Tutors

Karen Mueller - Autoharp

Karen Mueller is one of the top autoharp and mountain dulcimer players performing today and a bit of a Sore Fingers favourite! She holds the “female record” for the most US tutor appearances at Kingham Hill School and we will be very pleased to welcome her smiling face again.
Her exciting and innovative performing style, featuring Appalachian, Celtic and contemporary music, has been applauded by critics and audiences from LA to Boston. Bluegrass Unlimited magazine has said "Karen Mueller's touch, timing and taste make her a true virtuoso. Her talent and clarity...deserve a wide audience."
A past student commented: “Karen is a skilled, articulate teacher who is both focused and goal oriented. She has the ability to help students achieve a high level of competence in a short time frame.” We agree, but read on…
Karen is an experienced teacher in a wide range of settings: private lessons, workshops at camps and festivals, school residencies, and school general music classes. Coming from a family where both parents were teachers, Karen has always felt a natural affinity for teaching. She first began by giving private guitar lessons at age 15, which quickly developed into teaching at a local music store throughout high school.
Karen has taught private lessons in the Twin Cities since 1989, and currently teaches at Homestead Pickin' Parlor in Richfield, and at Chanson Voice and Music Academy in St. Paul.
Karen's school work includes both special residencies in topics such as songwriting and dulcimer building, and general music classes for elementary students. Karen has studied the Orff approach to music education, which emphasizes movement, rhythm, singing, and playing instruments. She has taught ongoing classes with ages preschool through junior high in public and private schools since 1998.

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Ned Luberecki - Bluegrass Banjo - CLASS FULL

Ned is a Sore Fingers favourite person. He doesn’t confine his participation to teaching the banjo - which he does very well by the way – but interfering with everything he can disrupt. His instantaneous translations of “Morning Assembly in US English are legendary. Aided and abetted by his musical colleague, Becky Buller (more about becky under the fiddle section), Ned delights in all quarters in the true spirit of the event. A golden man to have on the team.
A 25-year professional who’s noted for his dazzling technique, originality and broad sense of humour, Ned Luberecki has served for over a decade with Chris Jones & The Night Drivers. His resume includes stints with Paul Adkins & The Borderline Band; Gary Ferguson; Radio Flyer and the Rarely Herd, frequent winners of SPBGMA’s Entertaining Band Of The Year award. He’s a popular banjo instructor at some of the most renowned instructional camps in the US, Canada and Europe as well as private lessons at his studio in Nashville and online via webcam. Ned is also a broadcaster on SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction, where he hosts the regular newgrass show, Derailed, and the popular Sunday Banjo Lesson.
Since joining The Night Drivers, Ned has continued to make a name for himself as a guest on a variety of recordings and appearances, including tours with Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time and as the “other” banjo player with Tony Trischka’s Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular. In 2007, he released a popular solo project, Nedski, which included duets with friends like The Infamous Stringdusters’ Chris Pandolfi and Punch Brothers’ Noam Pikelny, along with comic favorites like “Cabin Of Death.” In 2010, he teamed up with the Sam Bush Band’s Stephen Mougin as Nedski & Mojo, releasing an acclaimed project Nothing More.

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Tony Trischka - Bluegrass Banjo - CLASS FULL

