2026 Performers
The Onlies
The Onlies are a young group of old friends who perform together in a string band. They grew up playing fiddles, guitars, and banjos in their hometowns of Seattle, WA and Lexington, VA. The band won first place at the Clifftop Appalachian String Band Festival in 2017, has toured the US extensively, and has performed and collaborated with Bruce Molsky, Elvis Costello, Tatiana Hargreaves, Foghorn String Band, The Bee Eaters, John Herrmann & Meredith McIntosh, and Darol Anger, among others. With their latest self-titled recording, the band digs deep into performances of traditional American popular (old time) music. It is a committed engagement with the histories and futures of old time fiddle music.
High Fidelity Bluegrass
High Fidelity is a rising group whose love and devotion to the great bluegrass records from the 1950s and ‘60s are unsurpassed. Formed in early 2014, the group received its first achievement with a first place win in the International Band Championship at the 40th Annual Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) Awards in February of 2014. They were nominated for International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) New Artist of the Year for three years in a row, alongside several other nominations in the industry. Many have described them as the new Johnson Mountain Boys, interpreting classic era bluegrass through the fresh, young perspective of today’s generation. Few bands have come along in recent years that are so widely loved by both the grandparents and their grandchildren.
Elliott and Janice Rogers
Elliott and Janice have been performing together since the 1980s. They performed in The Ramblers and with well-known musicians Townes Van Zandt, Blaze Foley, George Ensle and Robert Earl Keen. After moving to Albuquerque, they formed Elliotts Ramblers and for over 25 years remained a favorite at Bluegrass festivals all over the southwest. Back in Texas, Elliott joined the Alan Munde Gazette and formed the popular band, Three Hands High that became a hit at cowboy poetry gatherings. Janice also joined the award winning group the Hill Country Honeys and she focuses on playing bass and singing impeccable harmony with her musical partner of over 40 years.
The Tim May & Steve Smith Duo
Tim May and Steve Smith met in 2012 at Camp Bluegrass in Levelland, Texas—a crossing of paths that sparked an enduring musical partnership that has resulted in five albums and coast-to-coast performances. May (guitar/mandolin) and Smith (mandolin/octave mandolin) share a rapport that feels both effortless and electric as they take listeners on a journey through original and traditional tunes that draw from singer-songwriter, bluegrass, Old Time, Latin, swing, jazz, and classical genres. Their acoustic performances are full of dazzling technique and nuanced improvisation, with harmonies delivered like a shared thought. In addition to performances throughout the U.S., both are also sought-after instructors for music camps, workshops, and private lessons
Adobe Brothers
Recognized as one of the top New Mexico contra dance bands, The Adobe Brothers are identical quadruplets born to different mothers a long time ago. They began playing together in 1979 after their mothers kicked them out of their homes. They started playing in local restaurants and bars in northern New Mexico and moved up to playing concerts, street fairs, and music festivals throughout the southwest. Their initial musical preference consisted of old time fiddle music, Bluegrass, and folk music of North America, but has subsequently expanded to International Bluegrass, combining Western Swing, Celtic, blues, and whatever else might be fun to play.
Marla Fibish & Rebecca Richman with Jimmy Murphy
Marla Fibish and Rebecca Richman build their sound from the inside out—locked-in, interwoven mandolin and fiddle at the core, with Marla's mandola and Rebecca's concertina adding texture and range. Rooted in Irish traditional music, they also bring life to original tunes from Marla and their tunesmith friends, along with threads from other traditional styles.
Accomplished musicians and recording artists individually, they are also dedicated educators. Marla has cultivated a thriving community of mandolin students, while Rebecca draws on her music studies at Mills College and years of teaching experience. They released their debut duo album, Playdate, in 2025, featuring Jimmy Murphy's warm, inventive guitar work throughout. The album celebrates a musical friendship built on deep listening and shared joy.
"…absorbing and rewarding…this duo plays new and old material with a lightness of touch and a togetherness which is a joy to hear." — Alex Monaghan, Irish Music Magazine
Mariachi Sonidos del Monte
Mariachi Sonidos del Monte was established in August of 2008, in the city of Santa Fe, NM. Driven by love and passion for Mariachi music, Mariachi Sonidos del Monte has performed throughout New Mexico and southern Colorado, entertaining thousands each year. With over 100 years of combined musical experience, members provide a truly unique sound, while maintaining the traditional rhythms and rich style of Mariachi Music. Mariachi Sonidos del Monte continues to enlighten fans, express their passions, and bring joy to countless audiences, all while continuously improving and refining their sound.
ATC Varsity String Band
A tradition on the Santa Fe TradFest stage, the Academy for Technology & Classics' Varsity String Band students are known for their excellent and inspiring performances of traditional American folk music. The group is taught and led by award-winning music teacher and musician Eric Carlson.
Lone Piñon
Lone Piñon plays music of the Rio Grande Valley from Northern Veracruz to Southern Colorado. Their repertoire spans different genres, encompassing high lonesome two-part harmonies and music played with the fire of traditional people. Using violin, accordion, guitar, quinta huapanguera, guitarrón, upright bass and harmony vocals in Spanish, English, and Nahuatl, the group has revived and updated the Chicano string band style that once flourished in New Mexico, bringing a devoted and explosive musicianship to Northern New Mexican polkas and chotes, virtuosic Mexican huapango and son calentano, and classic borderlands conjunto. Band members are Jordan Wax, Tanya Nuñez, Santiago Romero, and Karina Wilson.
Shelley Morningsong
2019 Native American Music Awards "Artist of the Year" Singer, Songwriter, Grammy Member, ASCAP Member, Photographer, Shelley Morningsong (N. Cheyenne) creates music that bridges cultures and hearts, writing powerful songs that celebrate our shared humanity and composing theme songs for organizations she deeply believes in. Her work carries messages of unity, resilience, healing, and hope. She is joined on stage by her husband, Fabian Fontenelle (Zuni/Omaha), whose Northern Traditional dancing, storytelling, and Traditional Plains and Southwestern-style drumming bring depth, honor, and authenticity to every presentation. Through his artistry and presence, Fabian proudly uplifts his Zuni and Omaha heritage, both on stage and in his daily life. Together, they offer an unforgettable cultural experience rooted in tradition, artistry, and the power of story.