August 15, 2011 Highmount, NY – Five-time Grammy winner Mary Chapin Carpenter will showcase two decades worth of hits at the Belleayre Music Festival on Saturday, Aug. 20 at 8 p.m. Mary deft combination of country, pop and rock tunes makes conventional boundaries disappear. The universal appeal of her music has earned Mary 15 Grammy nominations. She burst into prominence with her second album, “State of the Heart,” that yielded four Top 20 songs, including “Never Had It So Good” and “Quittin’ Time.” The follow-up album kept Mary at the top of the charts with timeless classics like “Down at the Twist and Shout.” Mary quickly shot to superstar status in 1992 when “Come On, Come On” sold five million copies and earned her two CMA Female Vocalist trophies. The album’s seven Top 20 charting songs included “I Feel Lucky” and “Passionate Kisses.” On her next release, the Grammy-winning the single “Shut Up and Kiss Me” reached No. 1. Her latest release, “Age of Miracles” presents a new path for Mary. The album is a snapshot of her life, which she calls a personal exploration of regret and resilience. Mary was recently honored with The Americana Association’s esteemed “Spirit of Americana Free Speech in Music Award,” which recognizes artists who have used their work to raise awareness and promote free speech. Past recipients include Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Judy Collins and Joan Baez. Tickets for the Mary Chapin Carpenter show are: $66, $56, $46, $36, $25(lawn).

The Punch Brothers Play Belleayre August 27 with Special Guest Jessica Lea Mayfield

After the acclaimed band Nickel Creek disbanded in 2007, mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile assembled an all-star quintet called Punch Brothers.The band included guitarist Chris Eldridge, formerly of the Infamous Stringdusters; bassist Greg Garrison, who played with Rons Miles and Leftover Salmon: banjo player Noam Pikelny, who has worked with John Cowan and Tony Trischka; and violinist Gabe Witcher, a sought-after session musician and a member of Jerry Douglas’ band for a half-dozen years. The group issued a debut album, “Punch,” in 2008, which was anchored by Thile’s ambitious 40-minute, four-part suite “The Blind Leaving the Blind.” The New Yorker call the band’s debut, “… wide-ranging and restlessly imaginative…” A folk-influenced songwriter from Kent, OH, Jessica Lea Mayfield began performing with her family’s bluegrass band at the age of eight. Her first two solo releases “With Blasphemy So Heartfelt” and this year’s “Tell Me,” have earned large amounts of critical praise.

Bela Fleck and the Original Flecktones Close the Music Festival September 3

Bela Fleck is arguably the world’s premier banjo player, but his extraordinary musical talents transcend any simple description. As a result, Bela has been nominated in more different Grammy categories than anyone in history (27 nominations and 11 wins). When Bela takes the stage with the “Tones,” audiences are treated to a sonic adventure that melds superb technical stills, improvisation and the love of playing into an unforgettable concert experience. Bela and the Flecktones have shared the stage with icons such as the Dave Mathews Band, Sting, Bonnie Raitt and the Grateful Dead.

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