Tony Trischka is perhaps the most influential banjo player in the roots music world. For more than 35 years, his stylings have inspired a whole generation of bluegrass and acoustic musicians. He was not only considered among the very best pickers, he was also one of the instrument's top teachers, and created numerous instructional books, teaching video tapes and cassettes.
A native of Syracuse, New York, Trischka's interest in banjo was sparked by the Kingston Trio's "Charlie and the MTA" in 1963. Two years later, he joined the Down City Ramblers, where he remained through 1971. That year, Trischka made his recording debut on 15 Bluegrass Instrumentals with the band Country Cooking; at the same time, he was also a member of Country Granola. In 1973, he began a two-year stint with Breakfast Special. Between 1974 and 1975, he recorded two solo albums, Bluegrass Light and Heartlands. After one more solo album in 1976, Banjoland, he went on to become musical leader for the Broadway show The Robber Bridegroom. Trischka toured with the show in 1978, the year he also played with the Monroe Doctrine.
Beginning in 1978, he also played with artists such as Peter Rowan, Richard Greene, and Stacy Phillips. In the early 1980s, he began recording with his new group Skyline, which recorded its first album in 1983. Subsequent albums included Robot Plane Flies over Arkansas (solo, 1983), Stranded in the Moonlight (with Skyline, 1984) and Hill Country (solo, 1985). In 1984, he performed in his first feature film, Foxfire. Three years later, he worked on the soundtrack for Driving Miss Daisy. Trischka produced the Belgian group Gold Rush's No More Angels in 1988. The following year, Skyline recorded its final album, Fire of Grace. He also recorded the theme song for Books on the Air, a popular National Public Radio Show, and continued his affiliation with the network by appearing on Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion, Mountain Stage, From Our Front Porch, and other radio shows. Trischka's solo recordings include 1993's World Turning, 1995's Glory Shone Around: A Christmas Collection and 1999's Bend. New Deal followed in 2003. The new studio album was a bluesy adaptation of bluegrass standards that featured, among other things, a vocal cameo by Loudon Wainwright.
Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular, featuring an appearance by comedian Steve Martin, Earl Scruggs and many other luminaries, came out four years later. For this recording he went back to Bluegrass and reinvigorated the double banjo tradition of that style along the way and brought along some fine companions. In October 2007, Tony was given an IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) award for Banjo Player of the Year 2007. Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular received IBMA awards for Recorded Event of the Year, Instrumental Album of the Year and a Grammy Nomination.
With his fearless musical curiosity as the guiding force, Tony Trischka's latest critically acclaimed release, Territory roams widely through the banjo's creative terrain. Nine selections partner Tony with fellow banjoists Pete Seeger, Mike Seeger, Bill Evans, Bill Keith, Bruce Molsky, and twelve all-Trischka solo tracks explore a panorama of tunings, banjo sounds, and traditions; tapping the creative potential of America's signature musical instrument.
Throughout his upcoming tours, Tony will be presenting both his Solo works from Territory and will continue to present an “astonishing” (Boston Herald) group of musicians to perform his Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular.

This will be Tony’s sixth visit to Sore Fingers and he is without doubt one of the most popular banjo tutors we have had the pleasure to invite across. He even wrote a tune about it! So good to have him back.

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Leon Hunt - Banjo

Leon Hunt is standing by to run a third banjo class if bookings justify.

Leon is no stranger to the banjo world in the UK and across the pond, in the US having toured there with luminaries such as Matt Flinner and his own band The Daily Planet.

Alway good to have Leon at Sore Fingers, he's part of the woodwork! Let's make this happen.

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Eric Thorin - Bass

Eric Thorin, a musician known for his exceptional skills in upright bass, electric bass, and tuba. Based in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, he is a prominent figure in the music scene.
Eric can be seen on stage with The Matt Flinner Trio alongside Ross Martin, The Bow Tides, Hamster Theatre and as member of the eTones on eTown's syndicated radio show. He has toured with renowned bands such as the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, The Jason Carter Band, Danny Barnes, Jeff Austin and more. Owner of Ethoriole Music, Eric has contributed to two Grammy-nominated recordings, including 'Calling You From My Mountain' with The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band and 'Man On Fire' by Danny Barnes.
It's a while since we’ve seen Eric at Sore Fingers but he’s no stranger to these shores. He travelled far and wide in the UK as part of trio Brother Mule and Mollie O’Brien.
The bass players are in great hands again!

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Becky Buller - Bluegrass Fiddle

