Big Howdy Bluegrass Showcase Featuring: The Whereabouts

Big Howdy presents its monthly bluegrass showcase with The Whereabouts as the featured guest. The quartet brings decades of experience, close vocal harmonies, and inventive arrangements to a heartfelt roots-music performance at Hank Dietle’s Tavern.

The evening is hosted by Big Howdy, a Washington-area progressive bluegrass band known for combining original songs with fresh interpretations of classic country, bluegrass, and roots material. The group features the duet vocals of Dede Wyland and Randy Barrett, joined by Ira Gitlin and Tom McLaughlin.

When: Saturday, September 5, 2026

Showtimes: 5:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.; the showcase begins at 5:00 p.m.

Tickets: $15. Tickets are available through Eventbrite and at the door while supplies last.

Featured act: The Whereabouts

The Whereabouts lineup: Jimmy Heffernan on resonator guitar; Anne Luna on bass, vocals, and songwriting; Beth Mead on five-string banjo and vocals; and John Catterall on mandolin, guitar, and vocals.

Featured performers: Jimmy Heffernan is a Nashville session musician and resonator-guitar specialist with more than 40 years of work alongside artists including Larry Sparks, Red Allen, Charlie Louvin, Joe Diffie, and Brad Paisley. Anne Luna has performed for a decade with The Hard Road Trio and has appeared on more than 20 albums with Alan Munde, Amanda Shires, and other artists. Beth Mead has more than 30 years of performance experience and coauthored *The Great American Songbook for Banjo* with Alan Munde. John Catterall contributes mandolin, guitar, and blended vocal harmonies.

Host band: Big Howdy features Dede Wyland on vocals and guitar, Randy Barrett on vocals, banjo, and guitar, Ira Gitlin on vocals and bass, and Tom McLaughlin on vocals, mandolin, and guitar.

Schedule: Big Howdy’s showcase takes place on the first Saturday of each month.

Venue: Hank Dietle’s Tavern, 11010 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.

Note: Guests are encouraged to arrive early to find a seat.