The Evangeline Bluegrass Festival is extremely privileged to welcome the revered master bluegrass musician Eddy Poirier – a member of the New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Fame – to its 2025 festival July 11-13.
Born in Rogersville, NB, Eddy is a five-time winner of the Entertainer of the Year Award and Guitar Player of the Year Award at the East Coast Bluegrass Music Awards, making him a master in both. He has also won countless other awards over the decades.
Eddy has several recordings dating back to the 1960s; he was the frontman of the legendary band The Bluegrass 4. The master currently plays banjo, fiddle, guitar and mandolin; he also sings lead and harmony vocals. Poirier’s band is made up of three top-of-the-line musicians.
From Hillsborough, NB, Dennis Douthwright joined Grassline in early 2023; he plays mandolin and sings. He was part of the bands Demoiselle Creek (1991-2000), Special Edition (2000-2005) and The Douthwrights (2006-2019), who recorded three CDS during his stint with them.
A cousin of the Poirier family, Laurie Chavarie was born in Acadieville, NB. With Grassline, Laurie plays guitar and mandolin and sings. Having played in several bands since his teen years, Laurie just recently ended a 20-year stint fronting Timberland Express.
Friend Laurie Beaman, from Campbellton, NB, played in Mountain Meadow through most of the 1990s. He then joined A New Blade of Grass (1999-2006). He played with the Eddy Poirier Family from 2010 until the group disbanded. He’s now back to take on a new adventure on bass and vocals with Grassline.