Name: Sam Bush
Start: 2025-03-21T19:30:00-04:00
Location: Boot Barn Hall - Gainesville

Doors 5:00 PM | Show 7:30 PM
Ages 14+
Sam Bush is more than just a musician—he’s a legend in progressive bluegrass, a festival headliner, and a mandolin virtuoso who continues to push boundaries. Known as the “King of Telluride,” his high-energy performances and genre-blending style have made him a favorite among bluegrass and jam band fans alike. But before he became the icon he is today, Bush was a Kentucky teenager who changed the course of bluegrass forever.
Growing up on a Kentucky cattle farm, Bush was drawn to music early, encouraged by his father’s fiddling and local jams. After seeing Ricky Skaggs play mandolin on TV, he bought his own at 11. A national champion teen fiddler, he recorded his first album in high school and discovered progressive bluegrass at a North Carolina festival. Turning down Roy Acuff’s offer, he joined the Bluegrass Alliance before forming New Grass Revival in 1971, pushing the boundaries of bluegrass with long jams and rock-infused energy.
New Grass Revival faced resistance from traditionalists but won over rock audiences, touring with Leon Russell and building a loyal following. Bush’s innovative mandolin style blended bluegrass with reggae and rock, leading the band through lineup changes and commercial success before their 1989 breakup. He later played with Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett, won multiple IBMA awards, and launched a solo career. Now, after more than 50 years in music, Bush continues to inspire a new generation, blending tradition with innovation every time he takes the stage.