Thomas Cassell, folks!

Cassell currently plays mandolin with the Wood Box Heroes, earning numerous appearances on the Grand Ole Opry. He is also a founding member of the respected progressive bluegrass group Circus No. 9 and has built an impressive résumé as a sought-after sideman, performing with artists such as Billy Strings, the Bryan Sutton Band, Jim Lauderdale, Nefesh Mountain, Missy Raines, and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, among many others.

His accolades reflect his standing in the bluegrass world. Cassell was named National Mandolin Champion in 2021, IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year in 2020, FreshGrass Mandolin Champion in 2021, and RockyGrass Mandolin Champion in 2016. He is also a two-time alum of the prestigious Acoustic Music Seminar in Savannah, Georgia, where he studied under luminaries including Darrell Scott, Bryan Sutton, Mike Marshall, Aoife O’Donovan, and Julian Lage.

More details, including collaborators and release specifics, will be announced in the coming months.