PERFORMERS
2 0 2 4 O I B F P R O G R A M OKLAHOMA ’ S INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL
Tim McDonald
At the young age of five , Tim McDonald embarked on a musical journey that has granted him countless opportunities to recognize and perfect his talents . After starting formal piano lessons his natural music abilities were quickly recognized . By age nine , he was a member of the distinguished Classical Guild Society . He continued classical training throughout his teen years and college where he studied music theory and taught himself other genres of music such as Jazz , Blues , Funk and Alternative .
Tim left college and enlisted in the US Army where he joined the Army Band then attended the Armed Forces School of
Music . He played music and learned from a variety of great musicians , including Byron Berline . Later , Tim was assigned to teach piano at the Armed Forces School of Music in Va . Beach , Virginia . He also performed in two broadway musicals : Aida , and The Producers .
After ten years of honorable service Tim left the US Army and moved to Nashville to further his music career . He performed with local bands , played as a session artist , and focused on writing . Tim is currently touring the country with his band and has also toured with Hank Williams Jr , Olivia Newton-John , Mark Chesnutt , Blake Shelton , Johnny Hiland , Cory Morrow , Byron
Berline , Josh Gracin , and Steve Holy . Additionally Tim has had the honor to perform with guitar studio legend and artist Larry Carlton . Tim was also on the ABC series " Nashville " as keyboardist for Luke Wheeler .
B
The Walk & Talk Suzies
Connecting through friendship and their love for traditional Western Swing music , Georgia Parker , Sophia Johnson , Katy Rose Cox and Katie Shore decided to start a band . “ The Walk and Talk Suzies ” is a women led collaboration .
Georgia Parker , guitarist , bassist and vocalist , from Central Texas holds the Ameripolitan Award for Western Swing Female of 2020 . Instrumentalist , vocalist and songwriter , Georgia also leads her own band and melts the hearts of all her are lucky enough to hear her .
Originally from Ft Worth , TX , Katie Shore grew up with a great love for Texas Fiddle music . A brilliant vocalist and musician , Katie leads her own project but has also played with many well known beloved Texas bands such as Asleep at the Wheel , Willie Nelson ,
George Strait and Melissa Carper among others … Katie is a musical force !
Triple threat guitarist , songwriter and vocalist Sophia Johnson is originally from Birmingham in England and relocated to central Texas specifically to immerse herself in the place that helped birth Western Swing . Since living in Texas , she has released two2 albums and earned The Ameripolotan Award for 2018 Western Swing Female . Sophia leads a band under her own name and jointly leads another band with Katy Rose Cox called Tiger Alley . Originally from El Paso , TX , Katy Rose Cox started playing the violin at age 4 . Her doorway into playing fiddle is a bit unconventional as she started as a classical violinist but while living in Brooklyn , NY , she found her way into playing in a bluegrass heavy metal band . Eventually she returned to Texas and fell in love with traditional bluegrass and Western swing music .
The Walk and Talk Suzies shine in their ability to harmonize vocally and instrumentally . Their sweet Western swing tunes will make you stomp your feet and clap your hands !
IBF
14 / OKLAHOMA ’ S INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL 2024