2011 Targhee Bluegrass Camp Instructors

Peter Rowan – Singing/Songwriting

Grammy-award winner and six-time Grammy nominee, Peter Rowan is a bluegrass singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades. From his early years playing under the tutelage of bluegrass patriarch Bill Monroe, and following his stint in Old & In the Way with Jerry Garcia and subsequent breakout as both a solo performer and bandleader, Rowan has built a devoted, international fan base through his continuous stream of original recordings, collaborative projects, and constant touring.

Rodney Crowell - Songwriting

It’s dangerous to own a heart this wide-open. But these kinds of epiphanies have been Rodney Crowell’s trademark since the early 1970’s, when he migrated from Texas to Nashville to learn to be a songwriter. The strength of his writing, singing and guitar playing earned him a spot with Emmylou Harris’s Hot Band and launched his career. In 1977, he formed his own group, The Cherry Bombs, and in 1978 released his first album, Ain’t Living Long Like This. Rodney won a Grammy in 1989 for the Best Country Song: “After all This Time.” He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003. After he re-formed The Notorious Cherry Bombs in 2004 with his old pal Vince Gill, the band was nominated for a CMA Top Vocal Group award. The Grand Targhee Bluegrass Camp is very excited to have him contribute his exceptional skills to the songwriting class this year.

The Infamous Stringdusters – Band in Residence

The Infamous Stringdusters are at the forefront of a new movement in bluegrass music. Their unmatched virtuosity has enabled them to take acoustic music to a completely new level. They wield an expansive repertoire touching on masters from Jimmy Martin to John Hartford, but their strength lies in their original compositions. Dedication to arrangements sets them apart and extended improvisation makes every performance completely unique. The live Stringdusters experience is anti-formulaic, groove friendly, and mind-expanding - not your granddaddy's bluegrass. Unless your granddaddy was Jerry Garcia.

Chris Pandolfi - Banjo
Jeremy Garrett - Fiddle
Jesse Cobb - Mandolin
Travis Book - Bass
Andy Falco - Guitar
Andy Hall - Dobro

Tyler Grant – Guitar

National Flatpicking Champion Tyler Grant is a versatile guitarist and multi-instrumentalist with a wide range of musical expertise. He is an internationally recognized guitar virtuoso with two solo albums and an impressive resume as a session musician, bandleader and sideman. He has shared the stage with such luminaries as Tony Rice, Sam Bush, Tim O’Brien, Jerry Douglas, Chris Thile, John Oates, Steve Kaufman, Leftover Salmon, Yonder Mountain String Band and The String Cheese Incident. Tyler showcases his powerful and original style of Flatpicking on his latest CD release, Up the Neck. His current band project, The Grant Farm, is taking root and growing fast.

Eric Thorin - Bass

Eric brings a wide range of teaching and performing experience to his post as staff bassist. Bluegrass fans know him as the bass player for Open Road and Brother Mule. He also performs regularly with Jeff Austin, Leftover Salmon and others. Eric is equally at home on acoustic and electric bass and has played everything from bluegrass and old time, to jazz and salsa. When not touring, he is in constant demand as an instructor and session player. Students of upright and electric bass are welcome.

Thomas Sneed – Camp Coordinator

Thomas Sneed is taking over the running of the camp in 2011 after quite a successful run by Ben Winship. A mandolinist and musical historian, Thomas has performed at numerous musical festivals and venues including the Grand Old Opry, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Merlefest, the Kennedy Center and the "Down From the Mountain Tour," which featured music from the movie "Oh Brother Where Art Thou." His mandolin playing was featured in the motion picture "Cold Mountain." He has worked with the Center for Appalachian Studies in Tennessee collecting oral histories with musicians.