Authentic bluegrass music, Northeast Tennessee - Est. 1984
Authentic bluegrass music, Northeast Tennessee - Est. 1984
Ashley Davis-White fiddle, vocals
Ashley grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where her love for Bluegrass music began at an early age. Encouraged by her parents to pursue music, she learned piano and guitar as a child before teaching herself fiddle at age 13 under the mentorship of Les Sandy, former member of Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys. By 15, Ashley was performing with local bluegrass bands and later played with groups including The Parsons Band, Sweet Potato Pie, Kristi Stanley & Running Blind, and The Fiddle Scene.
In 2007, Ashley recorded her first solo album, Fiddlin’ with Les, honoring her longtime mentor. After moving to Johnson City, Tennessee, she earned a BBA in Marketing from East Tennessee State University in 2017. Today, Ashley enjoys teaching fiddle lessons, performing with Appalachian Trail, and spending time with her husband, Murphy, and son, Finley.
Shane Austin guitar, vocals
Shane Austin, the son of Tommy and Vickie Austin, began taking guitar lessons from GC Matlock at age 13. While earning the rank of Eagle Scout at fifteen, he sang all 4 years at Daniel Boone High School in the "Reflections" acapella group. Since the fall of 2022, Shane has attended ETSU. He had the opportunity to take further lessons from Wyatt Rice, and has been involved in numerous vocal ensembles and student bluegrass bands. He has since been awarded a full-tuition Honors scholarship, the Powell Choral Scholarship, and several others. Shane joins Appalachian Trail on guitar and vocals.
Ashley Davis-White fiddle, vocals
Ashley grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where her love for Bluegrass music began at an early age. Encouraged by her parents to pursue music, she learned piano and guitar as a child before teaching herself fiddle at age 13 under the mentorship of Les Sandy, former member of Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys. By 15, Ashley was performing with local bluegrass bands and later played with groups including The Parsons Band, Sweet Potato Pie, Kristi Stanley & Running Blind, and The Fiddle Scene.
In 2007, Ashley recorded her first solo album, Fiddlin’ with Les, honoring her longtime mentor. After moving to Johnson City, Tennessee, she earned a BBA in Marketing from East Tennessee State University in 2017. Today, Ashley enjoys teaching fiddle lessons, performing with Appalachian Trail, and spending time with her husband, Murphy, and son, Finley.
More than a Family Band
It's easy to look at today's lineup and assume Appalachian Trail is simply a local family act — a father, a mother, their son, and a few friends. And while the current members genuinely are family, that story only captures a small piece of a much bigger picture. Appalachian Trail has never been one fixed group of people; it's a band that has evolved through more than a dozen talented musicians over four decades, each bringing their own sound to the Appalachian Trail name. What has never changed is the music: authentic bluegrass, played with heart.
On the National Stage
Appalachian Trail's reach has gone far beyond East Tennessee. As a featured act for the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA), the band has performed at some of the most prestigious, publicly funded stages in the country, including:
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The National Folk Festival — twice, in both Lowell, MA and East Lansing, MI
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A 4th of July show at the Washington Monument
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Performances inside the U.S. Capitol Building, the Rayburn Building, Congress Building, and the Lincoln Center in New York City
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International tours through Ireland, Scotland, Britain, and The Netherlands
Award-Winning Sound
Appalachian Trail is a past winner of the International Bluegrass Band Championship at SPGMA, and the band's musicianship continues to be recognized by fans and critics throughout — and beyond — the bluegrass community.
Appalachian Trail Alumni
Over the years, Appalachian Trail has been a launching pad for musicians who went on to make names for themselves across the bluegrass world:
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Linda Lay — founding member; recorded an album played in Cracker Barrel stores nationwide and continues to record successful albums in Nashville today
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Carson Cooper — founding member; later owned Morrels in Marion, VA
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Ricky Barker — founding member
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Tim Laughlin — founding member; went on to play with the TN Bluegrass Band, Lynn Morris, and others
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Becky Buller — went on to a celebrated career throughout the bluegrass world
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Glen Rose — nephew of famous musician Buddy Rose
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Josh Goforth — later worked with the Kruger Brothers and Lorraine Jordan
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Matthew Cruby — later played with Steve Gulley
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John Bowman — later became a member of The Isaacs and a founding member of The Boxcars
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Allen Hughes
-
Carl Caldwell
-
David Lay
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Amanda Mathis
-
Megan Mckamey
On the National Stage
Appalachian Trail's reach has gone far beyond East Tennessee. As a featured act for the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA), the band has performed at some of the most prestigious, publicly funded stages in the country, including:
-
The National Folk Festival — twice, in both Lowell, MA and East Lansing, MI
-
A 4th of July show at the Washington Monument
-
Performances inside the U.S. Capitol Building, the Rayburn Building, Congress Building, and the Lincoln Center in New York City
-
International tours through Ireland, Scotland, Britain, and The Netherlands
Award-Winning Sound
Appalachian Trail is a past winner of the International Bluegrass Band Championship at SPGMA, and the band's musicianship continues to be recognized by fans and critics throughout — and beyond — the bluegrass community.
