chuck Hailes are of a like mind, they live in the world of live acoustic music, sharing a passion for roots and bluegrass music as well as traditional mountain music. Scott Gates is as close to a musical Prodigy on the mandolin as you will ever meet and has started playing guitar with the same fire and brilliance. Scott has been a mainstay at Julian for many years and holds a special place in his heart for this festival and the people he sees here year after year. Having performed all over the country and with artists as varied as John and Nathan McEuen, Steve Martin, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Kenny Loggins and a virtual who's who of bluegrass players, Scott has started writing music of his own and will be bringing many of these tunes to you this year.

Chuck Hailes, Scott's partner in this new venture is one of the top Bass players in the country, schooled in classical and Jazz bass playing and technique. Chuck writes his own music and has teamed with Scott to create many new musical gems. With a background in bluegrass music, Chuck sings and plays in a way that is uniquely his own. Joining the boys will be Elaine Gregston on accordion bringing her musical rhythm to the mix.

Also special guest for this festival will be Chelsea Williams, acclaimed busker and street performer from Universal City Walk and The Santa Monica promenade. She is a prolific singer songwriter with over 50,000 CDs sold, one at a time to those who stop to listen to her. Chelsea will be joining the boys during the set to perform with them and sing for you. The future of this music we love so much is very bright indeed.

The TailDraggers originally got together to play a gig for some private pilots having a barbecue in a hanger at Montgomery Field. Deciding to reflect that first gig with their name, they called themselves Captain Noonan and the TailDraggers in reference to Amelia Earhart's navigator on her last flight and the type of plane in which they were lost.

As time passed, they found themselves using the shortened name the TailDraggers. For almost a year, the TailDraggers honed their chops as the Tuesday night house band at Hensley's Flying Elephant Bar and Grill.

Most recently, they have been the featured band at both the San Diego Bluegrass Society and North County Bluegrass and Folk Club, and played a live spot on KSON's Bluegrass Night with Wayne Rice.

Without trains, the American interior could not have opened up when it did. Without trains, the cowboys would not have taken those long trail drives to Abilene. Trails & Rails combines real and imagined history with a love of cowboy and train songs to bring you the best of both.

2005 Western Music Association Duo Harmony Winners, Walt Richards and Paula Strong, with bass player Pete Varhola, perform at Julian this year as the Trails & Rails Trio.

Trails & Rails was honored with 5 nominations on the 2008 Western Music Association Top Five ballot including: Best Traditional Group, Best Song of the Year ("Thinking 'bout Montana"), Best CD of the Year ("Ghosts of Tombstone"), Instrumentalist of the Year (Walt Richards) and Best Collaboration between Poet and Songwriter for Walt Richards and Les Buffham.

Coming from the San Diego area, they perform extensively in the Southwest and have been featured at many Western festivals and events, including the Cody Stampede, the Tombstone Western Music Festival and the Cochise Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival in Sierra Vista, AZ.

New cowboy and train songs continue to be written to this day. Old and new, Trails & Rails enjoys them all. Experience their energy and enthusiasm for this great music and let them help you reconnect with our heritage!

Chris Stuart & Backcountry is Chris Stuart on guitar; Janet Beazley on banjo; Eric Uglum on lead guitar; and Austin Ward on bass.

Chris was co-writer of the 2009 IBMA Song of the Year and won first-prize at the Merlefest Chris Austin Songwriting Contest in both bluegrass and gospel categories. His songs have been recorded by top artists such as Claire Lynch, Dale Ann Bradley, Doyle Lawson, Bobby Osborne, Michael Cleveland, Larry Cordle, Dan Paisley, and many others. Nine of his songs have appeared on the Bluegrass Unlimited top-30 chart.

Janet Beazley is an accomplished banjo player, teacher, songwriter, and singer, and has taught banjo and music theory classes at many workshops, including the British Columbia Bluegrass Workshop, American Banjo Camp, California Bluegrass Association music camp, Midwest Banjo Camp, and Sore Fingers Bluegrass Week in the UK. Janet's solo album, 5 South appeared on the Bluegrass Unlimited chart for a year with a song by Chris, "Julia Belle," which was also recorded by Dale Ann Bradley. Janet's song "From Now On" was recorded by Sierra Hull on Rounder Records and was the most-played song on Sirius Bluegrass Radio for December 2008. Janet teaches banjo, recorder, and flute at Old Time Music in San Diego.

Eric Uglum began his bluegrass career with Weary Hearts in the 1980s with Ron Block, Butch Baldassari, Rob Ickes and Mike Bub. He's also played with Copperline, and for many years with Lost Highway. Eric's solo album on Backcountry Records, Shenandoah Wind, was selected by Bluegrass Now magazine as the best album of 2003, and the song "Shenandoah Wind," written by Chris, was on the Bluegrass Unlimited chart for several months. Eric also runs New Wine Studio in Apple Valley, California.

Austin Ward in a very short time has become a respected, solid and creative bass player. He has a thorough feel for bluegrass and acoustic music, and played at the 2005 Country Music Association Fan Fest with Ricky Skaggs and Earl Scruggs. Austin, even at a young age, is already in high demand as a session player, and has just released his first album with his step-dad, Eric Uglum, and his brother, Christian Ward, called The Old Road to Jerusalem.

San Diego's Queen of Boogie Woogie, Sue Palmer, has amazed audiences all over the world with her unique style and phenomenal left hand. She delights in creating an atmosphere reminiscent of the small clubs and cafes of 1932 Paris, Harlem, West Texas and Hawaii.

Her first CD, which features many of her own compositions, has been described as "full of fun, and cool enough to cause crop damage to orange groves." Her second CD, "Soundtrack to a B Movie" was called "a steam of sultry sound." "Live at Dizzy's" was voted the Best Blues Album at the San Diego Music Awards, 2002-2003. "Palmer has come into her own on this wonderful new release, "In The Green Room," 2005, with studio and live tracks redefining her rep as "just" a gifted pianist-bandleader.

Palmer may now add producer and visionary to her resume." Her 2007 release, "Sophisticated Ladies," has won the 2008 International Blues Challenge (IBC) Award for Best Self Produced CD, awarded by the Blues Foundation in Memphis, and many think it's her best album yet.