About

Mark Lavengood / Bear Mark Productions, Grand Rapids, MI

Mark Lavengood & the Mark Lavengood Band

Dobro player, songwriter, bandleader and festival MC from Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Mark Lavengood is a dobro and resonator guitar specialist and multi-instrumentalist (dobro, pedal steel, lap steel, mandolin, banjo, upright bass and drums) who has spent two decades on the festival and listening-room circuit. He won the dobro competition at RockyGrass in 2012, toured for seven years with Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys, and has played Telluride Bluegrass, Celtic Connections, Stagecoach, IBMA World of Bluegrass, Grey Fox, Wheatland, Blissfest and Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble in Woodstock, NY.

"A great songwriter and a master on the dobro. I am honored to call him my friend." — Billy Strings

In August 2026 Mark was MC and artist-at-large at Billy Strings' inaugural Ionia Freak Fair, and the two still sit in with each other regularly. He is Co-Founder and Ambassador of Smiling Acres Music Festival, has led the Prine Time John Prine tribute for about ten years, and his new record Wake Up is on the way.

What we bring to your festival or series

The Mark Lavengood Band — a four-piece bluegrass and Americana band built for festival main stages, concert series, performing arts centers and listening rooms.

Prine Time — a full-band John Prine tribute that sells out theaters and PACs.

Mark also works as a festival MC, host and artist-at-large, plays solo dobro sets, leads workshops and jams, and sits in across the weekend.

Watch

Mark Lavengood Band – "Shredder"
Sitting in with Billy Strings – Ionia Freak Fair 2026
Sitting in with Billy Strings – Ionia Freak Fair 2026 (part 2)

Booking

Now booking 2027 festivals, concert series and performing arts centers. Booking: contact@marklavengood.com · Book the band · Electronic press kit

Endorsed by Beard Guitars, GHS Strings, K&K Pickups, Scheerhorn capos, Stormy Kromer and Strings By Mail.