Silas is a 5th generation picker from the small town of Salem, WV. While a multi-instrumentalist of fiddle, guitar, and banjo, his passion remains with the mandolin.
Silas first had the mandolin in his hands in his playpen, and his dad and Papaw knew then he was going to follow them in their music talents. He first started playing the mandolin at age 7 when he picked up the instrument and started ‘chopping’ along to his dad’s band rehearsal!
Silas has performed at Merlefest, Houston-fest, Remington Ryde, Bob Evan’s Festival, and Baygrass Festival in the Florida Keys. He has performed with many top Bluegrass musicians, including Jesse McReynolds, David Grier, Doyle Lawson, Mike Compton, Blue Highway, Missy Raines, Sierra Hall, Mandolin Orange, Emory Lester, Johnny Staats, Terry Baucom, Joe Mullins , and The Grascals. Silas has been featured on Woodsong’s Old Time Radio hour as a “Woodsong’s Kid” as well as being a member of “Tomorrow’s Bluegrass Stars”. In 2017 and 2018 Silas was selected as 1 of 25 kids to participate at the IBMA’s Kids on Bluegrass.
Silas’s lists of competitions wins and awards is impressive for such a young player:
- 4 time Junior Champion, State of Maryland;
- 2nd place, Maryland State Adult division (age 12);
- West Virginia State Championship Adult Division Top 5;
- 4th place, Monterey Virginia’s Old Time Fiddler’s Convention (at age 10);
- 2106 State of West Virginia Junior Flatpick Champion
- 2nd place Appalachian Old time Fiddler’s Championship, West Virginia University (Fiddle);
- Scholarship Recipient Houstonfest, Galax, VA
In 2019, Silas became the 1st Recipient of the Monroe Mandolin Camp Apprenticeship, which offers students going into music teaching, a teachers hands-on experience and mentoring.
Add on to all of these accomplishments, Silas shares his love of music monthly at a local nursing home, which has earned him “Youth Volunteer of the Year”, State of West Virginia. You can see Silas Powell and The Powell Family Band at festivals around the country.