GIBSON DAVIS

Gibson has grown up deeply immersed in bluegrass. He is a fourth generation musician who started out on banjo when he was eight, taught by his grandfather, Danny Davis, who played with The Davis Brothers in West Virginia. That group also included his great grandfather, Elize, and his great uncle, Wes. His dad, Chris Davis, is mandolinist and vocalist with Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, and Gibson had been able to spend time on the road with his dad throughout his teen years to get a taste of the road life. He is a true scholar of the music for such a tender age and has chops that captivate crowds everywhere.

 

HENRY BURGESS

17-year-old mandolin virtuoso, Henry Burgess. Hailing from Guthrie, Oklahoma, Henry brings a wealth of talent, youthful drive and a full roster to the band’s 4 piece touring configuration.  A “head-turner” in the world of mandolin, Henry Burgess has honed his craft under the tutelage of the renowned bluegrass fiddling legend and "Bluegrass Boy", Byron Berline. His dedication to mastering the mandolin has not gone unnoticed, and his skills are a testament to his commitment to excellence. Henry Burgess's presence is already making waves in the music scene, and his Oklahoma inspired solos are a sight to behold. With a bright future ahead of him, we are excited to see Henry flourish in his new role with the Rick Faris Band.

Maddie Dalton

Maddie has been surrounded by music her entire life. Originally from southwest Missouri, she grew up learning and playing music across Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma. She began with classical violin, later discovered her passion for fiddle and the contest scene, and eventually found her true groove with bass in bluegrass.
Though she’s been playing music all her life, Maddie began touring professionally in 2023. Since then, she has been Grammy-nominated and recognized with awards such as the 2023 IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year and the 2025 SPBGMA Bass Player of the Year.
Music is Maddie’s greatest love, and getting to tour and create music with wonderful people is her lifelong dream come true.

RICK FARIS

Rick Faris was born to play music.

Most kids learn to fish or hunt from their dad. Rick learned G-runs, fiddle tunes and musical insights from his.

Rick's father(Bob) was a touring musician that rendered Bluegrass in the Ozarks, swung wide in western swing bands in dance halls and even played with legends like Reba McIntyre on Hee Haw, Nashville Now and the Grand Ole Opry. Rick’s love for music is one that can only be carefully cultivated when conditions are right and the stars just align. Rick says, “I didn’t know anyone who didn’t play or at least have an instrument in their house until I was 5.” The family of a humble musician’s means didn’t have a radio in the car so the 4 Faris boys spent the 9-hour trips up to grandma’s house singing and entertaining each other.

The four brother plus mom and dad made up the award winning Faris Family Bluegrass Band. They played festivals, taught Bluegrass in the Schools programs and shared real connections for the 12 years they toured professionally. After the family decided to stop touring, Rick was looking for a new full-time gig. He got his first break when the Bluegrass stalwart, Greg Cahill, called and asked him to audition for Special Consensus. The job was to be transformative for Faris because Greg hired him to play mandolin rather than the guitar he had been honing since he was a child. With 5 weeks to learn the mandolin and win the audition, Rick Faris stepped into the next stage of his career. After 6 years, 1 Grammy-Nomination and 2 IBMA Awards he switched back home to guitar and the band picked up another 3 IBMA Awards and a 2nd Grammy-Nomination. Rick spent a total of 11 years with the globetrotting Special Consensus. Under Greg Cahill he learned the meaning of professionalism and giving back to the Bluegrass community . 

Rick’s strong desire to shine out with a genuine connection to the fans and players on stage caught Stephen Mougin’s attention. His label, Dark Shadow Recording, signed Rick Faris on as a solo artist in September of 2018. Rick started writing songs and selecting the right personnel that could handle anything.  With watertight harmony singers and mind-blowing pickers, Rick set out to show the world what his brand of Bluegrass sounds like. 

The first single, the blazing-fast title track written by Rick, “Breaking In Lonesome”, was released in March of 2019. It debuted at #2 on the Bluegrass Today Charts only to climb to #1 the next week.  The album and its tracks are still appearing on the charts. Rick’s album, "Breaking In Lonesome", was ranked #6 in the Top 12 Albums of 2019 by Bluegrass Today only a month after the albums official release in November. 

“Rick Faris has constantly wowed me with his powerful vocals and virtuoso mandolin and guitar playing…I immediately noticed he is a great singer live…In short, I thought of the guy as the vanguard of younger musicians who are carrying Bluegrass forward…Bluegrass music might be entering its 9th decade, but Breaking in Lonesome proves it's more vital than ever, and this project is a perfect showcase for one of its truly bright lights. "  - Tim Stafford of Blue Highway

in early 2021 Rick stepped away from his musical comrades the Special Consensus to start his own Rick Faris Band. Rick's 2nd release on Dark Shadow Recording "The Next Mountain" released mid 2021 hitting the charts with the silver bullet of a song “Deep River” hitting #1 in it's Second week! The album "The Next Mountain" spent 17 months in the top 5 slots on the album charts and hit #1 on the Contemporary Bluegrass Album Chart for the last time during the 18th month. It seemed a heralding of the IBMA Nominations and Awards to come…Rick was awarded the "New Artist of the Year" award at the 2022 International Bluegrass Music Association's Awards and was Nominated for “Album of the Year" and “Song of the Year” for the song “Deep River”!

Rick's next album “Uncommon Sky” opened with the first single being a cover of the Huey Lewis and the News hit “Power of Love” turning heads and garnering two more nominations at the 2023 IBMA Awards for “Song of the Year” and Rick for the first time was Nominated for the “Songwriter of the Year” IBMA Industry Awards

Rick has recently moved to Owensboro, Kentucky, to nourish his new band career and to start his guitar making business the Faris Guitar Co. LLC. It is a main pillar of the Bluegrass Music Initiative in Owensboro at the brand new Kentucky Guitar Works (Center for Lutherie) shop in the “Bluegrass Music Capitol of the World”! This puts Rick in the heart of the bluegrass music that has shaped his life and career choices.

The newest album “Life’s Parade” is a snapshot of Rick’s wants and hope for his fellow man. There songs about hope, grief, loss and triumph through adversity and growth after challenging times. Sit down and give “Life’s Parade” a listen and go down the “Rabbit Hole”.