Becky Buller is another S.F. favourite girl! Always ready to get into the spirit of the British Style camp, she knows no bounds where a little extra entertainment is required. With her musical partner Ned Luberecki’s in tow, she’ll not hesitate to embrace what one might call Sore Fingers informality! Never one to step back when there’s an opportunity for fun – Becky is to date, the only tutor who has performed on the S.F, stage in a tutu. Nand she wasn’t doing ballet steps either!!!
But, she’s also a great fiddle player and tutor and we are always pleased to see her over this side of the Atlantic. We all love you becky!
Born to a musical family in Southern Minnesota, Becky soon persuaded her parents she wanted to learn to play the fiddle and very soon became a full time member of the family band. Music was a constant during her school and college days and she was soon trying her hand at songwriting winning awards and despite graduating from East Tennessee State university with a degree in Public Relations, it was career in music that beckoned.
Becky is frequently shortlisted in the top 20 nominees for IBMA’s Fiddler of the Year award and her songs have been covered by IIIrd Tyme Out; Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike; Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver; Rhonda Vincent & the Rage; David Parmley & Continental Divide; the Mark Newton Band; and Fragment, among others.
She has also written songs for Ricky Skaggs, Rhonda Vincent, Special Consensus, Doyle Lawson, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Kenny & Amanda Smith, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen and many more.
When taking you place in the Fiddle class at Easter 2026, you are going to be in special company and have some great fun.

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Billy Cardine - Dobro

It’s a third visit for Dobro Master and music producer Billy Cardine. A man of many talents who’s musical path has led to some memorable collaborations as you will read below. The great thing about musicians who let their creativity take them away from it’s roots is that they always come back to the tradition with more than they started with. That’s the way traditional music lives and evolves both keeping it fresh but also preserving the very roots of where it came from in the first place.
We already know Billy is a good teacher but he can take your playing to new heights as he lets his wide influences show you different approaches to playing this instruments within the context of a band.
Billy Cardine is an innovative, genre-blurring slide guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, touring artist, and educator. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, the Ryman Auditorium and major festivals, such as Bonnaroo, Merlefest and Rockygrass. He is an internationally featured artist touring in India, Japan, Europe and Canada as well.
Billy's dobro playing was recently featured on a Jerry Douglas' production, Southern Filibuster, honoring one of the forefathers of the Dobro. Billy's unique stylings and expertise attracted innovative analog music mogul, Moog Music.
During 2010, he helped Moog design their first electric slide guitar, which he then debuted at MoogFest the following year. Billy’s distinct voice on all things slide has lead him to collaborations with Led Zeppelin's own, John Paul Jones and world renowned, Edgar Meyer in his Porous Borders of Music.
Billy's productions have won national and international awards and recognition including Indie Acoustic Music Project’s Roots Album of the Year, Chicago Tribune’s Best Bluegrass records of the year and an Apple iPod Playlist Hot Pick. His memorable compositions and exquisite playing have been featured on The History Channel's "Our Generation", BBC World's "Destination Music", and PBS' "RoadTrip Nation". Billy newest release for July of 2012 introduces the Dobro to Gypsy Jazz music in a ground-breaking album featuring an extraordinary band.

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Foundation Courses - All Instruments

We are discontinuing the terms a "beginner" and "lower intermediate" as demeaning. You are much better than that!
These courses are aimed at players who are starting out with an instrument or are new to Bluegrass and Old Time and need to build confidence.

This kind of music is played mostly in social groups and learning to play with others will feature strongly alongside basic techniques to help you improve.

So why "Foundation"? Well apart from the fact that "I am a foundation student" sounds a lot cooler than "I am a beginner", the foundations of playing music are within the building blocks that Ed, Peter and Percy will teach you over the week.
We've strengthened the team and Percy Copley comes in to take the banjo players as they often form the largest group.
Read their bios below

Ed Hicks - Foundation Class

Ed Hicks is a London based banjo player with fifteen years of experience performing, recording and teaching with the 5-string banjo.
Ed’s has played on gold selling and mercury nominated albums, composed award winning music for the Southpark series, toured the Uk and Europe extensively, played on The Voice three times and has taught hundreds of people the 5-string banjo.

Ed is a versatile musician and plays clawhammer and bluegrass banjo as well as plectrum jazz on the four string. Ed also plays guitar, mandolin, ukulele, fiddle and sings.

Ed has worked as a banjo teacher and folk music workshop leader for the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) for ten years and was a lead tutor on their Full English project. He has trained in music workshop leading with Spitalfields Music, EFDSS, Music for Change, Musicleader, Sing Up, Folk Arts England, Platform for Arts and the Discover Centre.

