Ocrafolk Festival 2026 Performers
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Click on the following links for more information.
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While the full 2026 roster has not yet been released . . . here is a preview!
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Kathleen Parks Trio
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Kathleen’s music blends pop, folk, and classic jazz with virtuosic fiddle playing that reimagines traditional and modern styles through groove, soulful vocals, and a playful improvisational spirit. Deeply rooted in Celtic and American traditions yet driven by a love of pop songwriting, funk rhythms, and groove-based exploration, her performances feel both unexpected and familiar—a complete musical journey from start to finish. Guided by a belief that music is about feeling rather than perfection, Kathleen uses sound as a way to move energy, express emotion, and create connection, bringing joy and a sense of healing to both her performances and her teaching. Over the years, Parks has shared the stage with artists such as Paula Cole, Sammy Rae & The Friends, Gordon Lightfoot, Aoife O’Donovan, The Punch Brothers, Jerry Douglas, and Sierra Hull. kathleenparksmusic.com
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Jasmin Cardenas
Jasmin Cardenas is an award-winning Colombian-American, bilingual storyteller, theater maker, actress, educator, and social activist who uses teatro and play to create spaces for connection, storytelling, and social change. A proud daughter of Colombian immigrants, she was inspired by El Teatro Campesino and trained in Theater of the Oppressed with Augusto Boal, experiences that led her to co-found WorkersTEATRO in Chicago to amplify the stories of wage workers through public engagement. Jasmin’s work has been recognized with numerous honors, including a 2020–2022 international LAB Fellowship from Georgetown University’s Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics, selection by UNESCO and the International Theatre Institute as the 2022 U.S. Emergent Theater Artist for World Theater Day, and a 2023 USArtists International Mid-Atlantic Arts Grant supporting performances of her solo show DISPOSABLE in Zimbabwe and South Africa. A 2018 Outstanding Storyteller ALTA Award winner, filmmaker, and nationally touring performer, her deeply personal work explores the complexities of living between cultures while blending documentary theater, storytelling, and civic engagement. jasmincardenas.com
Rev. Robert Jones
Photo: Daniel Pullen
Rev. Robert Jones, Sr. is a renaissance man. He has been a professional musician for more than forty years. The legendary blues man, Willie Dixon encouraged him to bring his music into schools over 35 years ago. In fact, The National Blues Foundation recognized his work as a leading blues educator in 2007. He has been a Pastor for more than 20 years, and he has been a nationally recognized storyteller for more than fifteen years. All of those experiences have allowed him work in a variety of ways and to apply his speaking and musical skills to educate, entertain, and inspire. At the heart of his message is the belief that our cultural diversity tells a story that should celebrate, not just tolerate. revrobertjones.com
Jeff Little Trio
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Jeff Little (piano, vocals, harmonica), Steve Lewis (acoustic guitar, five-string banjo, vocals), and Luke Little (mandolin) come together as the Jeff Little Trio, blending tradition with innovation rooted in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Jeff Little is an award-winning musician and widely recognized innovator whose piano-driven approach is a rare and remarkable force in Americana and Appalachian music, with performances at venues and events including the Smithsonian Institution, the National Folk Festival, American Piano Masters, and the Barns of Wolf Trap. Steve Lewis, an award-winning guitarist and banjo player from Todd, NC, is among the most respected acoustic musicians in the country, celebrated for his flatpicking guitar style and mastery of the five-string banjo, with championships from events such as the Walnut Valley Nationals, MerleFest, Galax Old Time Fiddlers Convention, RenoFest, and the Wayne Henderson Guitar Competition. Luke Little is a young, highly accomplished mandolin player whose musicianship far exceeds his years, with appearances at the National Folk Festival, PBS Song of the Mountains, the Richmond Folk Festival, and the Moss Center for the Performing Arts at Virginia Tech. jefflittle.net
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Sweet Megg
