Hickory Project (USA)

"The Hickory Project has some of the best musicians in bluegrass today. Award winning mandolin player, Anthony Hannigan and Florida fiddle champion, Sue Cunningham, put together a group of band members fused by excellence. The music, the arrangements, the original selections will delight any music lover.

You'll make a wise choice when you book the Hickory Project. Just have your audiences sit back and enjoy!"

What started as a routine experiment has turned into a revolutionary project, henceforth known as The Hickory Project. The band features hard–driving traditional and original bluegrass with the expert licks of 1999 National Mandolin Champion Anthony Hannigan and Florida Fiddle Champion Sue Cunningham providing the foundation for an outstanding performance.

The Hickory Project has now produced 1 DVD and 6 CDs under their own label, Hickory Productions. The Hickory Project has captured that youthful/soul-felt hunger to please their audiences worldwide. Whether it is straight-forward traditional or a flare for the new realm in acoustic music, the Hickory Project is gaining ground “Linking Old and New in Acoustic Music”

Who are they?

Sue Cunningham (vocals, fiddle) is the four-time Florida Bluegrass Fiddle Champion and has been involved with music since she could hold a spoon. A founder of the Flying Cunninghams from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, an 8-year member of the South Ocean String Band, and a former member of the White Sands Panhandle Band, both from Florida, Sue has gained national recognition as a fiddler. Sue has co-written many of the Hickory Project’s songs. With her expert fiddling and outstanding vocals, she is a bona fide guarantee to bring audiences to their feet during a performance.

David Cavage (banjo, vocals) resides in Carbondale, Pennsylvania and Okeechobee, Florida. Dave has been a member of many bands, including The Roots of Bluegrass, Appalachian Mountain Boys, and was a co-founder of the Blue Merles. Dave is also an avid pilot and often flies himself to his performances. His banjo style has been called a work of brilliance and his influences include Tony Trischka, Allison Brown, Bela Fleck, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis. Whether it is soaring in the air, or flying on the neck, Dave is a master by all means.

Steve Belcher (acoustic bass) born in Liverpool, England and now makes his home in north-central Pennsylvania. Steve began his music involvement playing drums, which drove his passion for rhythm. Playing the bass was a natural evolution from this start. He is a co-founder of the Blue Merles and Burnt Toast. Steve has toured the US, Canada and Europe with the Shankman Twins and Burnt Toast. He has also performed with many nationally acclaimed artists. Steve is the foundation for which the Project grows.

Billy Gilmore (guitar, vocals) is from Stuart, Florida. Billy got the urge to play music at an early age. By the time he was seven he was playing the five string banjo. In no time his passion for music was intensified and he decided to pick up the guitar and soon after the mandolin and fiddle.Billy has performed and was an active member with many bands, The Grass is Dead, Stonehouse, Crazy Fingers, Palms Bluegrass Band, Almost Acoustic Band and The Gilmore Family Band. Billy is the newest member to HP and good things are in the forecast for sure.

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not on this European tour:

Anthony Hannigan (mandolin, vocals) is the 1999 National Mandolin Champion and has been playing bluegrass music from the age of four. Anthony has been involved with many recording projects and major artists for years. He is accomplished on the banjo, guitar, and fiddle as well as the mandolin and is the inspiration and writer of most of the band’s original music. He is the founder of the Blue Merles, which took first place in the 1997 Winterhawk band competition. Whether it is creating tunes, or performing with the band, Anthony will leave an impression lasting long after the performance is over.

Danny Shipe (guitar, vocals) began singing and playing acoustic guitar in the mid 70's. His bluegrass roots began in 1980 when he helped to form the band North Fork Alliance with whom he played for 14 years. In 1990 he co-founded the eclectic bluegrass band Burnt Toast. Singers as diverse as Peter Rowan, Nancy Griffith, Stan Rogers and John Starling have inspired his unique vocal style. Over the past 20 years he has performed at festivals and concerts throughout the US, Ireland, Scotland and England. His solid hard driving rhythm helps form the core of the band's tight sound.