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Bluegrass

Henhouse Prowlers Bring Bluegrass to The Brightside

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Thursday, May 7 | Doors 7PM

There’s bluegrass, and then there’s bluegrass that’s been around the world a few times.

Chicago’s Henhouse Prowlers fall squarely in the second camp. For two decades, the four-piece — Ben Wright on banjo, Chris Dollar on guitar, Jon Goldfine on bass, and Jake Howard on mandolin — have been crisscrossing the globe at a pace most bands couldn’t survive: 34 countries, 5 continents, and a songbook that’s picked up souvenirs from every stop. They land at The Brightside this Thursday, May 7, and if you’ve never caught them live, this is the one to break the streak for.

The Prowlers are rooted in bluegrass and classic country, but trying to pin them there misses the point. Their latest record, Unravel, was produced by Stephen Mougin of the Sam Bush Band and lands as their most expansive work yet — road-worn storytelling, flashes of modern Americana, and the kind of ferocious picking that reminds you why this music has stuck around for a hundred years. The four-part harmonies are gorgeous. The chops are absurd. But the real reason to show up is what happens between the songs.

That’s where 20 years of touring earns its keep. The Prowlers don’t just play sets — they tell stories. Tales from the road get woven through the songbook, and somewhere in the night you’re likely to hear a bluegrassy take on a tune in a language you’ve never encountered before. As founding members of Bluegrass Ambassadors and longtime partners of the U.S. State Department, they’ve taken American roots music to places it rarely travels and brought pieces of those places home with them. It’s a band that genuinely believes music builds bridges words can’t — and after two decades of doing the work, they’ve got the receipts.

The Brightside is exactly the right room for this kind of show. Intimate enough to catch every harmony, loose enough to lean into the between-song stories, and the kind of venue where a band that’s logged this many miles can actually unwind and play.

Come hear what 20 years of chasing something beautiful sounds like.

Henhouse Prowlers at The Brightside

🗓️ Thursday, May 7, 2026

🚪 Doors 7PM / Show 7:30PM

📍 The Brightside — 905 E. 3rd St., Dayton

🎟️ $20 advance / $25 day of show

👨‍👩‍👧 All Ages

Ticket link 

Bluegrass At The Dayton Art Institute Friday

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Dayton area bluegrass fans are in for a truly special treat this Friday November 22nd, 2019 when The Del McCoury Band makes a stop at The Dayton Art Institute during his 80th Birthday tour!  Vince Gill says it simply, and maybe best: “I’d rather hear Del McCoury sing Are You Teasing Me’ then just about anything.”

Even among the pantheon of music’s finest artists, Del McCoury stands alone. His six decades of bluegrass bliss brings new triumphs, new collaborations, and new music. With but a single change in membership in twenty seven years, The Del McCoury Band shows unprecedented stability, as well as garnering the respect and admiration of the industry for its unmistakable work.

The Del McCoury Band, the most awarded band in the history of bluegrass, will be joined on state with special guests The Tillers. Thumping their own distinctive sound of string band style folk music for a decade, riding it all over the country and across the sea. Four studio albums and one live record have won them praise as modern folk storytellers of the national soundscape.

Join in this exclusive event at the recently renovated Mimi and Stuart Rose Auditorium inside the Dayton Art Institute. Seating is limited in this beautiful, and intimate theatre. Museum doors, and bar open at 6pm. Guests are welcome to walk through the American Gallery into the Great Hall where the bar is located. This performance is presented by Early Drive Productions, Media partner WYSO Radio and The Dayton Art Institute – Celebrating 100 years in 2019.

How to Go?

Where: The Dayton Art Institute’s Mimi and Stuart Rose Auditorium

When: Friday November 22, 2019. Museum Doors 6pm. Theatre Doors 7pm. Performance 8-10pm.

Tickets: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/2891663/the-del-mccoury-band-dayton-the-dayton-art-institute-special-events

Rum River Blend Brings Bluegrass To Troy

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500_RRB_JumpingRum River Blend, based in Troy, Ohio bill themselves as ‘Unprofessional Entertainment’!  The band takes its name from the Rum River that flows through Linda’s hometown of Milaca, Minnesota. They perform a blend of traditional bluegrass, folk, Gospel and children’s songs. The audience is encouraged to join in on the fun as kazoos, spoons, washboards, and various other noise making instruments are often passed out to the crowd.

Linda Tatarian, the ‘leader of the band’ plays 5-string banjo and sings like a good Minnesotan should.   Chris Tatarian plays rhythm guitar and sings back-up vocals in a California style that only he knows.  Chris and Linda are the “roots” of Rum River Blend and have played together since 1992.  After moving to Ohio in 2000, they have played with a variety of talented musicians.  The bass beat for the band is provided by Mr. ‘Smiling’  Bill Benning, playing acoustic/electric bass guitar.  Bill plays with a flair developed over time  playing a wide variety of musical types with many different bands.  Mr. Carl Phillis joins us on fiddle.  Carl has years of professional musical experience, having played with most bands and orchestras in the area at one time or another.  He is the 1948 Ohio State Fiddle Champion, and is a past professor of Bluegrass Fiddle Music at Sinclair College in Dayton.  His fiddle playing brings a new level of energy and a host of new songs to the band.   Carl will be celebrating his 91st birthday in July, 2013!  On special occasions, RRB is joined by Mark Acton (the former Mayor of Potsdam) with harmonious vocals and Mandolin.  Put ’em all together and the result is music that makes you want to tap your foot and sing along!

Dry Branch Fire Squad Brings Two Nights of Bluegrass to Canal Street

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Dry Branch Fire Squad

Dry Branch Fire Squad has been making music since 1976 and is still going strong in 2011.  Led by Ron Thomason, a former member of Ralph Stanley’s Clinch Mountain Boys, the band plays old-time bluegrass tunes and are known for their energy and humor on-stage.  They’ll play a two night engagement at Canal Street Tavern joined by local opening acts each night.

On Saturday January 15th, the opening act will be fiddle and guitar duo Rick and Hillary Wagner.  Dayton bluegrass act, Sawgrass will open the performance on Sunday, January 16th. Tickets for each show are $12 a piece and are being sold in advance at Canal Street Tavern.

Here’s the Dry Branch Fire Squad performing at in Dayton back in 1993.