The 31st Annual Gamble Rogers Folk Festival
One of the most beloved traditions of the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival is the opportunity to learn directly from the musicians who keep the folk tradition alive!
Throughout the festival weekend, nationally acclaimed artists, regional performers, and master storytellers lead interactive workshops covering guitar techniques, songwriting, storytelling, traditional ballads, and the rich history of American folk music.
Whether you are an experienced musician or simply a fan of folk music, these sessions offer a unique chance to go beyond the stage and explore the craft behind the songs.
Workshops are included with the festival ticket.
Check Out Our 2026 Workshops
Songwriting with Verlon Thompson
The Workshop Tent
Saturday, April 11th 11:30AM
Celebrated songwriter, master guitarist, and Oklahoma native Verlon Thompson will also take the stage. With more than three decades as a touring troubadour and as the longtime creative partner to the legendary Guy Clark, Thompson is known for his narrative songwriting, guitar work, and as a talented performer. His songs have been recorded by some of the industry's biggest names, including Jimmy Buffett and Alan Jackson, Dierks Bentley, Del McCoury, Trisha Yearwood, Randy Travis, and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. As a producer, Thompson co-created several of Clark's critically revered albums, including Cold Dog Soup and Somedays the Song Writes You. On stage, Thompson's narrative magic and musicianship create an unforgettable experience.
Shooting the Breeze with Ed Snodderly
(ask Ed anything about the music business)
The Workshop Tent
Saturday, April 11th 1:00PM
Veteran songwriter and performer, Ed Snodderly AKA Es Pearl, says, “I am not an expert on anything in particular…but I have opinions!” In 2001, the third verse to his song, “The Diamond Stream”, was permanently displayed on the Wall Of Honor at the Country Music Hall Of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee. Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Missy Raines, and others have recorded his songs. In 1976, he co-founded the iconic venue, The Down Home. Gamble’s last performance was on that stage. “What’s it worth to sing this song?” It’s the question East Tennessee culture keeper and songwriter Es Pearl asks.
Mandolin for Everybody with Red & Chris Henry
The Workshop Tent
Saturday, April 11th 2:30PM
Known for their exceptional musicianship and original songwriting, Red and Christopher Henry & Their All-Star Band have made lasting contributions to the bluegrass community. Beginning with Red and Murphy Henry's early performances as a husband-and-wife duo, the family has continued to shape regional bluegrass culture through live performances and their influential Murphy Method instructional tradition. Today, Christopher Henry joins his father, Red Henry, to lead a dynamic All-Star Band known for its tight instrumentation, authentic harmonies, and spirited stage presence, carrying the family's musical legacy proudly into a new era.
Dom Flemons: Discovering 100 Years of American Roots Music
Gambles Living Room Stage
Saturday, April 11th 3:00PM
Please join GRAMMY Winner and American Banjo Hall of Famer Dom Flemons as he shares his repertoire of music and history that covers over 100 years of American folklore, ballads, and tunes. Throughout this workshop Flemons will discuss a wide range of musical influences that shaped his career and he'll dive deeper into his process of learning the various styles of banjo, guitar, the bones and quills. This workshop is ideal for anyone wanting to learn more about becoming a songster and anyone interested in the lesser-known folk heroes in American culture.
Frank Lindamood:
Evolutionary Old Time Banjo
The Workshop Tent
Saturday, April 11th 4:00PM
In order to keep our oldest and most vital musical tradition alive we must continue to expand, innovate and create without compromising its powerful spiritual essence. Topics: picking techniques, key transposition, medleys and alt tunings. Frank Lindamood is the poster child for crafting authentic and traditional sound into new and original songs. A resident of the flat woods of Sopchoppy, Florida, Lindamood is a life-long student of the likes of Leadbelly, Blind Lemon Jefferson and Jimmy Rogers. His songs ring with voices and voicings from the past. He’s a bare-knuckled guitar player, a master of early 20th C banjo style and a lucid but gritty bender of notes on his metal bodied resonator.
Guitar workshop with Jonathan Dotson & Trey Brewer
The Workshop Tent
Sunday, April 12th 11:30AM
Trey Brewer has been playing music most of his life. He studied classical guitar at the University of Georgia with John Sutherland and jazz guitar at Georgia State University earning a degree in jazz guitar performance. He also studied jazz guitar at the University of North Florida with Jack Petersen. Trey is also known in his role as the director of the guitar program at St. Augustine High School, which he ran for thirty years. He retired from teaching in May of 2024 and now plays music full time. Trey’s music is on several download sites under his name Trey Brewer Guitarist and The North Florida Taildraggers.
Praised by Soundboard Magazine for his “relentless technical strength and interpretive skill,” Dr. Jonathan Dotson is a leading classical guitarist whose performances have taken him to stages on four continents, from Austin nightclubs to Gothic cathedrals in Spain. A prizewinner in eight international competitions, he is an active chamber musician, recording artist, and frequent clinician, with appearances at major festivals including the Guitar Foundation of America Convention and the Victoria Bach Festival. A former founding member of the Texas Guitar Quartet, Dotson now performs regularly throughout Florida and serves as director of the guitar program at the St. Johns County Center for the Arts in St. Augustine.
Banjo workshop with Tommy Bledsoe & Paige Bechtold
The Workshop Tent
Sunday, April 12th 1:00PM
Tommy Bledsoe is a storyteller, musician, dance caller, actor, writer, director, and educator. He grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, where he learned the value of passing along cultural wisdom through dance, songs, and stories. A 1999 and 2011 Florida state banjo champion, Tommy plays old-time and bluegrass banjo
with Skin & Bonz.
Paige discovered a love for bluegrass and Americana music at St. Augustine High School in the Americana Music class under the mentorship of Dr. Jonathan Dotson and Trey Brewer. She has dedicated herself to her instrument over the last several years, performing as a solo musician, as a member of Taildraggers Ultralight and with her band, The Varella String Band.
Song Swap hosted by Emmett Carlisle
The Workshop Tent
Sunday, April 12th 2:30PM
Emmett Carlisle is a Florida singer/ song writer. He writes many songs about Florida History, Characters and Environment. Now working on his 9th CD of Original Songs, some of which are about
Love and Social Justice.
As the oldest music festival in St. Johns County, we are ever grateful to YOU, our longtime and dedicated supporters to help us keep this important and fulfilling musical legacy alive and well.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and we'll look forward to seeing you soon!
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Here are a few magical moments from our 30th Anniversary Festival Celebration
with Gamble's own spectacular rendition of his tune, Deep Gap Salute, written in honor of his longtime friend, Doc Watson.
