Mike Sumner

Mike Sumner has been playing banjo since he was six. Much of his banjo influence came from his father Joe Sumner who taught himself out of the original Earl Scruggs book. He also appreciates other influences like Mike Snider, Bela Fleck, Scott Vestal, Alison Brown, and Sammy Shelor. In 2001 he won Merlefest, Rockygrass and the Winfield National Banjo Championship. He repeated the National Banjo Championship win again in 2007. Mike plays a Stealth banjo and a Sumner Goldenbell model banjo. He started touring nationally in 2007 and has played with Randy Kohrs, Jim Lauderdale, Detour, Rebecca Frazier, and Dale Ann Bradley. Mike currently is touring with Billy Droze, Rebekah Long and Irene Kelley.