Live from The Waterworks
The Gamble Rogers Folk Festival, in partnership with the St. Johns Cultural Council, announces the 2025–2026 season of “Live from The Waterworks”, an intimate monthly concert series celebrating the legacy of St. Augustine’s own Gamble Rogers. Tickets for all shows in the series go on sale Tuesday, August 26, at 10:00 a.m. right here on our Tickets page! There are limited seats available, so purchasing tickets early is recommended. Thank you for your support, you are making dreams come true!
Wil Maring and Robert Bowlin
Saturday, January 17th
Doors: 6:30 pm
Show: 7:00 - 10:00 pm
Award-winning singer-songwriter Wil Maring and virtuose guitarist/ fiddler Robert Bowlin combine their talents, smoothly blending elements from oldtime and bluegrass, jazz and blues, celtic and country, to create an original acoustic music all their own. Wil’s songs arise from her rural midwestern roots and paint vivid pictures of her southern Illinois landscapes, but also address emotional topics universal to the human experience. Wil’s clear, airy vocal style and heartfelt delivery, with her proficiency on upright bass and guitar, provide a perfect complement to Bowlin’s instrumental fireworks on lead guitar and fiddle. Wil has toured Japan and played professionally for a decade in Europe, was a Merlefest songwriting contest winner, a Kerrville NewFolk finalist, and they both have performed their original music on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry and NPR’s Whaddya Know program.
Robert Bowlin, a two-time National Fingerpicking and Flatpicking Guitar contest winner, and well-respected Nashville studio musician, has appeared on hundreds of recordings. He has been a band member with legendary artists like Bill Monroe, Maura O’Connell, Kathy Mattea, the Osborne Brothers, Tom T. Hall, Ray Price, and more.
As a duo, Wil and Robert have travelled coast to coast for over a decade, in Canada, the UK and the U.S, playing everywhere from the nation’s largest acoustic festivals to intimate house concerts. Their numerous recording projects, both solo and duo efforts have been well-received by acoustic music radio and fans all over the world.
Sunny War
Saturday, February 21st
Doors: 6:30 pm
Show: 7:00 - 10:00 pm
Sunny War is an American singer and songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee. Her sound is frequently categorized as folk-punk while her songwriting is often described as introspective. Her songs blend rock, gospel, and country music. She began her music career in 2014 with the release of her extended play Worthless, but garnered mainstream attention and critical praise after the release of her 2020s albums.
Pat Bergeson & Bruce Forman
Saturday, March 21st
Doors: 6:30 pm
Show: 7:00 - 10:00 pm
Pat Bergeson
Guitarist and harmonica player Pat Bergeson has written, toured, and recorded with many of his musical heroes. Beginning at the University of Illinois in his home state, he moved on to New York City and picked up a Jazz Studies degree at William Paterson University. After playing in New York for ten years, he moved to Nashville upon the request of Chet Atkins who heard Pat on a demo tape. Chet invited him to play on his album “Sneakin’ Around” with Jerry Reed, and later featured Pat’s guitar and compositions on his 1994 release Read My Licks. They were good friends and toured together for several years.
A versatile guitarist as well as chromatic and diatonic harmonica player, Pat’s style incorporates jazz, blues, rock and finger style and he is known for his session work with a variety of artists. He has been in the studio with Lyle Lovett, Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, Bill Frisell, Martin Taylor, Suzy Bogguss, Bill Evans, Peter Frampton, Michael McDonald and many others. He has toured with Shelby Lynne, Madeleine Peyroux, Wynonna Judd, Suzy Bogguss and then four years with Lyle Lovett and his Large Band. Pat has been a teacher and producer and has appeared on many movie soundtracks.
Bruce Forman
Bruce Forman is a renowned jazz guitarist with an extensive career spanning decades. He's known for his active touring schedule, numerous recordings as a leader and sideman, and contributions to film soundtracks, including the Academy Award-winning "Million Dollar Baby". Forman is also an acclaimed educator, serving in residence at USC's Studio/Jazz Guitar Department. He has been praised by jazz figures such as Barney Kessel.
