Published November 8, 2021
Sammy Shelor performed a set of unique selection of country, bluegrass and fusion tunes at Hardywood Brewery in Richmond with our friends from JAMinc. on December 2, 2021.
In addition to being a longtime friend and collaborator of the Virginia Folklife Program, Sammy has been performing with bluegrass bands Heights of Grass and the Virginia Squires, as well as leading the Lonesome River Band and winning the Steve Martin Banjo Prize ten years ago. Sammy also apprenticed Ashley Nale in the Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program.
Sammy performed with with Jesse Smathers, Barry Collins and Rod Riley on the Telecaster, they’re calling it “Telegrass.”
Photos by Pat Jarrett below.
Sammy Shelor performed a set of country, bluegrass and a fusion of acoustic and electric instruments he called “Telegrass” at a live show at Hardywood Brewery in Richmond on Thursday, 12/2/21. The band features Barry Collins on bass, Jesse Smathers on guitar and vocals, Rod Riley on Telecaster and Sammy Shelor on banjo and vocals. Photo by Pat Jarrett/Virginia Humanities 
Sammy Shelor performed a set of country, bluegrass and a fusion of acoustic and electric instruments he called “Telegrass” at a live show at Hardywood Brewery in Richmond on Thursday, 12/2/21. The band features Barry Collins on bass, Jesse Smathers on guitar and vocals, Rod Riley on Telecaster and Sammy Shelor on banjo and vocals. Photo by Pat Jarrett/Virginia Humanities 
Sammy Shelor performed a set of country, bluegrass and a fusion of acoustic and electric instruments he called “Telegrass” at a live show at Hardywood Brewery in Richmond on Thursday, 12/2/21. The band features Barry Collins on bass, Jesse Smathers on guitar and vocals, Rod Riley on Telecaster and Sammy Shelor on banjo and vocals. Photo by Pat Jarrett/Virginia Humanities 
Sammy Shelor performed a set of country, bluegrass and a fusion of acoustic and electric instruments he called “Telegrass” at a live show at Hardywood Brewery in Richmond on Thursday, 12/2/21. The band features Barry Collins on bass, Jesse Smathers on guitar and vocals, Rod Riley on Telecaster and Sammy Shelor on banjo and vocals. Photo by Pat Jarrett/Virginia Humanities 
Sammy Shelor performed a set of country, bluegrass and a fusion of acoustic and electric instruments he called “Telegrass” at a live show at Hardywood Brewery in Richmond on Thursday, 12/2/21. The band features Barry Collins on bass, Jesse Smathers on guitar and vocals, Rod Riley on Telecaster and Sammy Shelor on banjo and vocals. Photo by Pat Jarrett/Virginia Humanities 
Sammy Shelor performed a set of country, bluegrass and a fusion of acoustic and electric instruments he called “Telegrass” at a live show at Hardywood Brewery in Richmond on Thursday, 12/2/21. The band features Barry Collins on bass, Jesse Smathers on guitar and vocals, Rod Riley on Telecaster and Sammy Shelor on banjo and vocals. Photo by Pat Jarrett/Virginia Humanities 
Sammy Shelor performed a set of country, bluegrass and a fusion of acoustic and electric instruments he called “Telegrass” at a live show at Hardywood Brewery in Richmond on Thursday, 12/2/21. The band features Barry Collins on bass, Jesse Smathers on guitar and vocals, Rod Riley on Telecaster and Sammy Shelor on banjo and vocals. Photo by Pat Jarrett/Virginia Humanities
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