Greensboro, NC- EMFfringe series presents three unprecedented performances rooted in the bluegrass genre with allusions to old blues, swing and rock ‘n roll, during its fourth week of concerts. The first of these will feature San Francisco natives The Waybacks on Thursday, July 23, 2009. The show will be followed by an After Party at Rim Tapas and Fine Wine Bar (219 South Elm Street, Greensboro, NC) featuring musical guest Salter Path. This Greensboro performance by The Waybacks is sponsored by YES! Weekly. With just a few tickets remaining, this show will be sold out. A return engagement for this four-piece group that sold out in 2008, but no two shows are ever the same. Hailing from the San Francisco Bay area, The Waybacks are an uninhibited, unpredictable, and eclectic band. Their full arsenal of acoustic and electric instruments is infused with bluegrass, Memphis soul, honky-tonk, Parisian swing, classical music, vintage blues pop, and much more. You may know them from their tour days with Grateful Dead founder Bob Weir. www.waybacks.com Scheduled the next evening, Friday, July 24, 2009, The Larry McCray Band will share on stage its soulful style and popular sound. This concert, in collaboration with the Piedmont Blues Preservation Society, brings the 2006 Gibson Artist of the Year for a rare Greensboro performance. An After Party featuring Bill West will take place at Triad Stage with food provided by Ganache. EMF encourages ticket buyers to purchase their tickets early for this show. Named 2006 Gibson Artist of the Year, Larry McCray is one of a handful of talented young blues performers leading the genre across boundaries and into the new century. McCray's savage blues-rock guitar and warm, soulful vocals have drawn attention worldwide. He has performed with Dickey Betts, The Allman Brothers Band, Warren Haynes, and Gov't Mule. www.larrymccrayband.com Expected to be another sold-out evening of great music, the innovative John Cowan Band will culminate this musical trilogy on Saturday, July 25, 2009 with a subsequent celebration at Churchill's on Elm (213 South Elm Street, Greensboro, NC). Local singer, songwriter and playwright, Laurelyn Dossett of Polecat Creek, will perform as the opening act this evening. Bluegrass, Newgrass, Rock N' Rollgrass. True innovators defy easy categorization and John Cowan is the ultimate innovator. His ability to move easily between music styles and blend and bend genres into creative new forms has made him one of the most significant voices in acoustic music over the past thirty years. Cowan rose to fame as the lead singer for New Grass Revival with his band mates Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, and Pat Flynn. www.johncowanband.com All shows will take place at 8pm in Triad Stage (232 South Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27401). Thursday’s and Friday’s tickets may be purchased for $22 and Saturday’s for $27 by calling the EMF Box Office at Triad Stage at 336.272.0160 or 866-579-TIXX, or online at www.EasternMusicFestival.org. EMFfringe ticketholders get free admission by showing their ticket stub. Special thanks to Series sponsor Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro for their generous support of EMFfringe.