The Wildmans
The Prism Coffeehouse and 
are delighted to present The Wildmans
— an upstart young stringband from Floyd, VA. —
in concert!
Ticket Prices: Advance tickets $12/Door $15
The Wildmans are a young acoustic string band from the hills of Floyd, Virginia, in the heart of the Appalachian mountain music tradition, and are making waves and winning accolades. 15 year old Aila Wildman won both the Old Time fiddle competition and Best Overall Performer at this year’s internationally renowned Galax Old Fiddlers Convention, while her brother Eli won the mandolin competition at the same festival. Bandmate Victor Furtado most recently won both the youth and overall banjo competition at the 2015 Appalachian String Band Festival, which draws competitors from every state and numerous other countries. The band is backed up by mom Deb Wildman on bass. From campsite jamming at festivals, fiddler’s conventions and string camps, as well as a classical music education comes the foundation for musical exploration that sets this group apart, taking the audience on a musical journey that reflects the growth and passion of these talented young musicians.
The band plays highly skilled instrumentals and soulful vocals applied to traditional tunes with a smattering of old time, bluegrass, blues, and jazz combining to create a fresh new sound – old tunes fueled by young spirit. Their concerts combine fiddle tunes, ballads and folk songs of the Appalachian tradition with twentieth century classics, as well as delightfully original instrumental compositions by band members Eli and Victor.
Teenagers Aila and Eli recently completed a year in the Virginia Humanities Folklife Apprenticeship program with fiddling legend Nate Leah, while the Prism was proud to have previously presented Victor in his very first solo concert, at the ripe age of 16.
The group has appeared on stages large and small, performing in festivals such as Red Wing Roots, Chantilly Farm’s Bluegrass and BBQ festival, RoosterWalk, Floyd Fest, and Floyd Yoga Jam. They also regularly represent young talent along the Crooked Road in regional fiddler’s conventions, and the Blue Ridge Music Center in Galax invited the group to open for the Steep Canyon Rangers in July 2017. Having shared the stage with talents such as Danny Knicely, Sammy Shelor, Sierra Hull, Billy Strings, Darol Anger and Joe K. Walsh, these young musicians are definitely making their mark on the American stringband scene.