5:30 • No Cover • $10 - $20 suggested donation for the performers
Gary Ferguson • Ira Gitlin
Gary is an acclaimed songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose work spans bluegrass, country, and Americana. Winner of the 2015 DCBU Hazel Dickens Songwriting Contest and a finalist in the 2014 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at MerleFest, Gary has toured extensively across the U.S. and Europe with a variety of respected country, bluegrass, and swing ensembles.
His performance and recording credits include collaborations with the Knoxville Grass (“Painted Lady”), country hitmaker Donna Fargo, Claire Lynch, John Starling, the Virginia Squires, and many others. His original song “Southern Train” was featured in the songwriter showcase at the 2015 IBMA World of Bluegrass.
Today, Gary performs with East of Monroe (bluegrass/Americana), The Hula Monsters (swing/roots), and Ferguson & Ferguson (bluegrass/Americana). Ferguson & Ferguson toured Ireland in 2014 and recently released their EP “Some Bridges,” recorded with Ron Stewart and Mark Schatz, and engineered by George Hodgkiss. Gary also produced East of Monroe’s debut album “By the River’s Edge,” contributing six of his own songs to the project.
A versatile musician, Gary plays acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin, upright bass, and electric bass, bringing depth and authenticity to every performance.
Ira moved to the Washington, DC area in 1986 to be part of its vibrant bluegrass scene and has since become a cornerstone of the region’s roots music community. A National Bluegrass Banjo Champion (1992) and multiple Washington Area Music Association “Wammie” Award winner, he has performed with numerous bands, appeared on dozens of recordings, and helped countless musicians find their voices on banjo, guitar, and bass.
While bluegrass lies at the heart of his musical identity, Ira’s playing embraces the wider world of American roots music, including western swing, classic country, jazz, blues, folk, and early rock ’n’ roll. He currently appears with several Washington-area groups, including Tex Rubinowitz, Tom Mindte, and the Original Dixieland Rock ’n’ Roll Band, Big Howdy, Karen Collins and the Backroads Band, The Blue Moon Cowgirls, and The Oklahoma Twisters.