Biography

Darren Nicholson is a Grammy Nominated musician based in Western North Carolina.
He is a recipient of 3 International Bluegrass Music Association's Awards. Including the Album of the Year award (2006), Song of the Year (2011), and Album of the Year (2013). He has appeared countless times on WSM's Grand Ole Opry, at the Ryman Auditorium, CMT, GAC and many of the world's most famous venues and networks. Currently, he records and tours as a full-time, founding member of Balsam Range with all sorts of collaborative efforts each year.
He's proud to have taken his blend of Country, Bluegrass, Americana to 49 states, as well as across Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, Jamaica, Haiti, Australia, and all over Europe.

Achievements and Accolades
• Grammy Nomination (2006)
• Countless performances on the Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium, and CMA FanFest
• Countless National TV Appearances GAC, CMT, ESPN, Charlie Chase Show, Nashville Now, Song of the Mountain
• Tour with Merle Haggard
• IBMA Album of the Year Award Recipient Celebration of Life 2006 (with Alecia Nugent)
• IBMA Song of the Year Award Recipient Train I Missed 2011 (with Balsam Range)
• 2004 IBMA Emerging Artist Nominee - Alecia Nugent Band
• 2005 IBMA Emerging Artist Nominee - Alecia Nugent Band
• 2010 IBMA Emerging Artist Nominee - Balsam Range
• 2011 IBMA Emerging Artist Nominee - Balsam Range
• 2011 IBMA Album of the Year Nominee - Balsam Range
• 2011 IBMA Album of the Year Nominee - All-Star Jam: Live at Graves Mountain
*7 IBMA Nominations in 2013 including a win for Album of the Year for "Papertown".
• Toured as part of the Zac Brown Band’s Southern Ground Music Tour. Including a collaborative album with John Driskell Hopkins of the Zac Brown Band, featuring special guests, Zac Brown, Jerry Douglas, and Joey+Rory
• Performed on dozens of national #1 songs and albums including: Crowe Brothers/Brother In Harmony, Cindy Mae, Country Boy Rock and Roll, Last Train to Kitty Hawk, Caney Fork River, Gonna Be Movin’, Trains I Missed, I Could Do You Some Good.
• Given “keys to the city” in Canton, NC where Balsam Range was honored with an official declaration of “Balsam Range Day” in their home county for positive contributions to our community.
• Voted Best Old-Time/Bluegrass Band of 2012 in Asheville’s Mountain Xpress (Balsam Range).
• Performed for entire living cast of The Andy Griffith Show at Grand Ole Opry 2004
• Bobby Osborne tribute concert performances with Alecia Nugent and Marty Stuart
• Inducted into the NC Folk-Life Institute 2008
• First band to ever perform at the NASCAR Hall of Fame (with Balsam Range)
• JBovier Acoustic Stringed instruments produce the Darren Nicholson Model mandolin E28093 A5-X.
• GHS Strings produce the custom Darren Nicholson Mandolin String.
• Proud to say, through partipcation with Bands, Festivals, Fundraisers, etc. well over a half-million dollars for various regional, national, and international charities have been raised.
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Please add these to my bio page part… Zac Brown, Levi Lowry, John Driskell Hopkins, Coy Bowles, John Anderson, Jerry Douglas, Casey Driesson, John Wiggins, David Holt, Steve Thomas, Joey + Rory



• Vince Gill
• Merle Haggard
• John Corabi (Motley Crue)
• George Jones
• Earl Scruggs
• Grand Ole Opry Staff Band
• Joe Gibbs (NASCAR/NFL)
• Phil Vassar
• Travis Tritt
• Joe Diffie
• Marty Raybon (Shenandoah)
• Marty Stuart
• Bobby Osborne
• Rebecca Lynn Howard
• Alecia Nugent
• Sam Bush
• Tony Rice
• Suzy Boggess
• Charlie Daniels
• Tom T. Hall
• Doyle Lawson
• Carl Jackson
• Rhonda Vincent
• Ralph Lewis
• Jon Randall
• Ronnie Bowman
• Bryan Sutton
• Russell Moore
• Larry Cordle
• Bobby Hicks
• Roy Clark
• Hoot Hester
• Bradley Walker
• Raymond Fairchild • Tommy White
• Melvin Sloan Dancers
• Sammy Shelor
• The Infamous Stringdusters
• Audie Blaylock and Redline
• Claire Lynch
• Don Wayne Reno
• Hazel Creek
• Crowe Brothers
• The Inspirations
• Harris Brothers
• Katie Kerkhover
• Little Roy Lewis
• Karen Peck
• The Sidemen
• Rob Ikes
• Randy Kohrs
• Andy Hall
• Andy Falco
• The Primitive Quartet
• Josh Williams
• Sonya Isaacs
• Steve Sutton
• Jerry Salley
• Aubrey Haynie
• Jim Van Cleve
• Jimmy Stewart
• Michael Cleveland
• Chris Warner
• Steve Thomas
• Chris Sharpe
• Steve Lewis

And many more, including a host of regional bands and artists

Endorsements
• GHS Strings
• Metcalfe Mandolins
• Dogwood Straps & Designs
• Musicians Belt
• WNCbluegrass.com
• Folk Heritage Committee

Instruments and Accessories

I have 3 mandolins that I play regularly. I have a Gibson F5-G that Steve Sutton purchased for me when I first started playing the mandolin in about 2003. I had been playing about a year but it was my first legitimate working instrument and is still one of the best mandolins I have ever played. This mandolin means a lot to me personally; because it was also the one I played first on the Grand Ole Opry and most of my traveling and recording. Ed Weber created my great Truss Rod Cover. This mandolin was made in 2001. Currently played a custom, hand crafted Meltcalfe Mandolin made by Rick Metcalfe in Morgantonm NC. It’s incredible. No better sound, look, and quality will you find anywhere. I also have a JBovier mandolin that I have been playing recently and I love it. Jeff Cowherd at JBovier was nice enough to build a mandolin specifically for me. After several talks and meetings we came up with the A5-X, which he called the Darren Nicholson Model. It has all the features I wanted in a mandolin. For years I had wanted an A-style. It has a solid black face, dull-satin finish, with a sunburst.