In 2012 Ed set up the Trad Academy, a folk music school based in London designed to help anyone and everyone make music. The Trad Academy has been a great success and is now set up as a community interest company and this year organised it’s first Folk Music Summer School for Kids!

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Peter Earle - Foundation class

Peter Earle is a graduate of the Leeds College of Music, where he majored in percussion and piano. After many years playing drums and keyboards in various genres, he discovered bluegrass in 2006 after attending his first Sore Fingers.
After a few years playing banjo, he moved to double bass, which has been his main instrument for the last 15 years. Now resident in Otley, West Yorkshire, he performs as part of an Americana duo, and has also appeared regularly at many of the UK bluegrass festivals, as well as in Ireland and the US.
He is a familiar figure at Sore Fingers, and for the last few years has run the popular Basic Music Theory elective, where he has utilised his training as a teacher to de-mystify the murky world of chords and scales! For 2023, he will be teaching the Beginners class together with Ed Hicks and Percy Copley.

Percy Copley - Foundation Class Banjo

Percy performs and teaches bluegrass, country and old time music and songs and jazz and popular songs of the golden age. He’s a regular and popular teacher at S.F.Week and never fails to add some colour to the event with his humour and music. A talented musician and actor, he’s taught at several camps here and in Europe.

After three years at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London he embarked on an acting career doing everything from Shakespeare to musicals, occasionally playing banjo or bagpipes! He soon added a number of instruments to his arsenal of skills and is probably one of those who can get a tune out of anything you throw at him! Around here, he’s known for playing Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar, Ukulele, Bagpipes, etc, etc. He’s fine singer too.

So, he’s well placed to take the beginner group and it is rumoured that he enjoys the challenge of bringing on those starting up and sending them on their way to greater things; extremely satisfying he says.

Michael Daves - Guitar

A first time visit for this great man of American Guitar playing. Michael will be familiar to the British Bluegrass scene having performed here at the Crossover Festival in 2024 with one of his musical partners Jacob Jolliff (See below).
Like many of his generation, his musical path has followed several courses but he has come back to Bluegrass and has a distinctive guitar style, but no less fitting for this music. No doubt some of his other influences have made their mark on him over the years and he has an awful lot to teach you. Michael is also an outstanding vocalist and may serenade you a little in his guitar class. Afterall, what do you do with a guitar? Accompany singers!

Daves is a devoted teacher with over twenty five years of experience whose instructional style is aimed at helping students develop and refine their own natural musical sensibilities while exploring a wealth of American roots traditions, particularly bluegrass. In 2016 he launched an online school in bluegrass vocals on ArtistWorks.com where he helps students around the world learn the intricacies bluegrass singing style as well as harmony singing and ear training.

Guys like Michael are really busy, always working and in demand from all over. We’re lucky to have him here and we sincerely hope this is not the last one.

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Ross Martin - Guitar

This is a welcome return for a fabulous guy and a fabulous guitarist. Originally booked fore the famous “no Sow” Sore Fingers Week due to the pandemic. Ross’ first visit followed a tumultuous journey , contracting COVID himself in 2022, and eventually making the crossing in 2023. So glad we got him here and we’re about to welcome him again! Read on….

Guitarist Ross Martin has performed in concert halls, honky-tonks, theatres, rock clubs, living rooms, on festival stages, television programs and everywhere in between. He grew up in the suburbs of Dallas, TX, with brief stints in East Tennessee, attended the University of North Texas, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies, then headed west. After ten years in the front range area of Colorado, he relocated to the east coast and has lived in New York City since 2006.

His musical path has covered as much territory as his physical one. Reflecting his love of diverse genres like jazz, bluegrass, country, folk, experimental, and classical music, Ross has always felt at home with fellow musicians who seek to reconcile, through their music, the incredible wealth of styles available to listeners in this global and digital age. He has toured and performed with a wide range of artists including Matt Flinner, Tony Furtado, Grant Gordy, Jacob Jolliff, Ron Miles, Mollie O’Brien, The Motet, and many others.

