An Evening with Scott Ainslie - Blues Guitarist and Historian (with guest performer Bryce Mullins)

On Saturday, October 24, 2026, Blues Guitarist and Historian Scott Ainslie will perform in the River Room at The Manor on Front. The doors will open at 6:00 PM, and the show will begin promptly at 7:00 PM. The show will feature an opening set from Bryce Mullins, a seasoned fingerstyle guitarist and songwriter hailing from Batesville, Indiana,

Seating is limited to the first 100 interested persons who sign up at this site. To support our artists, we recommend a donation of $40.00 per person for this concert. All donated proceeds are directed to the artist.

This will be a private, BYOB event; wine, beer (no liquor), and cold food snacks. If you are reading this, you are invited.  Our attendees are invited to contribute and share their favorite baked goods, munchies, and other delightful snacks. Polly and I will provide bottled water, hot coffee, hot tea, and a good supply of Polly's now-famous chocolate chip cookies (these should not be missed).

To learn more about our Mansion Concerts, go to www.mansionconcert.com.

***************

About Scott Ainslie

Scott Ainslie is a traditional acoustic Blues singer, guitarist, historian, storyteller, and songwriter. A musician all his life, Ainslie took up guitar at age 15 about five weeks after hearing Virginia Bluesman John Jackson play a couple of songs in the middle of one of Mike Seeger’s concerts in Alexandria, VA in 1967. Ainslie continued to graduate Phi Beta Kappa with honors from Washington & Lee University but his greatest love was studying with elder musicians on both sides of the color line – in the Old-Time Southern Appalachian fiddle and banjo traditions, as well as black Gospel and Blues musicians.

Ainslie transcribed the original recordings and published a book on Delta Blues legend Robert Johnson, Robert Johnson/At The Crossroads (Hal Leonard, 1992), and recorded an instructional DVD on Johnson’s guitar work, Robert Johnson’s Guitar Techniques (Hal Leonard, 1997). Ainslie has six solo CDs to his name and maintains an active recording, performing and teaching schedule that carries him around the country, to Canada, and to Europe. His sixth album, The Last Shot Got Him, has been called “a must for fans of old-school Blues”.

Ainslie has received numerous awards and grants for his work documenting and presenting traditional music. These include grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and from the Folklife Section of the North Carolina Arts Council. He was presented with the annual Independent Weekly Triangle Arts Award; the National Slide Guitar Festivals’ Living Heritage Award; and the 20th Annual Sam Ragan Fine Arts Award from St. Andrew’s Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, NC.

As a traditional musician with expertise in both the Southern Appalachian fiddle and banjo tradition, and Piedmont and Delta Blues, Ainslie has specialized in performing and presenting programs on the African roots of American music and culture in concert, community, and educational settings. His concerts offer us a personality, a moment in history, a vignette to entice us into a song and to give that song a chance to wake and breathe among us like a living thing.

“My mother found me at the family piano picking out the melodies from the records she listened to during the day when I was three. I’m one of the lucky ones: I’ve been a musician all my life” – Scott Ainslie

In teaching concerts, workshops, and keynote addresses, Ainslie shares compelling music, stories, and observations about the role of the artist in a society.

Scott frequently meets with a subset of an audience for a follow-up workshop to expand and personalize their knowledge, experience, and engagement with the music and traditions he brings to the table.

" The price of singing a song is becoming the song."

– Scott Ainslie

About Bryce Mullins

Bryce Mullins is a seasoned fingerstyle guitarist and songwriter hailing from Batesville, Indiana, with a rich and diverse musical background. Initially introduced to the guitar by his father, Bryce's passion quickly grew, drawing him into a world where classic rock intertwined with classical music, blues, and bluegrass. A pivotal moment in his early development came when he encountered the works of Andrés Segovia, leading him to pursue classical guitar with fervor.

Bryce's academic journey took him to the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Classical Guitar Performance under the guidance of Professor Clare Callahan. He continued his education at Austin Peay State University, obtaining a Master’s Degree in Classical Guitar Performance, studying with Dr. Stanley Yates. It was during this period that Bryce was introduced to the vibrant world of fingerstyle guitar, inspired by artists like Chet Atkins, Merle Travis, Jerry Reed, Tommy Emmanuel, Andy McKee, and Antoine Dufour.

Bryce's live solo fingerstyle performances are highly entertaining, showcasing the full range of what can be achieved on a single guitar. Audiences are captivated by his ability to produce rich, layered sounds that evoke the presence of an entire ensemble, all from one instrument. His shows are a testament to the versatility and dynamism of fingerstyle guitar, leaving listeners in awe of the artistry and technical prowess on display. Beyond his technical skill, Bryce's performances also reveal the depth of his songwriting, reflecting a profound reverence for the craft. Each composition is thoughtfully constructed, blending intricate melodies and harmonies that resonate with emotional authenticity, demonstrating his dedication to the art of songwriting as much as to the instrument itself.