Dry Branch Fire Squad

The Dry Branch Fire Squad is an old-time bluegrass band founded by Ron Thomason in October 1976.[1] The band has gone through many iterations in its existence. Thomason has been the one constant, serving as the band's MC, lead singer, and mandolin player. He also plays banjo and guitar in performance, and on some recorded tracks, and is often called upon by audiences to demonstrate his hambone technique which he learned as a child.

Dry Branch Fire Squad performing at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

The band is known for its exceptional live performances and the self-deprecating humor and intelligence that Thomason brings to the stage along with the music.

Dry Branch Fire Squad at Golden Gate Park Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

Before forming the band, Thomason was a member of Ralph Stanley's band, the Clinch Mountain Boys.

The Dry Branch Fire Squad is the host band of the annual bluegrass festival formerly known as "Winterhawk" and now called "Grey Fox." The band also hosts the High Mountain Hay Fever festival in Colorado as a fundraiser for a local medical clinic. The band has performed at the annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco every year since 2003. [2]

The band is currently composed of Adam McIntosh (guitar, mandolin), Tom Boyd (banjo, resophonic guitar), Jeff Byrd (bass), and Ron Thomason (mandolin, banjo, guitar). [3]

Long-time members Brian Aldridge and Dan Russell retired at the end of 2015. Former member, Adam McIntosh, rejoined the band playing guitar and mandolin and assuming tenor singing duties. Jeff Byrd also joined replacing Dan Russell on bass.

Recordings (incomplete list)

References

  1. ↑ http://bluegrassmusic.com/content/2011/feature/ron-thomason-told-you-that-to-tell-you-this/
  2. ↑ http://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/2015/wp-content/themes/hsb15/schedule.php?show=artists&key=DRY_BRANCH_FIRE_SQUAD&popup=1
  3. ↑ http://www.drybranchfiresquad.com/band_bios.asp

External links


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