Appalachian Trail Alumni
Over the years, Appalachian Trail has been a launching pad for musicians who went on to make names for themselves across the bluegrass world:
-
Linda Lay — founding member; recorded an album played in Cracker Barrel stores nationwide and continues to record successful albums in Nashville today
-
Carson Cooper — founding member; later owned Morrels in Marion, VA
-
Ricky Barker — founding member
-
Tim Laughlin — founding member; went on to play with the TN Bluegrass Band, Lynn Morris, and others
-
Becky Buller — went on to a celebrated career throughout the bluegrass world
-
Glen Rose — nephew of famous musician Buddy Rose
-
Josh Goforth — later worked with the Kruger Brothers and Lorraine Jordan
-
Matthew Cruby — later played with Steve Gulley
-
John Bowman — later became a member of The Isaacs and a founding member of The Boxcars
-
Allen Hughes
-
Carl Caldwell
-
David Lay
-
Amanda Mathis
-
Megan Mckamey
Our story
More than 40 years ago, four musicians needed a name before they could enter a band competition in North Carolina. On the drive down, they passed a road sign that read Appalachian Trail — and the name stuck. What started as a quick decision on the way to a contest turned into festivals, more competitions, and eventually a permanent identity. Founded in 1984 by Linda Lay, Carson Cooper, Ricky Barker, and Tim Laughlin, Appalachian Trail has carried that name — and its authentic, high-lonesome sound — ever since.
Meet The Band
Founding Member
Tommy Austin mandolin, vocals
Tommy Austin’s soft tenor lead, spot-on harmony and mandolin playing round out the distinctive sound that has entertained audiences for over twenty years. Tommy played guitar and sang with his mother in church growing up in Fall Branch, TN. One night, he heard Mr. Jim McCamey playing mandolin and decided that was what he wanted to play. Of all the mandolin players in the world Tommy’s personal favorite is Adam Steffey, from right here in East Tennessee. Throughout the years, he has played in several bands including; The Horsecreek Mountain Boys, Clear Creek, The Rising Wind, Limited Edition, Tennessee Skyline, and The Hopsons. Tommy resides in Fall Branch.
Vickie Austin upright bass, vocals
Vickie began singing at an early age with her dad in church. One of her earliest musical memories was watching her great grandmother, Laura Ashworth from Rye Cove, Virginia, chord an old pump organ in the key of “F” and sing, “If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again”. It “clicked” with Vickie what her grandmother was doing with her hands, and at age 13, was given an old upright piano for her birthday. She sang with her sister for many years and shared her love for the bluegrass sound. Vickie sang and played bass for Twin Springs Bluegrass Band and eventually joined her husband in Appalachian Trail. Vickie’s lead and harmony vocals are as pure and clear as a cool, crisp mountain October morning.
Founding Member
Tommy Austin mandolin, vocals
Tommy Austin’s soft tenor lead, spot-on harmony and mandolin playing round out the distinctive sound that has entertained audiences for over twenty years. Tommy played guitar and sang with his mother in church growing up in Fall Branch, TN. One night, he heard Mr. Jim McCamey playing mandolin and decided that was what he wanted to play. Of all the mandolin players in the world Tommy’s personal favorite is Adam Steffey, from right here in East Tennessee. Throughout the years, he has played in several bands including; The Horsecreek Mountain Boys, Clear Creek, The Rising Wind, Limited Edition, Tennessee Skyline, and The Hopsons. Tommy resides in Fall Branch.
Vickie Austin upright bass, vocals
Vickie began singing at an early age with her dad in church. One of her earliest musical memories was watching her great grandmother, Laura Ashworth from Rye Cove, Virginia, chord an old pump organ in the key of “F” and sing, “If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again”. It “clicked” with Vickie what her grandmother was doing with her hands, and at age 13, was given an old upright piano for her birthday. She sang with her sister for many years and shared her love for the bluegrass sound. Vickie sang and played bass for Twin Springs Bluegrass Band and eventually joined her husband in Appalachian Trail. Vickie’s lead and harmony vocals are as pure and clear as a cool, crisp mountain October morning.
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Shane Austin guitar, vocals
Shane Austin, the son of Tommy and Vickie Austin, began taking guitar lessons from GC Matlock at age 13. While earning the rank of Eagle Scout at fifteen, he sang all 4 years at Daniel Boone High School in the "Reflections" acapella group. Since the fall of 2022, Shane has attended ETSU. He had the opportunity to take further lessons from Wyatt Rice, and has been involved in numerous vocal ensembles and student bluegrass bands. He has since been awarded a full-tuition Honors scholarship, the Powell Choral Scholarship, and several others. Shane joins Appalachian Trail on guitar and vocals.