The Guernsey Brothers, a bluegrass duo, performed at the 2012 Smithsonian Folklife Festival to supplement the University of Indiana’s exhibit New Vernacular, which highlighted traditional instrument builders. They performed “Turkey in the Straw,” a North American folk song from the 19th century.

Though now retired from instrument making, Ivan Guernsey has built amazing resonator guitars for notable musicians such as Mike Auldridge, Stacy Phillips, and Jerry Douglas. Fiddler Jeff Guernsey has toured with greats such as country music superstar Vince Gill and Grand Ole Opry performer Steve Wariner. He teaches Indiana’s next generation of bluegrass prodigies at Jeff Guernsey’s Conservatory of Music in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Filmed: David Barnes, Jeannie Greenhaugh, Sean Yanosh, and Paul Weiss
Edited: Marinna Guzy