Ross, along with bassist Eric Thorin, has been a member of the Matt Flinner Trio for over 15 years. Known in acoustic circles for his groundbreaking mandolin work, Matt developed a unique concept for the group: All three band members write a tune each day while on tour and perform it that evening. After several tours, they picked twelve of their favourite tunes and recorded them. The result was “Music du Jour” which was released on Compass Records in April, 2009. Since then, the Trio has produced two more recordings of Music du Jour compositions: “Winter Harvest” (2012) and “Traveling Roots” (2016).

Ross has two albums under his own name: “Volley” and “Sylvan Tunnel”. Both recordings feature his original compositions and electric guitar playing along with contributions from Darol Anger, Matt Flinner, Ron Miles, Dominic Lalli, Greg Garrison and others. He and guitarist Grant Gordy (David Grisman Quintet, Mr. Sun) released their duo album, “Year of the Dog” in 2016 and have recently begun work on a follow-up recording.

Music education plays an important role in Ross’s professional life. He maintains a private guitar studio, is a sought-after instructor at workshops and music camps such as Rockygrass Academy, Steve Kaufman’s Acoustic Kamp, Sorefingers Summer School (UK), Montana Fiddle Camp, Great Lakes Music Camp, and regularly facilitates clinics and teaches master classes at educational institutions across the United States.

Ross performs frequently throughout the New York City area, and tours nationally and internationally with various projects.

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Mike Compton - Mandolin

Befriended and mentored by Bill Monroe, the acknowledged Father of Bluegrass Music, Mike Compton is one of today’s foremost interpreters of Monroe’s genre-creating mandolin style. Mandolin students from around the world make the pilgrimage to his annual Monroe Mandolin Camp in Nashville, TN, where Compton and a select handful of other experts teach everything from the basics of bluegrass mandolin to the most intimate details of Monroe’s endlessly inspiring mandolin style.
Mike Compton’s decades of touring and recording with musical luminaries ranging from rockstars Sting, Gregg Allman and Elvis Costello, to straight-from-the-still acoustic legends like John Hartford, Doc Watson, Peter Rowan, Ralph Stanley, and David Grisman, have established Compton as a true master of the modern American mandolin and a premier interpreter of roots and Americana musical styles.
A native of Mississippi, Compton picked up the mandolin in his teens and absorbed the area’s native blues, old-time country and bluegrass sounds. He soon gravitated to Nashville, where he helped found one of the 20th Century’s most admired and influential bluegrass groups, the iconic Nashville Bluegrass Band. He’s also been a part of the John Hartford Stringband, Helen Highwater Stringband, 1942, Compton & Newberry, and other seminal groups.
When A-list Americana producer T-Bone Burnett needed experts in authentic rural musical styles to anchor the landmark O Brother, Where Art Thou? movie project and subsequent tour, he called upon Compton’s unique knowledge and signature mandolin style to authenticate the Soggy Bottom Boys’ rootsy sound. That Grammy Award Album of the Year -winning album went on to sell seven million copies and sparked a global revival in old-time and bluegrass musical styles.
Connoisseur of hand-painted vintage silk ties, popularizer of the denim overall urban fashion statement, lover of iconic men’s hats and curator of oddball official days (ask him about National Lost Sock Memorial Day or National Root Canal Appreciation Day), Mike Compton thrives at the intersection of traditional funk and modern authenticity.
Equally skilled in bluegrass, old-time string band music, country blues, rootsy Americana styles, and much more, Compton soars beyond easy categorization as an acoustic mandolin player and singer.
Gifted at tastefully incorporating rural, roots-based lead and rhythm mandolin styles into modern Americana music, Compton’s unique musical skillset allows him to entertain audiences ranging from rockers and urban hipsters to die-hard country, folk and bluegrass fans.

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Jacob Jolliff - Mandolin

Another first-time visitor to Sore Finger Week, Jacob Jolliff is bringing his amazing mandolin skills with him to complement a diverse group of tutors present at this year’s camp.
Jacob will be recognised for his work with guitarist Michael Daves, performing over in the UK in 2024 and later for holding up the mandolin flag in Bela Fleck’s “My Bluegrass Heart’s” project. He was in good company there…
Like many of his peers, Jacob offer online lessons and has honed his teaching skills. He described what a privilege it is of going into some of the nicest houses in the world from his very small home albeit online…
So, one thing for sure, what-ever type of mandolin player you are before the start of lessons next Easter, you may well come the other side a different and better kind of player….

