2026 White Squirrel Weekend – Sunday

HEADLINER

Travis Book & Friends with Shawn Lane, Jon Stickley, Lindsay Pruett

8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

As bassist and vocalist for Grammy Award winning Bluegrass band The Infamous Stringdusters, Brevard’s Travis Book has performed on stages as varied as the Grand Ole Opry, Telluride Bluegrass, and Stephen Colbert. In Travis Book & Friends he has honed his skills as both band leader and follower, showcasing his ability to bring the best out of the musicians he brings together for these memorable collaborations. For the White Squirrel Festival he’s enlisted Shawn Lane (Blue Highway) and Jon Stickley & Lyndsay Pruett (Jon Stickley Trio) for a bluegrass-leaning set of acoustic music with no boundaries.

The New Elementals

6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

The New Elementals are an emerging North Carolina band. Members include Matt Gardner (Bass), Derrick Gardner (Keys/Vocals), Chris Alley (Drums) and John Trufant (Guitar/Vocals). Before solidifying their identity, the group first found its groove performing together in the loose collective, “John Trufant and Friends” and later in the blues outfit, “The Mojo Brothers”. In 2023, they pinned their new name, “The New Elementals,” marking a new chapter of their growing musical chemistry.

The New Elementals represent a new wave of North Carolina artists grounded in community, driven by creativity, and focused on pushing sonic boundaries.

Run Pheasant Run

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Run Pheasant Run is a five-piece crowd pleaser based out of Brevard, NC that is creating undeniably original music with authentic songwriting. Rooted in Southern Appalachian rock and roll, their live shows are engaging and incredibly dynamic, taking audiences on an unforgettable journey as they interweave elements of country, blues, soul, and funk. While the band has just recently formed, the hype is real! After a few rehearsals they quickly realized they had struck gold and decided to hit the studio. Their breakout single, “Come Back Again” released in November 2025, followed by “Cold Shoulders” in March of 2026.

Staples in the local music scene, they are a brotherhood of seasoned musicians who often perform live with other projects and unique collaborations. Run Pheasant Run consists of songwriter Devin Gentry (Lead Vocals, Guitar), Kris Kolenut (Guitar), Matt Faircloth (Lap Steel, Fiddle, Mandolin, Supporting Vocals), JT Linville (Bass), and Alex Santeiro (Drums, Supporting Vocals).

Nicholas Edwards Williams

3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Producer and host of the roots music history podcast American Songcatcher, Nicholas Edward Williams has spent the last 15 years as a nomadic storyteller and multi-instrumentalist blending the American roots music spectrum with his own recipe across the US, UK, Western Europe and Southern Australia. He’s opened for esteemed acts such as Taj Mahal, The Wood Brothers, CAAMP, Dom Flemons, Ballroom Thieves, John Craigie, John Paul White and several others. His 2019 debut record, As I Go Ramblin’ Around, made the year’s Top 10 Folk DJ charts for album and song, and his critically acclaimed sophomore release Folk Songs For Old Times’ Sake has been heralded by well-regarded roots music figures such as David Holt, Oliver Wood and JP Harris. His newest endeavor is a lofi and stripped down reimagined traditional record titled Rags, Folk and Blues, Oh My! – released in early 2026. Nicholas is also the Founder and Executive Director of ReString Appalachia, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to giving quality instruments back to people who lose them from natural disasters.