Claire Lynch Band gets new guitarist

Winning Merlefest's Doc Watson Guitar Championship in 1997 at the age of 15, at a time when he was performing with his family band, Wingate later honed his bluegrass chops performing across the U.S. and in Europe as Valerie Smith's lead guitar player.

He began performing with The Greencards in 2004, expanding his musical repertoire. From 2006-08, he played with The Lovell Sisters. That year, Wingate also released a solo CD, "A Good Dream."

Hurst was with Lynch as a member of The Front Porch String Band from 1995-2000 and again with The Claire Lynch Band from 2005 through 2010. He also played with Missy Raines. In a posting on the Bluegrass Blog, Hurst said, "I'll deal with whatever comes, and whatever is God's will. I spent many hours, days, weeks, really a year or so agonizing over this, and I can tell you, leaving a job with an almost completely empty calendar is gut wrenching and stressful. But, I know it's the right thing for me. I've discussed this and all the associated issues surrounding this with Claire more than just a couple times. No doubt she is relieved that part will be over and done with, as am I."

The Claire Lynch Band is Jason Thomas on fiddle and mandolin, Mark Schatz on bass and banjo, Wingate on guitar, mandolin and resonator guitar and Lynch on guitar and lead vocals.