Local-born and raised, ETSU’s Bluegrass Artist in Residence, Tim Stafford, brings magic to ETSU with his fingers as he plucks the strings of his guitar, spreading bluegrass music.

“Thanks so much for coming out,” said Stafford, “Try some songs for you tonight.”

On Nov. 15, Grammy Award winner and IBMA Songwriter of the Year, Tim Stafford performed at “Tim Stafford & Friends Artist in Residence Fall Showcase with Special Guests Thomm Jutz & Dave Eggar” at the ETSU Martin Center in Powell Recital Hall at 7 p.m. He sang songs like “Horseshoe Dan” and “Margaret Falls.” He asked the audience to sing along with a few songs.

The ETSU Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Roots Music Studies put this event on. It was also featured live on Facebook. The event was free to the public.

Nate Olsen, the academic director of the Bluegrass department, gave a short introduction to Stafford before the show.

“Very excited to present our Artist in Residence,” said Olsen.

The event featured guest artists including Thomm Jutz and Dave Eggar. Eggar performed on the cello. Jutz performed on acoustic guitar. Stafford talked about the friendship and history he had with Jutz and Eggar.

Photo of Dave Eggar, Tim Stafford, and Thomm Jutz. (Emma Kate Montag/East Tennessean)

“These guys here are the best musicians I know,” said Stafford.

At the end of the night, the audience gave Stafford a standing ovation and an encore.

“Great students here and great people here,” said Stafford.

Stafford joined the Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Roots Music Studies program at ETSU for 2023-24 for one academic tenure. His office is located at 149B Sam Wilson Hall.

Stafford is an alumnus of ETSU’s Bluegrass program with Jack Tottle in the 1980s, who founded the ETSU Bluegrass department at ETSU.

“I was there when Jack Tottle started the ETSU program, and it’s amazing how far it’s come and how far it can go,” said Stafford. “It’s going be fun being part of that.”

ETSU’s Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Roots Music Studies next event is their Down Home Takeover on Dec. 3rd -6th. from 7-9 p.m. There is a $15 general admission fee, which is cash only; however, students can get in free with their student ID. It will showcase every band in the department including Celtic, Country and Vocal bands.

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