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TRAPP , MULLENAX & MOORE
IBF will be the first official set of Trapp , Mullenax and Moore , but they sit in the same circle , both in talent and literally ; at Winfield or the Mercury Lounge , or with the Byron Berline Band for some of them . It isn ’ t necessarily the call to fame that brings this group together , its chemistry and tradition ; it ’ s organic .
Thomas Trapp is an accomplished guitar player who was a member of the Byron Berline Band ; he still plays with BBB & Legacy Grass and is the social mastermind behind Trapp , Mullenax and Moore .
Trapp and Johnny Mullenax are core members of the Bluegrass Brunch at the Mercury Lounge in Tulsa and have been performing a dueling guitars set that has the potential to blow bluegrass into a new era . Mullenax plays both electric and acoustic guitar and is an accomplished songwriter who currently plays with Tennessee Jet and Opal Agafia .
Steven Moore joins them in the starting lineup . Moore is a two-time National Bluegrass Banjo champion , Rockygrass Banjo Champion , Merlefest Banjo Champion just to name a few of the contests he has entered and won . Moore will also be releasing a solo record shortly . Trapp and Moore have
been friends for more then 20 years and thankfully Trapp talked Moore into making the trek from Ohio to perform .
The set will be driving and intense , roughly dividing the time between Moore , Mullenax , Trapp and Berline material . They will be supported by Roger Ray on dobro and Jake Flynn on drums ; both perform with Jason Boland and The Stragglers . Paul Wilks is joining in on the bass and Dana Hazard on the fiddle . Special guest Henry Byron Burgess will be the mandolin accompaniment . At only 16 Burgess is a product of the Double Stop Fiddle Shop and OIBF and plays beyond his years . IBF
WOOD WILLOW
B ecca and Joel Parks have been traveling in the same circles for years but it took getting face to face , falling in love and a global pandemic to get a full length album out of the duo . Both were born into musical worlds and it was only natural that they should find each other .
Bob Gilmore was a beloved mandolin picker , singer Becca ’ s grandfather . Gilmore was the patron saint of bluegrass tradition , connecting the old ways with the new for Joel and his family and friends , dubbed Stillwater Camp , for the past 40 years . The two floated around each other for years before finally connecting at OIBF in 2018 .
In the beginning there wasn ’ t much intention about their relationship , more willow branch than wood , but as time passed and they began playing together in Steelwind , their relationship grew . The two were married this past May and their styles began to mesh into a little bit bluegrass and a little bit rock and roll .
When Joel dreamed up the name Wood Willow they weren ’ t a band and hadn ’ t really discussed the possibility , but a great name demands a great band and so they pulled Lucas Gillette into the mess and voi-là , Wood Willow was born . Gillette and Joel have been playing together since fifth grade and their chemistry is remarkable ; plus Gillette is an animal on bass . Becca and Joel
are still exploring the depths of their musical relationship but together they land somewhere between David Bowie , Janis Joplin and Bill Monroe .
Becca is a captivating vocalist and accomplished mandolin player . Joel usually plays guitar and sings but also throws in some piano . Gillette plays bass and guitar , while Susie Leonard bangs the drums . Their album Southern Intentions is available now and they will be debuting new songs this weekend . IBF
OKLAHOMA ’ S INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL 2022 / 19