Tim O’Brien with Jan Fabricius / The Foreign Landers

This concert has Tim O’Brien and Jan Fabricius stepping in for Vivian & Riley, who had to cancel due to COVID-19.

Grammy-winning singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tim O’Brien grew up singing in church and in school. After seeing Doc Watson on TV, became a lifelong devotee of old time and bluegrass music. Tim started touring nationally in 1978 with Colorado bluegrass band Hot Rize. His songs Walk the Way the Wind Blows and Untold Stories were bluegrass hits for Hot Rize, and country hits for Kathy Mattea. Soon more artists like Nickel Creek, Garth Brooks, and The Dixie Chicks covered his songs. Over the years, Tim has collaborated with his sister Mollie O’Brien, songwriter Darrell Scott, and noted old time musician Dirk Powell, as well as with Steve Earle, Mark Knopfler, Dan Auerbach and Sturgill Simpson. He tours throughout the US and abroad, most often with his partner Jan Fabricius on mandolin and vocals (as in this performance). Tim O’Brien has appeared at the Savannah Music Festival multiple times in the past, including with Darrell Scott, Hot Rize, and leading his own band.

A Transatlantic folk duo, The Foreign Landers are upstate South Carolina mandolinist David Benedict and Northern Ireland banjo player and guitarist Tabitha Agnew Benedict. Before forming The Foreign Landers, Tabitha performed with BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award finalists Cup O’Joe from Northern Ireland, and British bluegrass band Midnight Skyracer. David toured with 10-time IBMA Bass Player of the Year recipient Missy Raines, and later with New Artist of the Year ensemble Mile Twelve. These opportunities led both of them to receiving Instrumentalists of the Year Momentum Awards from the IBMA. Both of them are previous participants in SMF’s Acoustic Music Seminar, and they are the bluegrass artists featured in this season of SMF’s Musical Explorers.

“Listening to The Foreign Landers’ music is like reuniting with an old friend.” –BLUEGRASS UNLIMITED