Progressive Acoustics and Philly Bluegrass will host an extraordinary double-bill of bluegrass artistry featuring two of the genre’s most influential modern practitioners: Grammy-nominated guitarist Michael Daves and National Mandolin Champion Jacob Jolliff. After years of collaborating in various bands and informal settings, they have teamed up as a formidable duo featuring high-lonesome vocal harmony and fiery flatpicking. Their sound is an homage to the classic guitar-mandolin “brother duets” while leaving plenty of room for improvisation and inspired left turns. They effortlessly straddle the line between hard-core traditional bluegrass and experimental forms.
The evening serves as a local celebration of the duo’s collaborative power, coming on the heels of their brand-new release, We Like Jim & Jesse! (March 2026). The album is a reverent yet fiery tribute to the "brother duet" innovations of Jim & Jesse McReynolds, perfectly suited for the intimate, community-focused atmosphere of Arden.
Fans will also be treated to selections from Daves’ recent R.E.M. tribute project, Fables, which reimagines the Southern gothic alt-rock of the 80s through high-octane bluegrass arrangements—a project that prominently features Jolliff’s virtuosic mandolin work.
Event Schedule
Instrumental Workshops: 2:00 PM
Concert Performance: 7:30 PM (Doors open at 7:00 PM)
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Michael Daves grew up playing bluegrass in the grand old tradition of staying up late and singing loud. Although he’s since moved north, his Southern roots permeate his music, whether traditional or experimental. Heralded as “a leading light of the New York bluegrass scene” by The New York Times, Daves has garnered attention for his work with Chris Thile, Steve Martin, Tony Trischka, and Bruce Molsky. His album Sleep With One Eye Open with Thile earned a 2011 Grammy nomination. Daves is also a renowned educator, running a bluegrass vocal school on ArtistWorks and teaching at institutions including Carnegie Hall.
Jacob Jolliff is widely considered one of the country’s most notable contemporary mandolinists. A graduate of Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship, he won the National Mandolin Championship in 2012. Jolliff was a member of the beloved roots band Joy Kills Sorrow and later toured full-time with Yonder Mountain String Band through 2019. More recently, he toured with Béla Fleck as part of the My Bluegrass Heart project and continues to lead his own ensemble, The Jacob Jolliff Band.