Sweet Megg is a genre-blending vocalist and songwriter whose music weaves jazz, country, and blues into a sound that feels both timeless and fresh. Originally from New York City and now based in Nashville, she has traveled the world honing her craft from Parisian jazz clubs to Southern honky-tonks. Her latest album, Never Been Home—which reached #23 on the Americana Radio Charts and #1 on the Alt Country Charts—captures her signature blend of vintage influences and modern edge, produced by Mose Wilson and Dennis Crouch at Nashville’s Bomb Shelter studio. After years touring with Postmodern Jukebox and starring as the lead in Cirque du Soleil’s Songblazers show, Sweet Megg returns with her most personal work yet and a growing presence on the festival circuit, beloved by Nashville audiences for her magnetic performances. sweetmegg.com
Donald Davis
Donald Davis is a master storyteller, author, and educator whose warm, humorous, and deeply human stories draw from a lifetime of listening—to family tales, Appalachian traditions, and the everyday moments that shape who we are. Known for his ability to find meaning in ordinary lives, Donald blends gentle humor, wisdom, and emotional honesty to create stories that resonate across generations. A former Methodist minister and longtime teacher of storytelling craft, he has performed at festivals, schools, libraries, and conferences across the country, inspiring audiences and storytellers alike to value their own stories as sources of connection, reflection, and shared humanity. ddavisstoryteller.com
Rhonda Robichaux
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Rhonda Robichaux is a New Orleans–born, North Carolina–based blues singer and bandleader whose music draws deeply from her Crescent City roots, blending blues, soul, funk, samba, jazz, and original songwriting into a sound that is raw, soulful, and unmistakably her own. Known for her powerful, emotionally direct vocals and inventive guitar work, Rhonda creates an atmosphere of smoky cool—moving effortlessly from slow, gritty blues to funk-driven, danceable grooves. Her band won the 2012 Triangle Blues Challenge and went on to represent the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area at the 2013 International Blues Competition in Memphis, where critics praised her “in-your-face emotional” voice and mystical New Orleans–infused sound, drawing comparisons to Dr. John, Elvin Bishop, Etta James, and Marie Knight. Since relocating to North Carolina in 2000, Rhonda has appeared on radio and network television, shared the stage with artists including Claudette King, Charmaine Neville, George Porter Jr., Papa Grows Funk, and numerous acclaimed regional and national musicians, and continues to captivate audiences as both a solo performer and bandleader with music that is commanding, intimate, and unapologetically authentic. facebook.com/rhondarobichaux
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The Foreign Landers
“One listen to the lilting vocals, truthful narrative, and welcoming musicality and you will understand,” writes The Aquarian. “Beautiful would almost be an understatement.” That sense of invitation sits at the heart of The Foreign Landers’ music. Their songs pay close attention to ordinary moments, shaped by the belief that grace often shows up in these places. Rooted in bluegrass and Celtic tradition, the band blends acoustic drive with reflective songwriting and close harmony singing shaped by lives lived across borders.
Led by vocalist and banjoist Tabitha Agnew Benedict of Northern Ireland and mandolinist David Benedict of South Carolina (both recipients of IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year awards), The Foreign Landers have built a reputation for music that feels deeply personal. Their work grows out of shared experience, shaped by distance, home, and the steady work of learning how to live faithfully in changing seasons.
Now joined by longtime bandmates Julian Pinelli on fiddle and Nate Sabat on bass, The Foreign Landers step fully into their identity as a quartet. theforeignlanders.com
Led by vocalist and banjoist Tabitha Agnew Benedict of Northern Ireland and mandolinist David Benedict of South Carolina (both recipients of IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year awards), The Foreign Landers have built a reputation for music that feels deeply personal. Their work grows out of shared experience, shaped by distance, home, and the steady work of learning how to live faithfully in changing seasons.
Now joined by longtime bandmates Julian Pinelli on fiddle and Nate Sabat on bass, The Foreign Landers step fully into their identity as a quartet. theforeignlanders.com
Martin Garrish & the Ocracoke Rockers
Photo: Eakin Howard
Since he was a teenager, Ocracoke Heritage award winner Martin Garrish has been at the heart of the music scene here on the island, fronting bands such as "The Ocracoke Rockers," "The Graveyard Band Revived," and his acoustic ensemble “Martin and Friends." His exceptional guitar playing and rich voice covers everything from acoustic folk and bluegrass to hard rock, classic country and blues. Teaming up with young Dallas Mason (guitar & drums) and other special guests, he will be ready to rock on Friday night, and take you back into the past with a Sunday acoustic set.
