The members of Cherryholmes and Straight No Chaser, performing at the Napa Valley Opera House Thursday and Friday nights, may have just a decade of experience behind them, but there’s no doubt they know how to attract masses of fans.

Four-time Grammy-nominated bluegrass artist Cherryholmes is made up of six members of a tight-knit family.

“We love what we do, we love to entertain, and we make sure the audience has a good time,” said matriarch and mandolin player Sandy Cherryholmes, speaking from a tour stop in Albuquerque. “We approach bluegrass a little differently than traditional musicians, bringing in lighting, step dancers and a ton of energy.”

Cherryholmes and her husband perform with their four fiddle, banjo and guitar-playing children, who range in age from 17 to 25.

Their current, six-week tour includes 45 performances.

“We’re on the road most of the time, but we’re a pretty normal family. We have our strains and stresses, but our music brings us together,” said Cherryholmes, noting that, while off-stage, the family has been working on material for a new album to debut in the spring 2010.

With roots in bluegrass, Celtic and jazz music, Cherryholmes won the 2005 IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Award for Entertainer of the Year.

Cherryholmes’ debut album on Skaggs Family Records in 2006 received a Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass album, and their second Grammy-nominated album “Black And White” came in at

No. 1 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Album Chart.

The group’s latest album, “Don’t Believe,” garnered their third and fourth Grammy nominations for Best Bluegrass Album, and crossed them over into the Best Country Instrumental Performance category for the track, “Sumatra.” 

Straight No Chaser

The men of Straight No Chaser, a 10-member a cappella group, just finished up a holiday album, and are already working on a new pop album to be released next spring.

After filming a Christmas special for PBS, they’ve embarked upon a 40-city tour from Boston to Seattle.

“It’s been a busy year and it’s only getting busier,” said band member Ryan Ahlwardt from the group’s hometown of Bloomington, Ind., one day before heading out on their current tour. “But, it’s so cool to be doing what we’ve always wanted to do.”

Ahlwardt joined the group in 1999 as a student at Indiana University, when the founding members selected their replacements upon graduation.

Originally formed in 1996 by Dan Ponce, the student group quickly gained local success and soon began headlining concerts.

Within two years, Straight No Chaser was touring nationally, opening for artists like Lou Rawls.

The group performed at Chicago Cubs and White Sox games, and made its way to Carnegie Hall for the National Championship of Collegiate A Cappella.

The original lineup of Straight No Chaser released three albums, which sold more than 50,000 copies.

“After graduating, we went our separate ways and met up occasionally. We never thought we’d perform together again, but here we are,” said Ahlwardt, citing the 2006 signing of the group by Atlantic Records as the launch point for its current success.

The group caught the attention of an Atlantic Records executive amidst a whirlwind of publicity stemming from a video posted to YouTube, featuring the founding members at a 1998 performance.

With no promotion, Straight No Chaser’s version of “The 12 Days of Christmas” received more than seven million views in December 2007, becoming the hottest viral video of the season.

While both Cherryholmes and Straight No Chaser are used to playing in venues of all shapes and sizes, the Napa Valley Opera House offers an intimate setting for their performances.

“Intimate crowds provide a more personal experience both for the audience and the members of the band,” said Cherryholmes. “In a smaller house, we can relate to the audience easier and make eye contact,” said Cherryholmes. “If the audience is up for it, we might try out some new music.”

Ahlwardtof Straight No Chaser  said that the group’s Friday night performance in Napa will include some “crowd pleasers” mixed in with a few holiday tunes, some older standards and new pop favorites. “Smaller venues are our bread and butter,” he said.

Cherryholmes

• Thursday, 8 p.m.

• Tickets: $25, $30

Straight, No Chaser

• Friday,  8 p.m.

• Tickets: $30, $35

• Where: Napa Valley Opera House, 1030 Main St., downtown Napa

 • Details: nvoh.org or 226-7372