No Speed Limit

No Speed Limit evolved when banjo player, Steve Barr began playing with Jacob Eller on bass, and 16 year old vocalist Amber Collins. They received such a great response at the Old Time Fiddler’s Convention in Galax, VA that they decided to make music a career. Later the band recruited the 2001 Merlefest National Guitar Champion, Josh Pickett and mandolin player Ryan Blevins.
No Speed Limit has an impressive list of events. No Speed Limit was one of the original bands to appear on the first season of Song of the Mountains in 2005. Their high energy picking and fantastic vocals destined them to become one of the nation’s top bluegrass bands. In Spring 2007, they will be touring with the legendary Ralph Stanley. Newly elected Virginia Governor, Tim Kaine invited No Speed Limit to play at his Inaugural Concert this past January. Kaine joined the band on stage, harmonica in hand, for a rendition of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken”. No Speed Limit currently has two CD projects. www.nospeedlimitband.com

Cleghorn

Also appearing at the January 6 show is Cleghorn. The name Cleghorn comes from the valley community where the members grew up, and can still be found singing harmony on Sunday mornings in the Baptist Church . The original members of Cleghorn were Randal Eller on guitar, singing lead vocal and harmony; Craig Blevins on guitar and mandolin, singing lead vocal and baritone or tenor; and Tim Lundy on 5-string banjo, singing high tenor; Josh Eller (Randal's oldest son) on guitar and Ryan Blevins on banjo.
Josh and Ryan graduated from  Berea College  in Kentucky . While there, both received The Red Foley Music Award for their contribution to the music community of the college. Ryan played with the Berea Bluegrass Band in Ireland and Japan before returning to Chilhowie to join Jacob Eller in the band No Speed Limit. Jacob, Randal's youngest son, joined Cleghorn playing bass. Although Cleghorn lost Jacob and Ryan to the new and more energetic No Speed Limit, they refer to Cleghorn as "the old men’s band", but they still “jam with each other and love to teach the old guys some new tunes”. Andy Blevins, youngest son of Craig Blevins, now plays bass most of the time with Cleghorn. www.ellerinstruments.com