To father's and two son's team up together and perform as The Barbwire Bluegrass Band . Combining their talents along with their years of experience makes Barbwire a group you will not forget.  Barbwire just released a new CD " You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" with C and L Entertaiment, Inc and you can tell that each of them are doing what they love and that's playing Bluegrass Music. 

Ricky Ponder - lead/tenor vocal and guitar...

Ricky is from Manchester, Georgia and started playing music around the age of twelve and has become multi-instrumentalist. In 1984 Ricky began playing with Southern Sounds of Bluegrass and then 1989 with  Misery River.

In 1993, Ricky won The Smokey Mountain Fiddlers Convention Band Contest and the Pizza Hut Bluegrass Showdown at the Station in Nashville, Tennessee and took first place in the Chateau Elan Contest with the group, Mainstream. Ricky himself won the banjo picking contest in the Chateau Elan Contest.

In 1994, Mainstream showcased at the IBMA World of Bluegrass Trade Show in Owensboro, KY. They were also featured in the September 1995 edition of Bluegrass Unlimited. In Louen, TN, mainstream beat out 22 other bands for a first place win. Ricky has played on such stages as the Doc Watson Memorial Firefly Festival in N.C.and at Denton , N.C. Bluegrass Festival. Ricky has also recorded a solo Country album and a solo Bluegrass Album. He has opened for country artists Pam Tillis and Charlie Daniels.
Ricky has found his home with Barbwire Bluegrass and enjoys picking and singing.

Ben Ponder - Lead/tenor vocal and bass...

Ben, from Mancester, Georgia, began playing bluegrass when he was around 12 years old. He started out playing a washtub bass and has since become proficient with the electric bass, upright bass and the guitar. In the summer of 2007, Ben attended Nash camp in Cumberland Furnance, TN, and worked with Missy Raines, Fletcher Bright and Tim Stafford ending with a concert at Station Inn.
Currently Ben has found his home with Barbwire Bluegrass and enjoys playing and singing with the boys.

Casey Loope -baritone vocal-banjo/mandolin...

Casey Looper, from Cumming, George is a great banjo and mandolin player. At the age of 18 has accomplished more in 3 years than most people in 30. Casey loves bluegrass music and plans on making this his career.  He is at home with Barwire Bluegrass Band.

Gary Looper - baritone/bass vocal-mandolin/fiddle...

Gary Looper, from Cumming, Georgia plays the mandolin and fiddle for Barbwire Bluegrass Band. Gary is the oldest of the group has been performing for over 40+ years, He has played with various groups, such as Bluegrass Generation, Bluegrass Alliance, and A.M. Delivery. He ienjoys playing music with his son.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Don't miss some of the events coming up for Barbwire Bluegrass.

2009-12-12 Christmas in the Smokies
Location: Ramada Inn and Smoky Mountain Convention Center Pigeon Forge, TN
2009 Christmas In The Smokies

2010-04-22 Mossy Oak Bluegrass Festival
Location: Mossy Oak Music Park Guyton, GA
www.mossyoakmusicpark.com

2010-04-23 Mossy Oak Bluegrass Festival
Location: Mossy Oak Music Park Guyton, GA
www.mossyoakmusicpark.com

2010-04-24 Great American Bluegrass Festival
Location: National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds Dothan, AL
www.greatamericanbluegrassfestival.com

For more information contact Barbwire at www.barbwireblugrass.com