Lonesome River Band

The Lonesome River Band came together in Virginia in the early 1980s and became one of the defining groups of the modern traditional scene, with a lineup that at various points included Tim Austin, Ronnie Bowman and Dan Tyminski. Sammy Shelor took over the banjo chair in 1990 and has led the group since, keeping a roster that turns over while the sound stays put: driving tempos, and vocal arrangements stacked into trios that sit high above the rhythm. The band records regularly and works a heavy schedule of bluegrass dates, drawing on a large catalogue of material that has become standard repertoire for other bands.