Tribute to Herschel Sizemore ft. Alan Bibey & Grasstowne & New Standard

Alan Bibey & Grasstowne is comprised of very well respected veterans of bluegrass music, as well as some of the finest young musicians in the industry. This combination together makes Alan Bibey & Grasstowne one of the hottest and most energetic bands touring today! Their latest project Hitchhiking to California has topped single and album charts, with the title cut earning a nomination for the 2021 IBMA Song of the Year. Band leader, Alan Bibey, is a multi-award winning and Grammy nominated artist known for his exceptional mandolin mastery. Joined by two-time SPBGMA Bass Player of the Year, Zak McLamb, one of the most highly respected banjo players in bluegrass, Justin Jenkins, flat picker and rhythm guitarist, Jeff Huffman and Kati Penn, well known as one of the greatest voices and fiddle players in Bluegrass. Grasstowne has an ever-growing string of hit singles and albums and Hitchhiking to California continues the tradition.

New Standard brings together a variety of styles and influences ranging from traditional music to contemporary bluegrass and gospel artists. The band was founded in October, 2011 by Zach Brown, Spencer Blankenship, and Mason Thomas - all students at Virginia Tech at the time. Shortly after, Stewart Scales joined the group playing bass and the band began performing at local restaurants in the New River Valley. Robert Overstreet was added on banjo in 2018, and the band continues to expand its performance horizons up and down the Blue Ridge today.
Spencer Blankenship studied mandolin with Herschel Sizemore for many years and carries Herschel’s mandolin style forward through his work with New Standard.