CHRIS STUART & BACKCOUNTRY

Chris Stuart, Guitar: Chris and Ivan Rosenberg were co-writers of the 2009 IBMA Song of the Year "Don't Throw Mama's Flowers Away" as recorded by Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass. He won first-prize at the Merlefest Chris Austin Songwriting Contest in both bluegrass and gospel categories, and his songs have been recorded by many top artists such as Claire Lynch, Dale Ann Bradley, Doyle Lawson, Bobby Osborne, Michael Cleveland, Larry Cordle, Dan Paisley, Suzanne Thomas, and Sally Jones. Nine of his songs have appeared on the Bluegrass Unlimited top-30 chart. He was an IBMA showcase songwriter in 2003, and was nominated by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA) as Songwriter of the Year in 2009. Chris also writes feature articles for music magazines and was awarded Print Media Person of the Year for the IBMA in 2008. He has taught rhythm guitar and songwriting at the British Columbia Bluegrass Workshop, the American River Music Camp, the California Bluegrass Association music camp, the Sorefingers Bluegrass Week in the UK, and at the Augusta Heritage Workshop in Elkins, WV.

Janet Beazley, Banjo: Janet is a true westerner. She spent her early years in Bakersfield, California, as well as Alaska and New Mexico. She is an accomplished banjo player, teacher, songwriter, and singer, and has taught banjo and music theory classes at the British Columbia Bluegrass Workshop, the American Banjo Camp, the California Bluegrass Association music camp, and the Midwest Banjo Camp. She taught banjo at the Augusta Heritage camp and at the Sorefingers camp in the UK and was featured in Banjo Newsletter. Janet holds a doctorate in early music and teaches at the University of California, Riverside. She plays flute, recorder, viola da gamba and historical guitars, and her pennywhistle playing can be heard on several Backcountry recordings. Janet's solo album, 5 South appeared on the Bluegrass Unlimited chart for a year with a song by Chris, "Julia Belle," which was also recorded by Dale Ann Bradley. Janet's song "From Now On" was recorded by Sierra Hull on Rounder Records and was the most-played song on Sirius Bluegrass Radio for December 2008. Janet teaches banjo, recorder, and flute at Old Time Music in San Diego.

Austin Ward, Bass: Austin lives in the desert community of Hesperia, California, and has in a very short time become a respected and solid, yet creative, bass player. He has a thorough feel for bluegrass and acoustic music, and played at the 2005 Country Music Association Fan Fest with Ricky Skaggs and Earl Scruggs. Austin, even at a young age, is already in high demand as a session player, and has just released his first album-with his step-dad, Eric Uglum, and his brother, Christian Ward-The Old Road to Jerusalem.

Christian Ward, Fiddle: Christian also lives in Hesperia, California, and has become recognized as one of the hot fiddle players of the new generation of bluegrass. Christian, along with his brother Austin, played at the 2005 CMA Fan Fest with Ricky Skaggs and Earl Scruggs. He is also in high demand as a session player and displays an amazing virtuosity, but also a taste and maturity, in his playing that goes beyond his years. He has just released his first album, with his step-dad, Eric Uglum, and his brother, Austin, called The Old Road to Jerusalem, in which he contributes a self-penned fiddle tune, "Stonewall." Christian also plays with Rounder recording artist Sierra Hull and has toured Japan with that band.