Saturday, July 4, 2009 - 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM - OUT AMONG THE STARS 10th annual bluegrass festival Benton Rodeo Grounds Rt 487 & Mendenhall Lane, Benton, Pennsylvania 908-464-9495www.oatsfestival.com for more information.

DAVID VIA

*CoWinner in Mountain Stage NewSong Songwriting contest (competition in October 2009)
* 1stplace, 2001 Merlefest Chris Austin Songwriter’s award with the song “Pawn Shops & Wedding Rings”;
* 2nd place, 2000 Merlefest Chris Austin Songwriter’s award with the song “Virginia Ground”;
* 1st place, 1997 Merlefest Chris Austin Songwriter’s award with the song “Never Hear the Call”;
                                            * Wrote the hit, “Left this Country Boy
(Sittin’ all Alone)”: chosen as one of the Decade’s Top 200 Bluegrass Songs; top ten of the IBMA bluegrass chart and “One Life”, another chart-topper on the Americana and Bluegrass charts.

David Via’s songs come from being raised and living up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Patrick County, Virginia. Via (as most folks call him – that’s pronounced Vi and rhymes with sky) is a well-known figure in bluegrass/newgrass circles, and with twenty-some odd years of singing and songwriting, he’s made a lot of pickin’ buddies along the way. He started his performing career in church when he was three years old. He picked up on the guitar early and in college began playing the blues from coast to coast. Returning home after college, Via’s long-time friend Tommy Morse brought him back to an appreciation for the home tradition – the bluegrass and old time music Via had heard his uncles play when he was a boy. Via and Morse performed with The Bluegrass Buddies and played many well-known bluegrass festivals with members David Via, Alan Bibey, Tommy Morse and Ronnie Bowman. It was then that Via started playing the mandolin and since then he has won numerous pickin’ championships. Over the years, Via has played in a lot of lineups and with a lot of great pickers including Curtis Burch (co-founder of New Grass Revival), Tony Rice, Wyatt Rice, Vassar Clements, Tommy Morse, Tim Jefferson, Pete Ross, Leftover Salmon, Larry Keel. He has toured with Larry and Jennny Keel and Curtis Burch and he pulled together with Woody Wood and Paul Leech, The Via & Woody Show. He has also teamed up with longtime friends who spin the Corn Tornado. David Via & Corn Tornado features Daniel Knicely , John Flower and Curtis Burch. Other frequent guests have included “Fiddly Dave” Van Deventer , Woody Wood, Tommy Morse, David Knicely and Donica Christensen . Via & Corn Tornado released 2 cds, It All Comes Down to a Song and In a Holler on a Mountain. Via and Curtis Burch tour frequently as a duo.

Whoever he performs with, it is designed to highly complement Via’s songs, singing and mandolin with tight pickin’ and harmony vocals.

David Via's newest release and third complete studio album is All Night Long which features his award-winning songwriting and powerful, soulful vocals supported by an all-star cast of 'Bluegrass Buddies.' All Night Long features the picking of some of the most exciting talent in the bluegrass world today, including: Dan Tyminski, Tim O'Brien, Rob McCoury, Sammy Shelor, Ronnie Bowman, Curtis Burch, Randy Kohrs, Jimmy Van Cleve, Wyatt Rice, Alan Bibey, Nate Leath, Bill Cardine, Garnet Imes Bowman, Dennis Crouch, Craig Market, Vince Hermon, John Flower, Tommy Morse, Paul Leech, & Woody Wood!

Via was recently chosen as a finalist in the Mountain Stage new song competition: http://www.newsongfestival.com Via is no stranger to songwriting competitions as a 3-time winner of the MerleFest Songwriter's Award. Via and Corn Tornado were chosen by BMI, ASCAP, Sony Records, TNN, & the Nashville Entertainment Association as one of the TOP 20 UNSIGNED BANDS IN AMERICA. "Blues-grass," Americana, Roots, "Y'all-ternative," ­ whatever you want to call it, Via's music is a hot, soulful, and eclectic acoustic mix of bluegrass, jazz, blues and funk.