Returning headliner from 2022 and 2023, Bil will continue to regale us with his unique antics, family-friendly tall tales, and stories that have earned the appreciation of listeners of all ages and from all walks of life. Though he is a five-time champion of the West Virginia Liars Contest, his stories often contain morsels of truth, which present universal themes in clever and witty ways. Bil’s amusing tales and insights into everyday life have delighted audiences across the country, from grade schools to corporate executives to Comedy Central’s Hudson stage.

Designated an American Masterpiece Touring Artist by the NEA, Elizabeth Ellis grew up in the Appalachian Mountains hearing stories from her grandfather, a mountain minister. The “Divine Miss E” is a versatile and riveting teller of Appalachian and Texas tales and stories of heroic American women, though her personal stories are arguably her best. An award-winning author, she is a recipient of the John Henry Faulk Award from the Tejas Storytelling Association, and the National Storytelling Network ORACLE Circle of Excellence and Lifetime Achievement Awards.

A nationally recognized and award-winning fourth-generation storyteller, author and educator, Lyn Ford shares folktale adaptations, spooky tales, and original stories rooted in her family’s multicultural African American Appalachian (Affrilachian) heritage. Ford’s “Home-Fried Tales” are seasoned with rhythm, rhyme, audience interaction, humor, and heart. Lyn is a teaching artist with the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education, a workshop facilitator for the Ohio-based collaborative initiative of the Kennedy Center, and a Thurber House mentor for young authors. She is also an award-winning author and a two-time recipient of the National Storytelling Network ORACLE Circle of Excellence Award.

Growing up in Madison County, North Carolina, Josh Goforth was surrounded by the music and stories of his ancestors. He went to East Tennessee State University to study music education and to be a part of ETSU’s famous Bluegrass and Country Music Program. Today he is a highly accomplished storyteller and acoustic musician playing close to 20 different instruments. Josh has performed in all 50 states, throughout Europe, Asia, and Australia and gracing such stages as the Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Grand Ole Opry. He was nominated for a Grammy for his 2009 release with David Holt, entitled Cutting Loose. He currently is on faculty at the Academy for the Arts in Asheville and performs all over the world.

There is no one-word description for what Don White does. He has survived and thrived for more than twenty years, bringing his audiences to laughter and tears in his live performances, studio recordings, and on the printed page. He is a storyteller-comedian-author-troubadour-folk singer-songwriter. He is a walking challenge to the phrase “file under.” Best to just sort him under “Don White.” “If it were up to me – the whole world would know Don White! Oh boy do I love Don – I always have. No one can bring you to such beautiful emotional extremes more than Don. His shows are like a dirty fix and a saving grace all within a few minutes. I think watching him perform is when I decided I’d much rather affect an audience than entertain them – I knew I probably couldn’t do both – but somehow Don does. And exceptionally well.” – Lori McKenna, award winning singer/songwriter

Imagining herself as a river, fed by many streams: Lakota, Apache, and Scot Traveler ancestry, urban Chicago, rural Texas and international travels, the Internet and Indigenous elders, family teachings, kitchen table wisdom, and university classrooms — Dovie Thomason draws on those contrasts and cultures in her work. Conveying these stories respectfully and responsibly has made her one of the most respected and admired storytellers of her generation. When she adds personal stories and untold histories, the result is a contemporary narrative of Indigenous history and identity in North America told with elegance, wit, and passion. Dovie has been featured at the Kennedy Center, National Museum of the American Indian, the Smithsonian, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and festivals around the world. She is a recipient of the National Storytelling Network’s Circle of Excellence award and the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers’ Traditional Storyteller Award.