Each year, over 30 musicians from across the US and the world meet each other for an 11-day residency, sharing their music and songs in the spirit of openness and respect for all persons and cultures, and with a common goal — to deliver mainstage performances at the prestigious North Carolina Folk Festival, masterclasses at local and regional universities, and workshops and local schools.

With over 120 musicians having attended Ethno USA, the stage is set for the next big thing in the US — Ethno USA On The Road, where Ethno USA goes on tour!

From every corner of the globe, a powerful musical force unites: Shruti De’s mesmerizing sarod from India, Reagan Cummings’ soulful Lumbee voice, Bjørn Tromdal’s powerful piano compositions from Norway, Miguel Noyola’s fiery guitar rooted in the American and Mexican styles, Micky Hickey’s Irish-American fiddle, Josh Lloyd Willis’ spicy Cajun-Texas drums, and Trey Carlisle’s dynamic percussion and bass from Georgia — get ready for a world of sound like never before!

The ensemble is guided by and features two experienced artistic mentors: — from Jeannine Burnette’s Scandinavian-Ojibwe heritage and soulful trumpet rooted in jazz & rock music, to Lakota John Locklear’s masterful guitar and vocals, rooted in the rich traditions of American Roots Music, and of his Oglala Lakota and Lumbee heritage.