If you like plentiful pickin’, intricate improvisation, and a whole lot of joy, don't miss the legendary mandolinist and fiddler Sam Bush—a musician who helped invent the genre that paved the way for Punch Brothers, Steep Canyon Rangers, and Greensky Bluegrass. Often called a modern-day Bill Monroe, Bush is a living link between traditional bluegrass and the more contemporary sounds of newgrass, where a polished stage presence meets high-octane energy.
Just as Monroe was the Father of Bluegrass, Bush is the Father of Newgrass and the King of Telluride, where his annual appearances at the Colorado town’s famed Bluegrass Festival help keep the genre vital and bursting with string band energy. He's a longtime bandmate of Béla Fleck and other luminaries, while also working as a sideman to the stars for the likes of Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett, and Leon Russell through the years. Alison Krauss, Guy Clark, and Jerry Douglas have all performed on his records.
“Sam Bush has done a lot in his musical career and has nothing to prove. His place in newgrass and bluegrass history is secure. Even so, he plays with passion and an eye to what's ahead.” — Country Standard Time
“He plays with the joy of someone who still loves every minute on stage, and his shows draw everyone from old-school bluegrass purists to jam-band fans.” — NashVegas.com
Sam Bush's love of music came early, encouraged by his parents' record collection and his fiddler father. He began playing both mandolin and fiddle at a young age, becoming a three-time national champion in the junior division of the National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest as a teenager. He recorded an instrumental album as a high school senior, and shortly after graduating, he joined the Bluegrass Alliance, which eventually became New Grass Revival. After touring as the backing band for Leon Russell, the Revival first played Telluride, Colorado, in 1975, forming an enduring connection with the region and its fans. As a newgrass commando, Bush incorporated a variety of genres into the repertoire, including elements of reggae. After 18 years with New Grass Revival, Bush became a member of Emmylou Harris's Nash Ramblers and later part of Lyle Lovett’s Large Band. In 1995, he reunited with Béla Fleck, a New Grass Revival bandmate, as a member of the Flecktones, before eventually going solo. He’s a four-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Mandolin Player of the Year award and a three-time Grammy winner (from fourteen nominations). In 2009, the Americana Music Association awarded Bush the Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist. He is a two-time inductee into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, first as a member of New Grass Revival in 2020 and then as a solo artist in 2023.
Nov 17, 2026 / 7:30 p.m.
Marc Broussard’s soulful groove is smooth, but there’s a bit of rock ’n’ roll grit in there too. Incorporating funk, blues, and R&B into his fiery performances, the acclaimed singer-songwriter brings ...
Nov 8, 2026 / 7:30 p.m.
Raw and loose, full of rhythms and riffs, the North Mississippi Allstars manifest pure energy and musicality through their signature brand of Hill Country blues. Brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson bre...
Nov 21, 2026 / 7:30 p.m.
Returning to the Center after eight years, Parsons Dance delivers heart, athleticism, and pure joy in motion, thrilling audiences with bold ensemble work and effortless movement.
Nov 22, 2026 / 4:00 p.m.
Step into a world where music and imagination meet. Color Comes to Life brings the magic of animation off the screen and onto the stage, featuring unforgettable music from beloved classics and modern...
