EARLVILLE – Blue Highway is without doubt one of the most esteemed and influential groups in contemporary bluegrass. The powerhouse band brings their fiery bluegrass to the historic stage at the Earlville Opera House at 8 p.m. Friday. This performance is generously sponsored by Seven Oaks Clubhouse Restaurant and WCNY TV & Classic FM.

With eight highly praised albums, Blue Highway has garnered two Grammy nominations, a Dove Award, topped the Bluegrass Unlimited radio charts, and won numerous International Bluegrass Music Association awards. With a deep bench of virtuoso songwriters, vocalists and instrumentalists, Blue Highway steers a path that balances between tradition and innovation, remaining at the forefront of contemporary bluegrass music.

Performing together for 15 years, the band includes master musicians Jason Burleson on banjo, guitar, and mandolin; Rob Ickes on dobro; Shawn Lane on mandolin, fiddle, and vocals; Tim Stafford on guitar, and vocals; and Wayne Taylor on bass and vocals.

Band member, Tim Stafford says they are “a democracy in the best sense of the word”: five gifted artists selflessly merging talents into a seamlessly dazzling group sound. Rob and Jason turn out the heart-pounding instrumentals, while Shawn, Tim and Wayne give Blue Highway a depth of songwriting talent unprecedented in sixty years of bluegrass bands. Some may remember the amazing talent of dobro player Rob Ickes, when he was an unexpected guest musician with Sean Camp at EOH in 2007.