31st Annual Gamble Rogers Folk Festival Announces Nationally Acclaimed Artists

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL. — The Gamble Rogers Folk Festival is proud to announce the first wave of nationally acclaimed artists set to perform at the 31st Annual Gamble Rogers Folk Festival, taking place April 10th, 11th, and 12th, 2026, at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds. This year’s lineup brings a mix of Grammy-winning talent, Appalachian storytelling, and powerhouse bluegrass, honoring the rich legacy of folk music and celebrating the memory of Gamble Rogers. Early Bird tickets for the 31st Annual Festival will go on sale mid-December.

Dom Flemons & The Traveling Wildfires

Grammy Award-winner, American Songster, and American Banjo Hall of Fame inductee Dom Flemons, will be joined by his dynamic supergroup, The Traveling Wildfires. Formed as an evolution of Flemons’ lifelong mission to celebrate, preserve, and reimagine roots music, The Traveling Wildfires draw inspiration from his GRAMMY-nominated Folkways albums Black Cowboys and Traveling Wildfire. The group features a talented lineup: Brian Farrow (bass, fiddle; formerly Gangstagrass) and Dante Pope (vocals, drum; formerly Old Crow Medicine Show). Together, they deliver a fiery, fresh sound rooted in bluegrass, country, folk, blues, and Black stringband music.

Verlon Thompson

Celebrated songwriter, master guitarist, and Oklahoma native Verlon Thompson will also take the stage. With more than three decades as a touring troubadour and as the longtime creative partner to the legendary Guy Clark, Thompson is known for his narrative songwriting, guitar work, and as a talented performer. His songs have been recorded by some of the industry’s biggest names, including Jimmy Buffett and Alan Jackson, Dierks Bentley, Del McCoury, Trisha Yearwood, Randy Travis, and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. As a producer, Thompson co-created several of Clark’s critically revered albums, including Cold Dog Soup and Somedays the Song Writes You. On stage, Thompson’s narrative magic and musicianship create an unforgettable experience.

Alexa Rose

Gamble Rogers Folk Fest welcomes acclaimed singer-songwriter Alexa Rose, praised by NPR Music as “An enchanting new Appalachian voice…sounds like the soul child of Bob Dylan and Dolly Parton.” Raised in western Virginia, Rose was inspired by stories of her great-grandfather, who once lived and played with bluegrass legend Lester Flatt. Her 2019 debut Medicine For Living garnered widespread attention when the title track won Merlefest’s Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. Rose’s 2021 album Headwaters earned national acclaim from American Songwriter and Rolling Stone. Blending old country, traditional folk, rock, and mountain soul, Rose delivers earnest, well-crafted stylings. 

Ed Snodderly

Joining the lineup is veteran songwriter and performer, Ed Snodderly AKA Es Pearl.

In 2001 the third verse to his song, “The Diamond Stream”, was permanently displayed on the Wall Of Honor at the Country Music Hall Of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee. Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Missy Raines and others have recorded his songs. In 1976 he co-founded the iconic venue, The Down Home. Gamble’s last performance was on that stage. “What’s it worth to sing this song?” It’s the question East Tennessee culture keeper and songwriter Es Pearl asks.

Red and Christopher Henry & Their All-Star Band

Known for their exceptional musicianship and original songwriting, Red and Christopher Henry & Their All-Star Band have made lasting contributions to the bluegrass community. Beginning with Red and Murphy Henry’s early performances as a husband-and-wife duo, the family has continued to shape regional bluegrass culture through live performances and their influential Murphy Method instructional tradition. Today, Christopher Henry joins his father, Red Henry, to lead a dynamic All-Star Band known for its tight instrumentation, authentic harmonies, and spirited stage presence, carrying the family’s musical legacy proudly into a new era.

With this initial musician announcement, the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival celebrates the festival’s namesake, the beloved Florida troubadour Gamble Rogers, whose legacy continues to inspire generations of musicians, storytellers, and folk enthusiasts. Additional performers will be announced in the coming months.

About the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival:

The Gamble Rogers Folk Festival and Concert Series is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to commemorating the life and musical legacy of Gamble Rogers, whose guitar wizardry, passion for balladry, storytelling, and the folk tradition helped to shape American folk music. A key part of the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival’s mission is to foster an appreciation for arts, music, and storytelling by supporting the arts and arts education in the local communities. Visit the website at www.gamblerogersfest.org