Dear MariBella and The Pigkickers

WHQR’s Soup to Nuts Live concert series features the young bluegrass band Dear Maribella & the Pig Kickers. Ranging in age from 12 to 20, they play beyond their years in enthusiasm.

With music rooted deeply in the Blue Ridge Mountains and feet planted firmly in the Carolina sand, their style is not just a sound, but a journey through family ties and tradition.

Dear MariBella and the Pigkickers are an up-and-coming sibling bluegrass band. Born and raised near Wilmington, NC, the band formed in 2021 when the siblings decided that there was no reason not to! The band features Isabella on the fiddle, AnnMari on the guitar, Pete on the banjo, Chris on the mandolin and Dad on bass. They are set to serenade your soul with their harmonious melodies and foot stomping fun. Catch a live show and get ready to be swept off your feet as they infuse their performances with a blend of music, faith, kinship, and a whole lot of heart.

Dear MariBella and the Pigkickers were recently honored to be chosen as the opening act for Sam Bush in Wilmington, NC. They played on the IBMA World of Bluegrass official youth stage in 2024 and 2025, Merlefest 2025, and they are also selected to play at the NC Folk Festival this September!