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Music Development -

The course for creatives or at least those wishing to get more creative. There's a whole world beyond good instrument and vocal technique. But knowing where to go with that can be a bit of a mystery. Andy MacKenzie and Mike Pryor have been making a habit of de constructing the secrets to this ambition.

Taking especially selected simple trad songs and showing you alternative arrangements using harmony, passing chords, changes of tempo and gradually understanding applied music theory, you artistic talent will be unleashed!

And don't fear, one doesn't need to be proficient in music theory, it starts with your ears and the principles are explained in layman's terms as you learn.
I have yet to meet a student who hasn't been inspired by this class!
Don't hold back, go for it!
Read Andy and Mike's bios below.

Andy MacKenzie - Music Development

Andy Mackenzie has over forty years of experience as freelance recording and live performer covering a wide ranges of musical styles and still preforming up 150 live concerts a year!. Alongside his live and recording work, Andy is currently the Jazz guitar tutor at Bangor University and has delivered several classes in Jazz and improvisation including prestigious institutions such as LIPA. He also co-authored Masters of Jazz guitar published in 1999 and continue to write reviews for the music press.
And to top that all, Andy is a proficient Flatpick Bluegrass Guitar and banjo player!
His knowledge of music, scales, harmony and chord sequences equip him perfectly to deliver the great class we believe this new venture ids going to provide!

Mike Pryor - Music Development

Mike Pryor began playing music in 1969 and since then has performed as a semi-professional musician in acoustic-based groups on mandolin, cavaquinho, double bass and guitar.
Performances have included television, radio and numerous festivals in UK and mainland Europe, including Glastonbury.
With these groups he has recorded numerous CDs including the British Bluegrass No.1 Small Town. He currently plays with Cavacante, The Bill Smarme Rock’n’Roll Trio, Los Adjustes and the Pond Skaters.
Mike has studied mandolin under Mike Marshall, Simon Mayor, John Reischman, Butch Baldassari and Andy Townend; he has studied guitar under Stefan Grossman, John James and Chris Moreton, and double bass under Danny Thompson.
Mike has taught private students and has tutored group classes at various Festivals, Sore Fingers Bluegrass Summer Schools and at BMG Federation Festivals. He was a regular contributor to British Bluegrass News and Mandocrucian’s Digest and helped organise the original Didmarton Bluegrass festival for ten years.
Well there’s a busy man and that’s just music! So, we are lucky to have him join our team of tutors to lead us in a slightly new direction. Whatever you already play on a mandolin, you need to have a look at Choro and Mike is just the man to take you to the right place.

Luke Richardson - Old Time Banjo

Luke’s music rolls with the arresting and subtle beauty of the hills around his farm in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. With an intuitive ability to match the fiddle, both on banjo and harmonica, Luke pushes the music along with grace, ease, and drive. A practitioner of multiple styles of old time banjo, Luke explores the potential of the banjo in a strikingly creative and regionally-informed way. His banjo playing has earned him two National Old Time Banjo Championships. His fiddling, ace harmonica playing, and singing bring texture and range into the Mules' performances. A cosmopolitan old time musician who has been a key feature of old time scenes from Brooklyn to the UK, Luke is an in-demand performer and teacher.

Mitch Depew - Old Time Fiddle

There are some folk you cannot keep away from Sore Fingers. Normally it takes several year to earn the “Three Times Teaching” accolade rewarded with a specially groomed Sore Fingers Mug. Mitch has achieved that in just three years. He’s got such a following over here in the UK that students keep asking for him. So are we to argue! He’s lovely chap and really popular around here. So, we’re just pleased to have him back teaching fiddle this time.

Mitch is a New Jersey-born fiddle and banjo player that is currently residing in Granada, Spain. While he makes it a point to attend old-time festivals in the US each summer, living in relative old-time isolation in Spain has led him to focus much of his musical attention on developing a unique solo fiddle and banjo style closely based on the tastes and techniques of old-time greats.

