The Littest Birds will kick-off this years festival with a performance at the TROUT TOWN JAMBOREE (Thursday). Come on down to the Trout Town Main Stage on Thursday, July 28, 2011 (Noon to 4:30).

The Littlest Birds come from right here in the Eastern Sierra of California. A land of big mountains, vast deserts, and small towns spread along a single highway. They play original and traditional folk music inspired by this wild landscape. You'll be surprised by the warmth and depth of sound created by the cello and banjo arrangement, which provides the perfect foundation for their smooth vocal harmonies.

Having recently completed a 10 state tour of the West, they are already booking a visit to the East for Fall 2011. They will be releasing their second album in advance of the tour. You can find their debut album through all the major online retailers, and soon it will be streaming on Pandora.

David Huebner, cello - David spent his entire childhood studying classical cello, beginning at the age of 7. In 8th grade he was accepted to Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences on a music scholarship. Years of music competitions, performing in and with orchestras (youngest member of The Debut Orchestra) and chamber groups, a trip to perform at The White House with the Crossroads Chamber Orchestra, and even being principal cellist for two Disney Channel TV broadcasts of the Disney Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra, one of which was at the Hollywood Bowl. The accolades piled up and weighed down on him until, at the age of 17, and considered one of the best cellists for his age, he gave it up entirely to pursue a life in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada of California. He has a rebellious spirit to say the least.

Sharon Martinson, banjo - Hailing from the mountains of Wyoming, Sharon has over 20 years of classical performances and competitions on the French horn under her belt. No one would suspect that a gift from her grandfather would twist her musical path. The old banjo sat for years under her bed in a cardboard box while she pursued her graduate degree. It wasn’t until the last year of her PhD that she heard clawhammer banjo (thank you Bruce Molskey) and was inspired to pick up the instrument and start teaching herself a few songs. At the suggestion of Ken Perlman, she met with Carolyn Parrot in NH and began to learn frailing techniques and old-time tunes.