There wouldn't be bluegrass if it weren't for Bill Monroe. He gave the genre its name, its distinctive style, and for most of the 20th century, embodied the essence of the art form, which is typically delivered by a five-piece acoustic string band featuring instrumental virtuosity on banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar and string bass, and close harmonies sung in a plaintive, high lonesome voice.

Monroe's influence reaches far and deep, and will be very much in evidence during the Freight's two night tribute. And who better to host the event than twice named bluegrass Female Vocalist of the year Laurie Lewis, who won a Grammy for her work on the album True Life Blues: The Songs of Bill Monroe. "Bill Monroe's repertoire of recorded material was so vast and varied," Laurie says, "that last year we felt we had barely scratched the surface. This year, we are celebrating with two nights and no repeats."

Joining her on stage will be a long-list of Bay area bluegrass luminaries, including long-time collaborator and mandolin master Tom Rozum, Kathy Kallick (vocalist, Kathy Kallick Band, Good Ol' Persons), Butch Waller (mandolin, High Country), Chad Manning, (fiddler, David Grisman Bluegrass Experience, Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands), Patrick Sauber (banjo, Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands), Henry Warde (Windy Hill), Molly Tuttle (18-year-old flatpicking phenom, The Tuttles), Keith Little (banjo, vocals, Peter Rowan Bluegrass band), David Thom (vocals, guitar, The David Thom Band), Luke Abbott (banjo, vocals, The ToneWay Project)—and other special guests.

Visit Laurie's website