Stephen Mougin - Singing

Most musicians wear many hats, and Stephen “Mojo” Mougin is no exception. Mojo is best known as a member of the Sam Bush Band and a sought-after instructor. But he is also an award-winning producer and engineer, a label head, mentor, songwriter, band coach, and more. Mojos’ commitment to high standards and dedication to everything he works on have made him an in-demand partner and collaborator for any creative endeavor in the world of acoustic music.
So, with that list of credits to his name, you bet this guy is busy! It’s taken three years to secure his services, not because he didn’t want to come, his schedule didn’t have a free day in it! But, at last, we’ve got him!
Mojo has always worked with players at all levels, and he deeply enjoys helping musicians improve, wherever they may be in their development. Pros who want to brush up on their vocal skills, and young bands preparing to make their first record, have all had successful, gratifying experiences working with him. As a band coach, Stephen has helped a wide variety of groups refine their performance and get to their next level. His writing, arrangements, and skills as a producer and engineer have been essential contributions to many projects. Mojos’ professional insights are highly valuable, and the generosity with which he shares them set him apart. Live, in the studio, or in the rehearsal hall, Mojo elevates every project he works on.

Always a teacher and a vocalist, Stephen is about to unleash his vast expertise upon the Sore Fingers Students who book on his class. Not to be missed this one, because it will probably several years before we can get him over again!

Joe Newberry - Songwriting

Joe Newberry is a Missouri native and North Carolina transplant who has played music most of his life. His powerful and innovative banjo playing, as well as his songwriting, guitar skills, fiddling, and singing has delighted audiences around the world.

Joe’s songwriting is characterized by the same clean, elegant style as his banjo playing. Musicians in the folk and bluegrass world often record his songs. The Gibson Brothers’ version of his song “Singing As We Rise,” featuring guest vocalist Ricky Skaggs, won the 2012 IBMA “Gospel Recorded Performance” award. In 2013, Joe shared co-writing honors with Eric Gibson for the IBMA Song of the Year, “They Called It Music.”

A frequent guest on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion, Joe performs in a duo with Mike Compton, and along with Mike plays with Bruce Molsky, and Rafe Stefanini as the Jumpsteady Boys. Another special side project pairs Joe with old-time music legends Bill Hicks, Mike Craver, and Jim Watson. Both foursomes play to enthusiastic audiences around the country as often as their busy individual schedules permit.

A noted teacher of traditional music and song, Joe has taught at numerous camps and festivals, including Ashokan, Pinewoods Camp, Vocal Week and Old-Time Week at the Augusta Heritage Center, the Australia National Folk Festival, the Blue Ridge Old-Time Music Week, and the Bluff Country Gathering. For the last six years he has served as coordinator of Old-Time Week at the Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins, WV. He also teaches at weekend vocal workshops around the country with his singing partner Val Mindel.

Joe grew up in a family full of singers and dancers. He took up the guitar and banjo as a teenager and learned fiddle tunes from great Missouri fiddlers. He came to North Carolina as a young man and quickly became an anchor of the incredible music scene in the state. Still going strong more than 30 years later, he does solo and studio work, and plays and teaches at festivals and workshops in North America and abroad.

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Matt Stead - Ukulele

Matt Stead has been given the task of revitalising the Ukulele class and bring some of his own students into the Sore Fingers Experience. He’s no stranger to Bluegrass and Old Time and a regular attendee of Didmarton Bluegrass festival and has taught Uke at La Fuente Old Time camps in Andalucia in Spain.
Matt is a perfect candidate to close the connection between the two worlds
A UK-based ukulele teacher, performer, and arranger has a deep love of traditional and old-time music. Alongside fingerstyle and chord-melody playing, he is particularly known for his enthusiasm for clawhammer ukulele and rhythm-driven, roots-based approaches to the instrument.
Matt runs an online Ukulele teaching platform and shares lessons with a global audience through his YouTube channel. He’s got an impressive following of over 150,000 players worldwide!
As a recording artist, he has released award-winning albums including Pocket Symphonies and has recorded with Grammy Award-winning musicians. He is also the founder and director of the Ukulele Festival of Great Britain https://www.ukulelefestivalofgreatbritain.com/ and regularly teaches at festivals, workshops, and retreats around the world.

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