Bio
Bluegrass Roots from Deep Gap, NC
Characterized by No Depression as “the future of bluegrass”, Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road twine innovation, tradition, and excellence into a unique musical experience. Though only in his 23rd year, North Carolina’s Liam Purcell has already established a name for himself in the world of American Stringband music. Growing up less than a mile away from the legendary guitarist Doc Watson, Purcell was steeped in Appalachian Old-Time and Bluegrass traditions from an early age. Taking inspiration from the local Deep Gap legacy, Liam began writing, performing, and storytelling from an early age.
Entering the professional bluegrass circuit during his teenage years, Purcell formed the stringband-supergroup Cane Mill Road. He would go on to lead the virtuosic ensemble through regional appearances, building a fanbase across the Southeast and bringing his homespun rapport to some of the most revered festivals in the scene. By the time Purcell was 17, the project had seen multiple entries on the Billboard Top 10 Bluegrass charts, performed in 25 states, and was recognized by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2019 as the recipient of their Momentum Band of the Year Award.
New paths emerged for Liam in 2020 when he was accepted to attend Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA) on a full scholarship. However, plans quickly ground to a halt with the onset of a global pandemic. Using this time to write and record, Purcell began his studies remotely while multi-tracking a 10-song album released as “Roots” later that year. This independent project led to a widely anticipated tour and a recording contract with Pinecastle Records over the following years.
Departing his native Appalachia, Purcell took up residence in Boston while attending Berklee, following in the footsteps of Molly Tuttle, Infamous Stringdusters, Sierra Hull, Crooked Still, and many others who came out of the College’s famed American Roots Program. Despite the rigorous course of study, Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road performed over 80 dates per year around an academic schedule. In 2022, Purcell shook the bluegrass world by sweeping the Rockygrass Instrumental Championships in Colorado, taking home first place honors on mandolin, banjo, and guitar. He is the only person to ever achieve a simultaneous victory in multiple championships.
Recording their latest album “Yellow Line”, Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road dug deep into the writing and arranging facets of creativity. Purcell described the responsibility of carrying on a living tradition; “It was very important to me that I began this project the way I had learned from my heroes. Just us, telling stories in songs, building on the rich and diverse folk culture I had grown up in. However, I couldn’t simply leave it there. Everyone I’ve ever looked up to as an entertainer, Doc in particular, had never acknowledged boundaries between genre, style, origin, or influence. While I cared deeply about honoring the Appalachian Stringband music I loved, I also have my own songs inside, my own feelings to express, and my own innovations to contribute.”
Finishing his degree in String Performance, Purcell graduated from Berklee in May of 2024, promptly hitting the road for over two months of heavy touring. Relocating to Nashville, Tennessee, Liam maintains his Deep Gap roots, watering them on stage each night in front of new audiences, as if to transport listeners beyond the lights and curtains, to a front porch up in the mountains where the journey all began.
Zack Vickers (a.k.a "Pookie")
Banjo
Zack Vickers is a dynamic banjo player originally from the mountains of North Georgia, now based in Johnson City, Tennessee. He began studying piano at age 4 before picking up the banjo, guitar, and bass, and ultimately graduating from East Tennessee State University with degrees in Old‑Time, bluegrass, country music, and computer science. Since graduating, Zack has been a prolific musician both on the road and in studio sessions.
Zack’s artistry was formally recognized when he was named a Gold Tone endorsed artist and presented with the Mastertone™ “Bluegrass Heart” Béla Fleck Signature Banjo. Beyond his work with Cane Mill Road, Zack previously showcased his talents touring with the Dave Adkins Band, further cementing his reputation as a versatile and impactful performer. With a blend of technical mastery, heartfelt resonance, and a growing list of accolades, Zack Vickers continues to make his mark on the bluegrass and folk music scenes.
Devin Jones (a.k.a. "Virginia Slim")
Guitar/Mandolin
Devin Jones is a rising star in the bluegrass guitar world, originally from King George County, Virginia. He began playing guitar in middle school and, by age 14, immersed himself in bluegrass, practicing relentlessly and developing his flatpicking skills. Under the mentorship of renowned picker Bryan Sutton—first through Sutton’s ArtistWorks online series and later at Bryan’s Blue Ridge Guitar Camp—Jones honed his craft and even performed alongside Sutton and Chris Eldridge at the NC Guitar Celebration Concert In the spring of 2024, his dedication earned him the prestigious Fletcher Bright Scholarship at Berklee College of Music, awarded to only two American Roots students.
Ari Silver (a.k.a "The Silver Bullet")
Guitar
Ari Silver is a Midwest‑bred bluegrass guitarist, mandolinist, and vocalist who is quickly making a name for himself in the Americana and roots music circuits. Hailing from River Falls, Wisconsin, he grew up deeply immersed in bluegrass and folk, often accompanying his father at festivals and jam sessions—a rich foundation that led him to form The Silver River Band during his teenage years. With the quintet, Ari showcased his flat-picking prowess and dynamic lead vocals, captivating festival audiences across the Upper Midwest with vibrant, grass.
Ari graduated from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, majoring in Bluegrass, Old‑Time, and Roots Music. He joined Grammy‑nominated bluegrass singer-songwriter Dave Adkins and his band from 2022-2024, bringing his signature guitar flair, soulful mandolin work, and standout vocals to their live shows and recent recordings
Alongside touring and session work, Ari has started making waves as a solo performer and collaborator— leading the country/rock band Tennessee Lightning.
Teddy Kent (a.k.a. "Pteddy")
Bass
Teddy Kent is an accomplished upright bassist known for his dynamic presence in the contemporary bluegrass and progressive acoustic scenes. A student at Berklee College of Music, he grew up playing with members of The Mountain Grass Unit during his formative years. Drawing inspiration from those early collaborations, he later founded Cahaba Roots—a Boston-based group formed during his time at Berklee—as a creative offshoot focused on producing high-quality video content of innovative acoustic arrangements and genre-blending covers. Originally connected to Birmingham, Alabama, the group reflects Teddy’s Southern musical roots while embracing a broader artistic vision.
In addition to his performance work, Teddy is an active freelance audio engineer and video producer, contributing behind the scenes as well as on stage. Whether engineering sessions, producing live videos in Boston, or performing in a wide range of genres—Teddy brings clarity, propulsion, and creative versatility to every setting.