Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

Although he is only in his early forties, Grammy winner Michael Cleveland has a lifetime of accolades to his credit. Cleveland picked up the fiddle at age four. By the time he was nine, he was sitting in with legend Bill Monroe at the Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival. Soon after, he brought his virtuosic style to the Grand Ole Opry as a guest of Alison Krauss. Also, he was handpicked for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Bluegrass Youth All-Stars before he was fourteen.

His blistering prowess and technical fluency have made him an in-demand musician. He has performed with the likes of Vince Gill, Marty Stuart, Tim O’Brien, J. D. Crowe and the New South, Andy Statman, and the Kruger Brothers in recent years. Cleveland formed his own band, Flamekeeper, in 2006 and hasn’t rested since. He’s constantly looking for new ways to push himself and his music forward.

Cleveland boasts twelve Fiddle Player of the Year awards and numerous Grammy nominations. Inducted into the National Fiddler’s Hall of Fame in 2018, he received the National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship in 2022.

His albums, notably Fiddler’s Dream and Tall Fiddler, garnered critical acclaim and Grammy recognition. The documentary Flamekeeper: The Michael Cleveland Story, released in 2019, illuminated his extraordinary journey. His latest album, Lovin’ of the Game, epitomizes his collaborative spirit and commitment to authentic music.

Recommended for Fans of Béla Fleck, Mark O’Connor, Alison Krauss and Sam Bush.