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Watkins debuted in 1999 as the fiddler of the progressive bluegrass group, Nickel Creek, which consists of herself and her elder brother, Sean, as well as mandolin player Chris Thile. As a band, they are notable for three wide-released albums: Nickel Creek, This Side, and Why Should the Fire Die?. Aside from singing and fiddling, she can play the ukulele and the guitar.

With Nickel Creek, she has released five studio albums, one compilation album, and seven singles, winning a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album for This Side. Nickel Creek are currently on hiatus to branch off into new projects, and Sara is pursuing a solo career, having released her debut, Sara Watkins, on Nonesuch Records on April 7, 2009.

“The 27-year-old singer-songwriter and fiddle player spent nearly two decades—all of her teenage and young adult life—as one-third of Nickel Creek, the Grammy Award–winning acoustic trio that used contemporary bluegrass as a starting point for its no-genre-barred sound. Along the way, she’s hinted at her desire to do a project of her own and even organized some exploratory sessions in Los Angeles about six years ago. Now, with Nickel Creek on indefinite hiatus, she is releasing her self-titled solo disc, recorded in Los Angeles and Nashville and produced by former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones. It features an impressively wide range of backing players and old friends, including itinerant alt-country duo Gillian Welch and Dave Rawling, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench, Elvis Costello drummer Pete Thomas; fellow travelers from the bluegrass world like Tim O’Brien, Chris Eldridge, Ronnie McCoury and Rayna Gellert; and her Nickel Creek bandmates.” - Michael Hill

Three years ago, Chase Coy began writing and recording music in his basement in Greenwood, Indiana. While it started as a personal attempt to help him make sense of his life, as Chase shared his music he found that he was not alone. Over 17 million MySpace plays later, his relatable songwriting and genuine connection with his fan base continue to make him one of the most popular unsigned artists in the U.S.

In 2008, iTunes named Chase one of the best new singer/songwriters of the year. Since then, he has continuously been on the iTunes top 100 singer/songwriter chart alongside classic artists such as Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel and Nick Drake and great new artists such as William Fitzsimmons, The Weepies and Brett Dennen. Recently, Chase’s song “If the Moon Fell Down Tonight” was featured on an iTunes Essentials Rising Stars compilation.

If you ask Chase, he might say that he’s just a kid from the Midwest who makes music. However, at 18, he is anything but average. He writes beautiful melodies and more honest lyrics than many today are willing to write. To date, he has released one full-length CD (Look How Far We’ve Come) and three EPs (Dear Juliet, Goodbyes and Autumn Skies and December), selling more downloads than many of his contemporaries who are signed to recording contracts.

Chase is now recording his first studio album which will be released in 2010 on a major label to be announced. Additionally, Chase will tour extensively this fall and winter bringing his music live to the large fan base he has developed across the U.S. and the world.

The BCT Presents Season 2009-2010 is made possible by Bloomingfoods Market and Deli, Bloom Magazine, Blue Ace Media, The Indiana Arts Commission, Ivy Tech Community College, Markey's Rental and Staging, Oliver Winery Upland Brewing Company and with support from many community partners and businesses dedicated to the performing arts.