Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival

Alison Krauss

Encouraged by her parents to learn to play an instrument, Alison Krauss began taking classical violin lessons at five years old. By eight, she had discovered bluegrass fiddle, and soon began playing festivals and entering (and winning) fiddle contests. Although her initial acclaim was as an instrumentalist, soon her voice was capturing people’s attention.

Barry Bales

 Barry Bales, bass player and harmony vocalist for Alison Krauss & Union Station, grew up in Kingsport, Tennessee. His love of bluegrass and “real” country music came from his dad, who plays guitar and mandolin. It was also his father who inspired him to start learning guitar at the age of 10. By 15, Barry had settled on the bass as his instrument of choice, and had begun playing with various local and regional bands. Growing up in east Tennessee, Barry was surrounded by great musicians, many of whom have gone on to make their own mark in bluegrass and country music. It was while performing with many of these musicians that he began traveling in ever-wider musical circles, eventually landing the bass job with Union Station in 1990.

 Ron Block

 For the past ten years, Ron Block has been the spiritual touchstone of Alison Krauss + Union Station, contributing not only sterling musicianship on banjo and guitar, but also a catalogue of beautiful songs that deal mostly with issue of religious faith and devotion. Before joining Union Station, Ron was a member of the Lynn Morris Band (1991) and Weary Hearts (1985 - 1989).

Jerry Douglas

 Jerry Douglas could have been a musical innovator on any number of instruments. But as a teenager Douglas adopted the relatively obscure and unexplored Dobro, and that decision has helped him carve out a unique place in American music. By discovering the capabilities of this expressive instrument during a period of intense creativity in acoustic music generally, Douglas has wielded incalculable influence on bluegrass and its many related genres. His transcendent technique and his passionate musicality has helped him net six Grammy Awards and six International Bluegrass Music Association Dobro Player of the Year awards. LIFE Magazine named him one of the ten best country musicians of all time, and John Fogerty has lauded him as "my favorite musician." He has collaborated with legends like Ray Charles, premiere vocalists like Maura O'Connell, and envelope-stretching composers like Bill Frisell. Other musicians and producers, including his Union Station band mates, credit him with drawing better performances out of his collaborators.

Dan Tyminski

 Dan Tyminski, acoustic guitar, lead and harmony vocalist for Union Station is one of the most dynamic and talented performers to appear on the bluegrass scene in years. His outstanding vocal abilities and hard driving instrumental style have earned him a loyal following. Before becoming a member of Union Station in 1994, Dan played mandolin and sang with the Lonesome River Band.