Mark Newton has been a familiar face for decades in country, bluegrass, and Americana music. He has been featured on the cover and in articles of multiple national magazines over the years such as Billboard, Bluegrass Unlimited, Bluegrass Now and others. He started his career with The Knoxville Grass, and later with Heights of Grass and The Virginia Squires (founder), on into a solo career that brought him critical and commercial success.
As an artist himself, Mark has traveled all across the USA, did a six-week tour in Europe, The Caribbean, Japan, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Iceland and Alaska for the US Department of Defense entertaining the US troops. Mark is also an accomplished producer. He came up with the concept for "Follow Me Back to The Fold" A Tribute to Women in Bluegrass. That project became one of Mark’s most widely recognized accomplishments. The Album became a landmark project for bluegrass and a personal milestone for Mark capturing IBMA's Recorded Event of the Year Award in 2001.
In 2002 Mark was recognized by The Leadership Bluegrass as making a difference and helping music on a national and international level. He also participated on Knee Deep In Bluegrass the Acutab Sessions and won The IBMA Instrumental Album of the Year in 2001. Mark has performed at the White House and Kennedy Center in Washington, DC
for the Carter, Clinton and Bush Sr. administration.
In 1990 he founded MNA (The Mark Newton Entertainment Agency) managing artists. Throughout the years, his agency handled many artists that became household names quickly. He was also a founder of the esteemed Graves Mountain Music Festival in Syria, VA. that has now grown to be one of the largest festivals of it’s kind in the world. For many years Mark headed up the IBMA Fan Fest main stage. Mark headed up a committee to organize on behalf of the IBMA and coordinate 40 acts at it's annual week long convention helping to raise thousands of dollars for the musician fund for musicians that have no insurance or may be down and out and need financial support.
In The Office...
Mark has proven to be a leader with excellent management skills. He carries the ability to manage telephone and email inquiries in a prompt and professional manner. He is excellent at coordinating, management, and organizational skills. He carries extensive knowledge of the music industry, and is an expert in negotiations and communication skills. Mark excels in organizing and managing concerts/gigs, developing PR materials, maintaining relationships from the industry, and serving as the main point of contact between artists and media.
​
Through the years...
1990- Founded the Mark Newton Entertainment Agency
1993 – 2022- Co-Founder of Graves Mountain Festival of Music in Syria, VA., a 3-day event Located in the heart of the Blueridge Mountains. Responsible for all facets of production including programming, talent negotiation, budgeting etc.
1999- 2002: Producer of the IBMA FanFest in Lousville, KY. Organized a committee and worked closely with IBMA Executive Director. Responsibilities included all facets of programming and booking the event, which included setup management for multiple stages, logistics etc.
2002: Graduate of Leadership Bluegrass.
2006-2009: Co-produced the IBMA FanFest at the Nashville Convention Center.
2014 – 2015: Booking Agent. Helped book and coordinate talent for concert series Bluegrass in The Valley at The Nashville, Palace in Nashville TN.
2014: Step Up American Heroes Appreciation Festival, Vero Beach, FL featuring The Band Perry. Contracted talent booked and scheduled the event.
2015: -Mr. B's Bluegrass Festival, Ladysmith, VA. Mark booked, coordinated talent, and oversaw all facets of production.
Charitable Contributions...
1998: Producer of a Hospice Awareness Event in hometown of Fredericksburg, VA. Inspired by his mother who was a hospice patient. Booked all talent and oversaw event programming which raised over $50,000 for the organization.
2009: Mark Newton's Homecoming Pickin’ Party in Fredericksburg, VA. Event to help Mark's Alma Mater and the 'James Monroe" athletic program. Talent included Claire Lynch, Illrd Tyme Out, Seldom Scene Larry Stephenson and others. The event raised $38,000.
Bibliography
1980, 1984, 1998, 2003, 2014: Featured artist on the cover of Bluegrass Unlimited.
2002: Featured in Billboard Magazine for Follow Me Back to The Fold: A Tribute to Women In Bluegrass
-IBMA Instrumental Album of The Year: Knee Deep in Bluegrass - The Accutab Sessions featuring Mark Newton Ronnie Bowman, Barry Bales, Dan Tyminski, Terry Baucom, Rob Ickes, Tim Stafford and others.
2003: The Mark Newton Band nominated for IBMA Emerging Artist of the year.
2007: The Mark Newton Band: Hillbilly Hemingway-recipient of the IBMA best Graphic design award.
2009: Marks hometown of Fredericksburg, VA, presented him with the key to the city for his community service and ongoing dedication and effort to his boyhood hometown.
2011: Recognized by the state of Tennessee with a Tennessee Squire induction.
-Recognized by BMI his publishing company as one of the best bluegrass artists on the roster.
- IBMA nominated Graves Mountain Live CD featuring: Carl Jackson, Third Tyme Out, Lonesome River Band, Audie Blaylock & Redline, Lou Reid and Carolina.
- IBMA nominated Graves Mountain Live as instrumental recording of the year.
Notable Performances
Kennedy Center for Coach Joe Gibbs of the Washington Redskins
1980: Performed for the United States Department of Defense:
Toured for six weeks in Germany, Austria, Italy, France and Iceland with The Knoxville Grass.
1982-1984-: Performed for The United States Department of Defense: Participated in three tours with the Virginia Squires throughout Alaska and the Caribbean.
1984: Performance with The Virginia Squires with The Pontiac Symphony Orchestra in Pontiac. MI.
1990: Performed with Bill Monroe.
1990 and 2010: Toured Japan for two weeks as part of a cultural exchange.
Endorsements
1998-2009: GHS Strings
2009: D' Addario strings 2009: Paige Capo's
2011: Wade Bill Monroe Mandolins 2013: Intellitouch tuners
​
​