As part of Diana Wortham Theatre’s new Mainstage Bluegrass Series, Mountain Heart with Tony Rice will perform at 8 P.M. on Friday, March 18. As the group leading the charge in taking acoustic music to the masses, Mountain Heart deftly combines elements of rock, jam band, country, blues, jazz, and bluegrass into a high-energy sound that is at once fresh, accessible, and unmistakable.

Mountain Heart has either won or been nominated for multiple Grammys, ACM, CMA, and IBMA Awards, and has appeared on the revered stage of the Grand Ole Opry more than a hundred times, sharing it with such notables as Lynyrd Skynyrd, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Alison Krauss, LeAnn Rimes, and Patty Loveless.

Appearing with Mountain Heart on March 18 will be guitar legend Tony Rice. His works span the range of acoustic music, including straight- ahead bluegrass, jazz-influenced new acoustic, and songwriter/folk. Famed bluegrass-country singer/songwriter Alison Krauss says of Tony Rice, “To me, his music was never built on anything but emotion ... He just happens to be technically beautiful, at the same time, beyond anybody else.”

On March 24 at 8 P.M. at Diana Wortham Theatre, you will be transported by the remarkable energy of the magical Irish band Dervish. From the Great Wall of China to packed auditoriums in the Holy Land, Dervish artfully captivates its audiences.

Tickets for these concerts (regular $30, senior $28, student $25, student rush day-of-the-show $10, child $12), can be purchased by calling 828.257.4530 or visiting dwtheatre.com.