Lonesome Folk Trio: Utah’s Premier Folk & Bluegrass Powerhouse

Meet the Lonesome Folk Trio – Utah’s toe-tapping, heart-stirring answer to folk and bluegrass done right. This isn’t a “background music” group you set in the corner and forget. It’s a tight, three-person engine that turns a room into a living, breathing front-porch jam. From the first downbeat, you get tone, timing, and storytelling in music that makes your guests look up, lean in, and start clapping on two and four without being asked.

“The Lonesome Folk Trio was absolutely fantastic, and perfect for our event! Everyone loved the band, and were dancing by the end of the evening.“ – Jeff Ippoliti, Epic Adventures, Gateway, CO

“We booked The Lonesome Trio for a wedding celebration and we LOVED them! They were awesome!!! Everyone was commenting on how great they were. We are so so happy with everything they did! Very kind folks!“ – Jessie Shurtleff, Bride, Sandy, UT

At the center of the trio are two state champions who play like they mean it. Fiddler Dan Riggs shapes a melody the way a great vocalist shapes a phrase – bow strokes that sing, slur, and soar with precision and fire. On mandolin and guitar, Sarah Cluff locks in beside him with ringing tremolo, crisp cross-picking, and those smart, ear-catching runs that make you grin before you realize it.

Dan and Sarah are partners on and off the bandstand. After more than 15 years performing together, they finish each other’s musical sentences. Their time on the road tours across the U.S. and much of Europe with various groups shows up in all the best ways: polished arrangements, confident pacing, and a repertoire that travels effortlessly from Appalachian standards to modern folk favorites.

Completing the sound is their stand-up bass player, the kind of anchor every acoustic band prays for. The tone is big and woody, the time is unshakeable, and the lines are inventive without getting in the way. When that bass locks with Sarah’s chop and Dan’s bow, you feel the groove in your chest – danceable, joyful, and impossible to ignore. Stack their three voices on top and you get harmonies that feel both homespun and finely tuned: high lonesome when the lyric asks for it, warm and conversational when the story turns tender.

“Loved the Lonesome Folk Trio! They were awesome! Everyone was raving about their sound and how it added the perfect ambiance to the evening.“ – Brooks Ballard, The Heritage Community, Provo, UT

“Lonesome Folk Trio was amazing! Their music was perfect for the setting.“ – Rob Perez, Groom, Park City, UT

What makes the Lonesome Folk Trio stand out is craft plus connection. Fiddle and mandolin trade leads with clean, quick handoffs. Guitar shifts from rhythm bed to spotlight breaks right on cue. The bass drives the train and then slips back with taste and restraint. Between songs, you get just enough context – a line about where the tune came from and a wink at an old road story. Listeners who don’t speak “bluegrass” fluently still feel welcomed into the circle.

Versatility is baked in. They can keep a festival lawn buzzing with up-tempo breakdowns, glide through cocktail hour with lyrical waltzes and folk ballads, or bring a private party to life with sing-along choruses and foot-stomping favorites. Corporate crowd? They’ve played enough of them to know exactly how to read the room – start with approachable, melodic numbers, build the energy, and leave the suits smiling. State fair? They’ll have kids dancing and grandparents nodding along to that fiddle-tune nostalgia.

“Oh my goodness…it was amazing! We loved the trio!“ – Renee Starling, Hostess, Farmington, UT

“They were terrific. The family truly enjoyed them. All ages were thoroughly entertained. I would absolutely hire them again.“ – Kathy Klein, Host, Park City, UT

“They were awesome! Really professional and sounded great. We had a great experience!“ – Stephanie Christensen, MX, Sundance, UT

Across the Intermountain West, word has spread: this trio delivers. Lightning-quick fiddling, mandolin sparkle, groove you can feel, and harmonies that land every time. No gimmicks, just musical chemistry that turns ordinary gatherings into something people talk about afterward. If your event needs music that’s fresh, heartfelt, and downright fun, book the Lonesome Folk Trio. Your guests will thank you and your dance floor will, too.