Numbers 1 through 10: Darrell Scott and Friends.
Now, to complete the actual assignment:
1) Darrell Scott and Friends
2) Robert Plant and Band of Joy (which includes Darrell Scott
)
3) Sam Bush
4) House Band
5) Tim O'Brien and Kevin Burke
6) Steve Earle
7) Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper
8) Jerry Douglas featuring Omar Hakim and Victor Krauss (Omar Hakim is the best drummer I've ever heard, and as a drummer myself, I simply can't wait to see him again)
9) Tim O'Brien Band
10) Trampled By Turtles
Honorable mention (I really wanted to include these guys)
Stringdusters
Peter Rowan
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
Emmit-Nershi
Yonder kick off
Mumford and Sons
Railroad Earth (If I hadn't seen them twice this year already, they'd be in the top 4 or 5)
The Decemberists
This was really hard.
Listening to:
Mumford and Sons