Dear MariBella & the Pigkickers
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Dear MariBella and the Pigkickers are an up-and-coming sibling bluegrass band whose music is rooted in the Blue Ridge Mountains with feet planted firmly in the Carolina sand, creating a sound shaped by family ties, tradition, and heart. Born and raised near Wilmington, North Carolina, the band formed in 2022 when the siblings decided there was no reason not to play together, featuring Isabella on fiddle, AnnMari on guitar, Pete on banjo, Chris on mandolin, and their dad on bass. They are set to serenade your soul with their captivating melodies and fun sibling banter, delivering performances infused with faith, kinship, and a whole lot of heart. dearmaribella.com
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Lipbone Redding
Lipbone Redding is a wildly original singer, harmonica player, and bandleader whose high-energy performances blend blues, soul, funk, jazz, and roots music with fearless showmanship. Known for his powerful vocals, jaw-dropping harmonica technique, and inventive stage presence, Lipbone brings equal parts musical mastery and joyful unpredictability to every set. Drawing from deep American roots while pushing the form forward, his performances are immersive, humorous, and electrifying—transforming classic influences into something fresh, visceral, and unforgettable, and leaving audiences energized, surprised, and fully engaged from start to finish. lipbone.com
Jenny & the Weazels
Jenny and the Weazels craft a vibrant tapestry of Celtic sound, blending ancient Scottish and Irish traditions with a modern Appalachian sensibility rooted in East Tennessee. Known for passionate performances and tight musical interplay, the trio delivers driving tunes, heartfelt vocals, and rhythmic power that create a distinctive, engaging live experience. Featuring Rheva Myhre on fiddle (trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland), Keegan Luckey-Smith on bouzouki, guitar, banjo, and lead vocals, and Jamie McDermott on bodhrán and flute, the group first connected in 2014 through East Tennessee State University’s renowned Bluegrass, Celtic, Old-Time, and Country music program before officially forming in 2024. Their sets move effortlessly from blazing reels and jigs to waltzes, polkas, strathspeys, and thoughtfully chosen songs from both sides of the Atlantic, offering audiences a lively musical journey through Celtic traditions—one that keeps feet tapping at festivals, dances, weddings, and beyond. jennyandtheweazels.com
Molasses Creek
Photo: Andrea Tani
Fresh off their 2026 spring tour to Saxapahaw, your Ocrafolk hosts return to the stage. Led by festival directors, Gary Mitchell & David Tweedie, the band features Kim France, Gerald Hampton, and special guest, Lou Castro. See ya on Saturday afternoon! molassescreek.com
Asher Brinson
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Asher Brinson is a 16-year-old, left-handed picker, singer, and songwriter from Newport, North Carolina whose lifelong exposure to family music traditions suddenly ignited into passion after attending the Doc at 100 concert at a Billy Strings show in 2023. Inspired by what he heard, Asher dove headfirst into bluegrass, teaching himself challenging tunes like “Black Mountain Rag” in a single week and entering the Galax Fiddlers Convention soon after. That leap led to a life-changing connection with legendary flatpicker and luthier Wayne Henderson, who became a mentor and close friend—inviting Asher to his shop, sharing tunes and wisdom, gifting him a custom left-handed D-18 Henderson guitar, and welcoming him onstage at events including MerleFest and the final Henderson Festival. In 2024, Asher’s journey continued when he was offered lessons with acclaimed musician Christopher Henry of Noya Mountain Music, who encouraged him to begin songwriting; within weeks, Asher had written seven songs and an instrumental. In December 2024, he recorded his first studio tracks, marking the beginning of a promising young career, with song releases ahead and a debut album planned for March 2026. asherbrinson.com
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Bob & Jeanne Zentz
Photo: Eakin Howard
An icon of the festival, Bob Zentz has been on the Ocrafolk scene since its inception in 2000 (and actually came up with the festival name!) He is a singer of songs, old and new, about people, places and times gone by ... player of dozens of the usual (and unusual!) "unplugged" folk instruments ... collector of stories in verse ... teller of "the tales behind the songs" ... commentator on the ecology of the human spirit ... scholar of the evolution of "homemade music.” Joined by Jeanne, these old friends and life partners combine a passion for music and history -- which they love sharing with others! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Zentz
Aaron Caswell Trio
Aaron Caswell is a native to Ocracoke Island who cut his outstanding guitar chops at an early age, absorbing songs, technique and tunes from local guitar legends Martin Garrish and Lou Castro. He performs regularly on the Outer Banks with area musicians, and can frequently be found onstage in the Aaron Caswell Band.
