2024 marks the 20th anniversary for The Long Players. Back in March of 2004 they played The Rolling Stones’s Let It Bleed to a full house at 12th and Porter, one of Nashville’s hot spots for many years. Built on the concept of doing a tribute to an album rather than one band or singer, they’ve become known for celebrating the LP (Long Playing) records that so many have loved and absorbed into their DNA. On these shows, they (along with a long and impressive list of guest vocalists) perform that album, take a break and come back with a second set of music from the artist whose album they’re celebrating.   Twenty years later, the band has performed over eighty different albums. That doesn't include the number of “theme nights” where they tackle genres like Motown, Stax, British Invasion, New Wave and others. While they’ve played many venues in Nashville (definitely the early-birds high-concept tribute bands) doing their own shows, they’ve also been a “band for hire” playing out of town festivals, corporate events and even weddings. Taking stock of twenty years of this labor of love, the band has a steady schedule of shows lined up at 3rd & Lindsley in Nashville with no sign of stopping.

Todd Sharp began making music when he was eleven years old, back in Cleveland Ohio, a son of musical parents, and started gigging just a few years later. In 1975 Daryl Hall & John Oates hired him to play lead guitar. Todd, all of nineteen, left town and never looked back. He has made many friends over some forty years of playing music. From his early gigs playing guitar with Hall and Oates back in '75, to working with artists such as Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie, Mick Fleetwood and Bob Welch to Rod Stewart, Delbert McClinton, Randy Meisner, Carlene Carter, Richard Marx, Aussie icon Jimmy Barnes and French legend Eddy Mitchell. Todd has also worked alongside greats such as Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, Glen Clark, Al Stewart, David Crosby, Rick Braun, Eric Carmen, Steve Winwood and many others. Todd has two solo records to his credit; “Who AM I” (MCA, 1986, prod. Don Gehman), and “Walking All the Way” (WannaPlay, 2002, prod. Sharp, & Stephen Bruton). Todd’s songwriting achievements beyond his own recordings include co-writing with Christine McVie the Christine McVie LP (1983) including the top ten hit; “Got a Hold On Me”, Nickelodeon’s Wild & Krazy Kidz theme song (1990 - 93), Juice Newton’s “A Little Love” (1984), along with other notable covers by McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Bob Welch, Billy Burnette, Jeff Healey, Rick Braun and others. Todd was inducted into the RockGodz Hall of Fame in 2023.

John Cowan, hailed as the Voice of Newgrass, has been singing his heart out for more than forty years and his soaring vocals have only improved with time. A true innovator, Cowan applies his powerful pipes to genres from country, bluegrass, and gospel to soul, jazz, and rock – often within the space of a single concert. His ability to move fluidly through multiple styles, and carry mesmerized audiences on the journey with him, has set him apart as one of the most loved and admired vocal artists of his generation, not just by fans and critics but among fellow musicians as well. With his distinctive, rock-tinged tenor vocal and heart-thumping electric bass, Cowan along with fellow New Grass Revival bandmates Sam Bush, Courtney Johnson, and Curtis Burch, and later Bela Fleck and Pat Flynn, introduced a new generation of music fans to an explosive, experimental and ultimately, an eponymous brand of bluegrass. The “newgrass” sound spawned popular jam bands such as Leftover Salmon and Yonder Mountain String Band, opened the door for today’s young bluegrass superstars Billy Strings and Molly Tuttle and shaped the sensibilities of country megastars Garth Brooks, The Chicks, the Zac Brown Band, and Darius Rucker.

Joe Blanton is a Nashville singer-songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player whose career has spanned more than 40 years. Best known as the frontman of the acclaimed rock band The Royal Court of China, he has also performed with The Bluefields, Million Dollar Emperors, and numerous other projects. Blanton's blend of rock, blues, and Americana, paired with his seasoned musicianship and authentic songwriting, has made him a respected and enduring voice in Nashville's music community.

Irene Greene & Mason Summit join forces as The Prickly Pair, a duo specializing in angsty Americana with a contemporary perspective. Both have pursued solo careers, but sought to combine their talents in a project that demonstrates a deep mutual love of country & western traditions while staying true to their own musical instincts. Their self-titled debut EP is out 10/24/25. The two currently live in Nashville with their dog.