Walter Parks
Saturday, May 16th
Doors: 6:30 pm
Show: 7:00 - 10:00 pm
Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Walter Parks is both entertaining and educational, presenting historic music, original music and stories that preface songs in a contemporary way. Walter toggles between hollers, spirituals, Appalachian reels, Delta blues, work songs, swamp jazz and even bits of opera all delivered with Walter’s northeast Florida swampy feel. At every show Walter tributes Woodstock legend Richie Havens with whom he served as sideman for 10 years performing worldwide in Madison Square Garden, The Glastonbury Festival and Carnegie Hall amongst other prestigious venues. Walter was recently invited by The Library of Congress/American Folklife Collection to archive his research work on the music made in southeast Georgia’s Okefinokee Swamp. Now based out of St. Louis, Walter has recently co-written with Stan Lynch, former Tom Petty drummer and has performed at various venues with R&B drum legend Bernard Purdie and at Lincoln Center with Judy Collins. Walter tours solo, with his trio Swamp Cabbage and with The Unlawful Assembly, a group that reimagines historic spirituals, propelled by drummer Steven Williams and female vocalist Ada Dyer who’s currently on the Bruce Springsteen world tour. Walter was a founding member of The Nudes, a popular folk duo, with cellist Stephanie Winters.
Guy Davis
Saturday, June 20th
Doors: 6:30 pm
Show: 7:00 - 10:00 pm
Guy Davis is a renowned American blues musician, actor, and songwriter, recognized for his authentic blues sound infused with elements of folk, rock, and world music. Davis has received two Grammy nominations and multiple Blues Foundation nominations for his music, as well as the Keeping the Blues Alive Award for his acting work. His album Legacy was recognized by NPR and DownBeat in 2004. He has performed with and opened for numerous notable musicians. Davis is recognized globally for his extensive touring. Beyond music, Davis is an actor, playwright, and novelist. He has also developed an educational program and teaches master classes on blues music. He is the son of actors Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis.
Our 31st Annual Gamble Rogers Folk Festival
The Gamble Rogers Folk Festival is proud to announce the first wave of nationally acclaimed artists set to perform at the 31st Annual Gamble Rogers Folk Festival, taking place April 10th, 11th, and 12th, 2026, at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds. This year's lineup brings a mix of Grammy-winning talent, Appalachian storytelling, and powerhouse bluegrass, honoring the rich legacy of folk music and celebrating the memory of Gamble Rogers. Early Bird tickets for the 31st Annual Festival will go on sale mid-December.
Dom Flemons & The Traveling Wildfires
Grammy Award-winner, American Songster, and American Banjo Hall of Fame inductee Dom Flemons, will be joined by his dynamic supergroup, The Traveling Wildfires. Formed as an evolution of Flemons' lifelong mission to celebrate, preserve, and reimagine roots music, The Traveling Wildfires draw inspiration from his GRAMMY-nominated Folkways albums Black Cowboys and Traveling Wildfire. The group features a talented lineup: Brian Farrow (bass, fiddle; formerly Gangstagrass) and Dante Pope (vocals, drums; formerly Old Crow Medicine Show). Together, they deliver a fiery, fresh sound rooted in bluegrass, country, folk, blues, and Black stringband music.
Verlon Thompson
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.
Alexa Rose
Gamble Rogers Folk Fest welcomes acclaimed singer-songwriter Alexa Rose, praised by NPR Music as "An enchanting new Appalachian voice...sounds like the soul child of Bob Dylan and Dolly Parton." Raised in western Virginia, Rose was inspired by stories of her great-grandfather, who once lived and played with bluegrass legend Lester Flatt. Her 2019 debut Medicine For Living garnered widespread attention when the title track won Merlefest's Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. Rose's 2021 album Headwaters earned national acclaim from American Songwriter and Rolling Stone. Blending old country, traditional folk, rock, and mountain soul, Rose delivers earnest, well-crafted stylings.
Ed Snodderly
Joining the lineup is veteran songwriter and performer, Ed Snodderly AKA Es Pearl. 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.
Red and Christopher Henry & Their All-Star Band
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.
These artists represent just the beginning of what promises to be an unforgettable 2026 festival.
More performer announcements are coming soon!
Just in time for the holidays, Early Bird tickets for the 31st Annual Festival will go on sale mid-December!
With this initial musician announcement, the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival celebrates the festival's namesake, the beloved Florida troubadour Gamble Rogers, whose legacy continues to inspire generations of musicians, storytellers, and folk enthusiasts.
Apply to Perform
If you are 21 or under and play an instrument and/or sing as a solo or in a group and would like to perform on the YoungFolk Stage at next year's festival, apply today!
Are you a vendor interested in selling at next year's festival? Apply today!
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.
