 Peter Rowan (USA) world bluegrass star, legend of American music, an American bluegrass musician and composer. Rowan plays guitar and mandolin, yodels and sings. He became a member of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys in 1964 before forming Earth Opera with David Grisman in 1967. They frequently opened for The Doors. In 1969 he joined Seatrain along with Richard Greene.
 In 1973 they both left Seatrain with Peter joining David Grisman, Jerry Garcia and John Kahn to form Old & In the Way. In 1974 Rowan, Greene, Grisman and Kahn joined Bill Keith, Clarence White, and John Guerin in the group Muleskinner. Peter has recorded and performed with his brothers, Lorin and Chris as The Rowans, at various times starting in 1972. Since then, he has been involved in many group and solo projects and continues to tour.
 New Essex Bluegrass Band (England). The band name comes not from the mountains of New Essex, but from the advance publicity for their first public appearance. Despairing of their inability to advise her of a name, Joan Gifford advertised them in the press as 'a new Essex bluegrass band' for their 1995 debut at the Wivenhoe Folk Club. Despite well over a decade of intense combined mental activity they have never managed to think of another. What they have achieved is to become one of the UK's foremost traditional bluegrass bands. The band prefers the traditional approach in their instrumental and vocal style. The material comes mostly from the early bluegrass bands, including Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, the Stanley Brothers, Reno & Smiley, and Jim & Jesse, as well as more modern bands who are creating fresh new work in the same tradition. Strong banjo, fiddle and mandolin are featured, but are never allowed to overpower the authentic duo and trio vocal harmonies, which the band believes is at the heart of bluegrass music.
 Lonstar trio (Poland). Lonstar is arguably the most important figure of country music in Poland, one of its father-founders and a major driving force behind this subculture, an authentic Living Legend. Singer, guitar player, songwriter with an impressive list of hits to his credit that in time have become the evergreen anthems, producer of his own musical projects, concert-and-festival promoter, dedicated propagator of country lifestyle: in articles, radio and TV shows as well as through his own image and activities, from his distinctive attire to his consistent attitude of a romantic cowboy, an intelligent rebel and a critical chronicler of the world we live in. Cult hero of the entire generation of Polish country artists and fans alike, he enjoys recognition and respect of artistic circles in Poland and in the USA as well.
 Country Saloon (Russia) was organized in 1979 in the city of Gorky (Nizhny Novgorod now) at the Institute of languages. That was a kind of a pleasant hobby for those students who played in the band. Since 1989 Country Saloon got into great country music movement. They visited some festivals that took place many of festivals.As for the style they play some traditional pieces and songs composed in bluegrass style by the members of the band. By the end of 2005 some changes took place in the group. Two participants decided to stop their music career and left the group. Recently Country Saloon with its new members worked out a new program and now the audience can hear it at their concerts. New program’s songs was composed by Michael Dushin.In 2006 Country Saloon took part at the international bluegrass music festival in La Roche-sur-Foron (France) where they got 2nd place among the European bluegrass groups. In 2007 Country Saloon was invited to play in Craponne-sur-Arzon (France) as guests at the local country music festival.The year of 2008, summer. Country Saloon was invited to the USA to take part at some events in Tennessee and Virginia.
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Festival "Vilnius Bluegrass" 