The Burnett Sisters Band
- “A unique blend of traditionally rooted music, influenced by bluegrass and classic country music greats alike”
– The Bluegrass Standard
The Burnett Sisters Band is one of those rare groups with the ability to endear themselves to a wide range of music lovers with a breadth of styles including bluegrass, old-time, folk, swing, jazz and country, playing them all with aplomb.
Hailing from Boone, North Carolina, siblings Anissa, Sophia, and Anneli grew up competing in fiddle competitions and forming a band when the youngest was six years old. They earned their bluegrass cred by winning the prestigious MerleFest Band Competition in 2022 before emerging with bandmates Justin Alexander (Sweetwater, TN) and Geary Allen (London, England) to become one of the most appealing groups we’ve heard in a long while. The band garnered multiple wins at the 2024 Galax Old Fiddlers Convention where Anissa took top honours for old-time fiddle, Anneli first place in folk vocals, Geary in the top 10 in guitar and the band placing in the top 10 under the name Roadkill Roadrunners.
Their music is delivered with a vocal harmony that only siblings can achieve. Lending strong support are Geary and Justin, both accomplished players dedicated to their craft. Several band members are associated with Department of Appalachian Studies at East Tennessee State University, the only institution to devote an entire academic department to Appalachian Studies.
Anissa (banjo and fiddle), Sophia (bass), Anneli (mandolin and fiddle), Justin (banjo) and Geary (guitar) are with us all three days of the festival, fresh off a tour of the British Isles.