page_title: Dry Branch Fire Squad
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Dry Branch Fire Squad / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Dry Branch Fire Squad performing at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA
context_page_description: The Dry Branch Fire Squad is a traditional-style bluegrass band fronted by Ron Thomason. The band is known for its showy performances and for Thomason's humorous interludes. The Dry Branch Fire Squad is the host band of Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, formerly called the Winterhawk Bluegrass Festival. The band also hosts the High Mountain Hay Fever festival in Colorado as a fundraiser for a local medical clinic.
context_section_description: Dry Branch Fire Squad was founded by Thomason, a former member of the Clinch Mountain Boys, in October 1976.  The band has gone through many lineup changes; Thomason has been the one constant, serving as the band's MC, lead singer, and mandolin player.  He also plays banjo and guitar on occasion, and during performances often demonstrates hambone technique which he learned as a child.
  In 1978 the band released a self-titled debut album, and in 1979 they performed at Bill Monroe's Bean Blossom Festival.
  In 1981 the Dry Branch Fire Squad signed with Rounder Records, and released the first of many recordings with that label.
  In 1984 the band began hosting the newly organized Winterhawk Bluegrass Festival.
  At one time banjoist Bill Evans and singer Suzanne Thomas performed and recorded with the band.
  The band has performed at the annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco every year since 2003. 
  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.
  In 2016 band is composed of Adam McIntosh (guitar, mandolin), Tom Boyd (banjo, resophonic guitar), Jeff Byrd (bass), and Ron Thomason (mandolin, banjo, guitar). 
  In 2017 a performance by the band was filmed for inclusion in the film Bluegrass Court Jester.
caption: Dry Branch Fire Squad performing at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
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