Dry Branch Fire Squad and MerryGold

Dry Branch Fire Squad is an American old-time bluegrass band founded by Ron Thomason in 1976 in southwest of Virginia.

MerryGold began as the songwriting duo of Jillian Secor (guitar, vocals) and Alex Stephens (guitar, mandolin, vocals). MerryGold’s 6-piece lineup currently includes fiddle, bass, banjo, and accordion. Based in the small northern California town of Placerville, themes of the Gold Country are abundant in their music. Their whiskey-soaked folk/bluegrass songs take listeners back to simpler times and portray a rawness that embodies the pioneer spirit of the Wild West. While traditional folk and bluegrass elements are apparent in their music, MerryGold incorporates a wide variety of influences to create their own sound.