Trey Hensley + Evan Blackerby & the Bandwagon at the Blue Ridge Music Center

𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐲: GRAMMY® Award-winning musician and singer/songwriter Trey Hensley has made a lasting mark across the bluegrass, Americana, folk and roots music worlds. He has been referred to as “Nashville’s hottest young player” by Acoustic Guitar magazine and was voted the 2023 and 2025 IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Guitar Player of the Year. Raised in East Tennessee and immersed in bluegrass, Hensley has built his reputation on tone, timing, and a clear melodic voice. He made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry at age 11, and has collaborated with legends such as Johnny Cash, Vince Gill, Earl Scruggs, Dolly Parton, Taj Mahal, Tommy Emmanuel, Peter Frampton, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Rodney Crowell, Little Feat and more. Hensley spent a decade touring and recording with resophonic guitar virtuoso Rob Ickes. With two solo albums in the works (a bluegrass record produced by seven-time Grammy winner Brent Maher and a Bryan Sutton–produced country release) and a 2024 IBMA nomination for Guitar Player of the Year, Hensley is stepping into a new chapter as a solo artist. As a solo artist, Hensley blends all of the things he loves to play – western swing, blues, bluegrass, and straight-ahead country. 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐲 & 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧: Opening the show is Evan Blackerby & the Bandwagon. For three decades, Evan has relentlessly cultivated a unique musical voice that melds alt-blues, Americana, and folk rock with his unpolished honesty and ability to craft a song worth listening to. After turning 41 and losing his job in 2022, he declared himself a full-time musician and has played more than 600 shows since. His 2025 debut album, Hop on the Bandwagon, is an eclectic and energetic exploration of the passage of time, hope in the midst of upheaval, and the freedom found in pursuing truth. The Bandwagon includes Brett Morgan Thompson on guitar, Lelan James Estes on bass, Ralph Butcher on drums, and Michael Van Patter on keys.