TMF2026 Theme

Each year, a theme is chosen for the Tumbleweed Music Festival, which will often reflect something about the year in which the festival is occurring.
The chosen theme serves as the inspriation for both the Logo Contest and for entries to the Jane Titland Memorial Songwriting Contest.
For 2026, which marks the 30th annual Tumbleweed, our chosen theme is Tumbleweed – Thirty Years by the River.

TMF2026 Logo Contest Winner

The Tumbleweed Music Festival 2026 Logo Contest is now closed.
We’re delighted to announce that Randi Vaughan, of Gartock Creative in Charleston, WV, has won the contest for this year.  Randi was also the winner of the competition last year.
Randi wins the $150 prize, and her logo will be used on all TMF2026 publicity maerials, T-Shirts, etc.
Congratulations to Randi!
TMF2026 Logo by Randi Vaughan, of Gartock Creative, Charleston, WV

Jane Titland Memorial Songwriting Contest Finalists

The Tumbleweed Music Festival is delighted to share the names and song titles of the ten finalists in this year’s Jane Titland Memorial Songwriting contest.  Their songs are based on this year’s festival theme, “Tumbleweed – Thirty Years by the River.”
  • Dharmika HenshelLet the River Soothe Your Soul
  • Rob Pratt30 Years
  • JW McClure and Thaddeus SpaeThirty Years by the River
  • Rachel Jumago / ArbielleTumbleweed
  • Michael “Hawkeye” HermanRoll On, Tumbleweed, Roll On
  • Marilyn RuckerKeep on Tumblin’
  • Teale LoveGreen Bull Frogs
  • Mike VotavaLabor Day Weekend
  • Kay MiracleTumbleweed Troubadors
  • David Pablo CohnThe River Again
The finalists will perform their songs on Saturday afternoon of the festival (Saturday, September 5th) before an audience and a panel of judges.  The audience will vote on a performance to be “People’s Choice,” while the judges will determine 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers.  These will be announced on Saturday evening between the first and second headliner performances in the Tumbleweed benefit concert (and their prize checks will be awarded!), followed by the 1st-place finisher performing their winning song live from the stage.
Congratulations to our finalists!

Saturday Benefit Concert Headliners

The Saturday Night Benefit Concert begins at 7:00pm on Saturday, September 5th, on the Dan Maher North Stage.  Tickets will be taken at the entrance.
Tickets for the Saturday Benefit Concert are $15, and are available at the festival, at both the Info Booths, and from our roving ticket and button sellers (look for the folks in aprons carrying a sign).
2026 Headliners Reggie Garrett and Christine Gunn are a musical duo of unparalleled emotion and virtuosity.  Reggie’s lyricism in his explorations of the variety and subtlety of human experience are supported and propelled into flight by Christine’s dynamic and sensuous musicality.  The songs are expansive, taking the time to set a mood and tell the stories.  They reveal harsh truths with power and poetry and an undeniable empathy.  Reggie has performed throughout the US and Canada for a number of years, both solo and with his band “Reggie Garret & the Snake Oil Peddlers.”  Christine has performed widely as a solo artist, creating richly layered musical tapestries with her looping pedal.  She is a founding member of the bands “Trillian Green” and “Gravity Quartet,” and has performed as an accompanist to hundreds of bands, orchestras, musical theatres, and singer‑ songwriters, both live and recorded.
Reggie Garrett and Christine Gunn
© Reggie Garrett and Christine Gunn
2026 Headliners Great Aunt are an award‑ winning Australian folk duo known for their soaring harmonies, unique instrumentation, and heartfelt live performances.  Winners of the 2024 Folk Alliance Australia Duo of the Year, Megan Bird and Chelsea Allen blend folk, country, and roots music with influences from their backgrounds in punk, jazz, and rock to create a sound both familiar and new.  With four U.S. tours under their belt and a debut LP, ‘It’s All Downhill From Here’ released in early 2026, the duo will return to North America on multiple occasions this year.  Great Aunt make music that is equal parts joyful and vulnerable, and deliver it with warmth, wit, and open hearts.
Great Aunt
Great Aunt
2026 Headliners Whateverly Brothers grew out of two friends enjoying playing music together. Starting as a maritime music group, they soon followed their wide interests and backgrounds into many styles and genres including full Celtic and Yule sets. Dan Roberts and Chris Glanister, both seasoned folk music collectors, performers, and multi‑instrumentalists, have delighted audiences with their varying repertoire, shimmering harmonies, striking arrangements, and offbeat humor.  This year, they are joined by long-time Folk artist Bill Murlin.  A power group, tight and expressive.
Whateverly Brothers (R-L Chris, Dan, Bill)
Whateverly Brothers (R-L Chris, Dan, Bill)

TMF2026 Contra Dance

The band for this year’s festival-closing Contra Dance is Tri-Cities’ own Def Sturgeon.
The band Def Sturgeon is comprised of a group of Tri-Cities musicians who gather to play Appalachian style old time fiddle tunes.  The group has been playing together for almost five years.  The name of the band derives from a tongue in cheek mash-up between the rock band “Def Leppard,” and the old time fiddle tune called “Jeff Sturgeon.”  Def Sturgeon plays for several contra dances every year.
Def Sturgeon Playing for a Dance
Def Sturgeon Playing for a Dance

TMF2026 Guitar Raffle!

TMF2026 Guitar Raffle
TMF2026 Guitar Raffle
This year’s raffle guitar is a  NEW Cort Grand Regal GA My Bevel that has a cutaway body with beveled armrest, a solid Sitka Spruce top, an arched Myrtlewood back, a Mahogany neck with an Ovangkol fingerboard, and a built-in pickup with a preamp.  It comes with a Stag soft zippered case.
$800 value.
The drawing will be held during the Sunday evening concert at the festival.
Tickets are $5.00 each, available from our roving ticket and button sellers in the park, as well as at both Info Booths.  One in 500 chances of winning, and you need not be present to win.

TMF2026 Quilt Raffle

Tumbleweed founder Micki Perry is making a special quilt for this year’s raffle quilt that will feature logos from Tumbleweed t-shirts from past years!
The drawing will also be held during the Sunday evening concert at the festival.
Tickets are $5.00 each, available at the same places the guitar raffle tickets are.  One in 250 chances of winning, and you need not be present to win.