Brooke + Nick
Over the past four years, the husband-and-wife team of Brooke + Nick has become a familiar presence across Ocracoke and the greater coastal region, performing at private gatherings, weddings, and festivals including Ocrafolk Festival and the Beaufort Music Festival.
Their sound is both grounded and expansive. Brooke’s classical foundation in piano and voice meets Nick’s deep folk roots. A longtime mandolin player, Nick discovered the baritone ukulele while traveling in California; its warm, resonant tone pairs seamlessly with Brooke’s cello, which she often plays as a bass before lifting into soaring bowed melodies. With a mini drum kit at Nick’s feet driving the rhythm, the duo creates a full-bodied sound that feels far larger than two musicians. With a growing catalog of original songs and a gift for reimagining beloved covers, Brooke + Nick is known for powerful harmonies, rhythmic energy, and heartfelt delivery - drawing listeners in and leaving them changed long after the final note fades.
brookeandnickavl.com
Their sound is both grounded and expansive. Brooke’s classical foundation in piano and voice meets Nick’s deep folk roots. A longtime mandolin player, Nick discovered the baritone ukulele while traveling in California; its warm, resonant tone pairs seamlessly with Brooke’s cello, which she often plays as a bass before lifting into soaring bowed melodies. With a mini drum kit at Nick’s feet driving the rhythm, the duo creates a full-bodied sound that feels far larger than two musicians. With a growing catalog of original songs and a gift for reimagining beloved covers, Brooke + Nick is known for powerful harmonies, rhythmic energy, and heartfelt delivery - drawing listeners in and leaving them changed long after the final note fades.
brookeandnickavl.com
Virago
Virago brings a raw blast of rock, funk, and punk energy, powered by local musicians. Fronted by Katy Mitchell on vocals, with Lou Castro on searing lead guitar, Jon Lea holding down the bass, and Sam Smith driving the drums, the band delivers tight grooves, blazing solos, and hot harmonies. Expect a high-voltage set with a band that doesn’t hold back.
Philip Howard
Amy (daughter) & Philip ~ Photo: Daniel Pullen
Ocracoke Islander Philip Howard is celebrated within the community for his passion for collecting and sharing the local stories. Without the efforts of researchers like him, many of the treasured Ocracoke tales would have disappeared. Not only does he pass along his research through his books and his blog on the Village Craftsmen website, Philip also instructs local residents and visitors in the living tradition of the Ocracoke Square Dance. A featured event on Saturday night of the Ocrafolk Festival, this dance is easy to learn and fun for the whole family. Not to be missed! Read his Ocracoke newsletter at villagecraftsmen.com/ocracoke-newsletter
Uncle Dewey
Photo: Eakin Howard
Uncle Dewey (aka Louis Allen) began his band life with Gary Mitchell in the mid-70s as one of the founding members of The Wahoo Revue bluegrass band. It was there that he acquired the stage name "Uncle Dewey." (Gary's stage name was..."Gary.") Since then, he has spent the last 45!! years in the trio Warren Bodle & Allen, a past repeat performer at Ocrafolk. Uncle Dewey went to law school to learn how to emcee a stage at Ocrafolk. Heckle him at your own peril! warrenbodleallen.com
Other Characters Roving About . . .
