PERFORMERS 2 0 2 5 O I B F P R O G R A M OKLAHOMA’ S INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL by ADAM MILLER
Hunt Brothers Band
FIND NEXT PHASE OF CAREER BACKSTAGE AT OIBF
Formed in May of 2022, The Hunt Brothers Band is the result of an exciting combination of the lifelong dream of two brothers, the convergence of personal journeys, and the willingness to seize opportunity when it presents itself.
The story of The Hunt Brothers Band dates back to childhood for brothers Jonathan and Andrew Hunt, who from a young age were committed to the idea of creating music together long term. Through a family move to Oklahoma from the Kansas City, Missouri area in the early 2000s, they met their long time musical and personal mentors Byron Berline and John Hickman who would prove to be an enormous influence on them and cement their determination to make their mark in music.
Soon after the Oklahoma move, they were joined by their parents to form The Hunt Family Band which gained a respectable measure of recognition in the midwestern region and continues to tour as time allows. In October of 2018 while backstage at Oklahoma’ s International Bluegrass Festival, the brothers first made
the acquaintance of Samuel Grounds and quickly found him to be the type of guitar player they were looking for to help them fulfill their musical vision. Informal jam sessions ensued over the next several years and in early 2022, the time was right for the three of them to formally come together as a band.
Each member of The Hunt Brothers Band had a successful and award-winning career even before deciding to pool their talents to become one of Oklahoma’ s premier acoustic music artists. They ' ve won awards such as first place in KSMU’ s Youth in Bluegrass Band Competition, formal recognition for both flatpick and Chet Atkins style guitar, and guest appearances with The Byron Berline Band, along with performances at events like The Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS, Oklahoma’ s International Bluegrass Festival, and Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO. The Hunt Brothers Band brings together years of previous experience and recognition in both Bluegrass and Country music. In early 2022, they also accepted the role of house band at Byron Berline’ s Double Stop Fiddle Shop and Music Hall where they perform regularly in addition to their outside tour schedule. The Hunt Brothers Band strives to remain focused on fans and relationships. They abide by the philosophy that notes and technical prowess don’ t matter unless you’ ve made someone’ s day!
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Bottom of the Barrel
by JOE MACK
HERE COME THE OUTLAWS
Split Lip R ayfield isn’ t the only band making an OIBF debut this weekend: Oklahoma bluegrass outlaws Bottom of the Barrel bring a mind- and genre-bending sound to the OIBF main stage in 2025.
“ This is our first time at OIBF, it’ s been on the bucket list for us though,” said bassist Kenneth Morrow.
Bottom of the Barrel blend a unique sound of traditional bluegrass songs interwoven with cool covers done in the bluegrass style, from Queen’ s“ Fat Bottom Girls” to Michael Jackson’ s“ Billy Jean.”“ Billy Strings was a big influence, and then it went to Doc Watson and Tony Rice,” Morrow said.“ Then as I really started diving in I found Trey Hensley and those were the main people that have inspired me.”
Joining Morrow are acoustic guitarist Justin Modjeski, fiddler Kasey Dillon, banjoist Sam Henderson, OIBF veteran Joe Kahlden on mandolin, and Kody Tucker on electric guitar. Audiences will also get a real kick out of their carefully arranged four-part harmonies, and their cheeky, yet confident originals, which helped lock in the‘ Oklahoma bluegrass outlaws’ moniker as they win over crowds from town to town.
“ Recording has always been a challenge looking for the right person to capture the tones and natural sounds,” Morrow said.“ We’ ve been to a lot of engineers and found Dwight Hamlin at Classen Records to be one of the best.”
Perhaps OIBF festivarians can capture some audio / video and help spread the word about this outlaw band from Oklahoma? You might just run into some of these guys at J9’ s Tavern, or a campsite near you; wherever they’ re found, you’ ll be drinking from the top shelf with Bottom of the Barrel.
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10 / OKLAHOMA’ S INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL 2025