Claire Armbruster’s love of bluegrass music began at a New Grass Revival concert at a place called ‘Green Acres’, an off-the-beaten-path venue in the foothills of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains near her hometown of Hickory, NC. It was a life changing experience. Soon after, Claire started volunteering at renowned Americana music festival MerleFest, eventually working part-time in Artist Relations, before earning the title of Artistic Director (2000-2007). In 2007, Claire relocated to Nashville where she worked for KCA Artists as an artist manager for Sierra Hull and Guy Clark. She started a consulting business in 2014, Planning Stages, which produces live music events. Claire books the talent and coordinates production for Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in Oak Hill, NY, and works as the programming director for Franklin Theatre in Franklin, TN. Claire’s experience in the music industry is as varied as the artists that she works with.