Jef the Mime
Jef Lambdin, performing as Jef the Mime, is a seasoned mime and variety artist trained in the traditions of mime and physical theater with instruction from teachers including C.W. Metcalf, Tony Montanaro, and study with Jacques Lecoq. He brings playful, interactive roving and family-friendly performances to fairs, festivals, and events throughout the Southeast, involving audiences in mime, mask work, juggling, sing-alongs, and variety arts that invite participation and laughter. With roots in North Carolina’s touring mime theater TOUCH and decades of solo work captivating children and families, Jef has performed at events such as Merlefest, Piccolo Spoleto, The Children’s Festival in Hampton, VA, and is a recurring character at Ocrafolk Festival. Welcome back Jef! jefthemime.com
Green Grass Cloggers
The Green Grass Cloggers have been showing off their incredible “feets” on stages and at festivals for 55 years. The group’s founder, Dudley Culp, brought his zeal and enthusiasm for clogging back to ECU in Greenville, NC after watching cloggers at the World’s Championship Old Time Fiddlers Convention in Union Grove, NC in 1971. Since then, the Green Grass Cloggers have been sharing their energetic footwork and fun-loving style, captivating hundreds of audiences and keeping them in high demand for appearances at festivals throughout the southeast from MerleFest, to Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, Raleigh’s IBMAs, and their beloved Ocrafolk. They have received the Charlotte Folk Society’s Folk Heritage Award, the Community Traditions Award from the North Carolina Folklore Society, and have been inducted into the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame and America’s Clogging Hall of Fame. greengrasscloggers.com
Ocracoke Student Ballet Folklorico
Photo: Eakin Howard
Ocracoke’s Student Ballet Folklorico is the next generation celebrating the traditional Mexican music and dance of Ocracoke’s Latino community.
Eli Logan ~ Magician
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Eli took up hobby magic at the age of 13 and has since spent time performing small shows for kids and adults at street festivals, church events, and doctor's offices. He loves bamboozling his audience, as he says, and continues to hone his craft into a truly entertaining show full of humor and amazement.
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Lanky Lou
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Lanky Lou is a stiltwalking specialist, performing entertaining antics and featuring a multitude of characters. Lanky incorporates comedy, improvisation and high-energy dance moves.You can find Lanky Lou strolling through Festivals, Fairs, Parades, Picnics, Parties and special events throughout the Carolinas. He spreads happiness while strolling, juggling, prop handling, dancing, hosting games or twisting balloons. A seasoned professional with over 13 years of experience working with the Charlotte Bobcats, fundraisers, NASCAR, USTA, religious groups, municipalities and private companies. Lanky has an zany, family-friendly sense of humor that will bring the laughs and tickle the funnybone.
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Kevin Devaney ~ Typewriter Poet
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Kevin Devaney is passionate about individuals experiencing the arts as part of their daily life without gatekeepers or ivory towers. Devaney has been traveling the world with a typewriter and all the words he can fit in his head since 2016, though his study of poetry precedes that wild jump by over two decades. He has a passion for bookbinding, as well as fabrication of other objects and experiences in which individuals can step outside of themselves and open to wonder. As an educator, Devaney has taught poetry to students ages 8-78 in college lecture halls, private classes, writing retreats and summer camps alike. He holds an MFA in poetry from Sarah Lawrence College, and has created over 130 books of poetry at the time of this website’s last update. kevindevaneypoet.com
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Poppy ~ Henna Artist
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Just a body-adorning art vagabond, making her way around the country. Poppy is passionate about body art and authenticity. She has apprenticed at various tattoo shops in Prescott, AZ where she is based, but travels the country with her henna cones sporadically throughout the year to delight and adorn. You can find her henna designs on Instagram at @whole.heart.henna and her tattoo work at @scarlet.heart.tatto
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Justin Casey ~ 2026 Ocrafolk Festival Poster Artist
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Justin Casey has appeared at the Ocrafolk Festival in many forms over the years. We originally got to know him through his band, Carolina Still. Since that time his keen artistic eye and graphic talents have played an integral part in the creation of our programs and posters. Hats off to another great year Justin! Check out Justin's designs, available on T-shirts, stickers and more. www.teepublic.com/user/awakepro
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