Hot Rize reunion heads Grey Fox lineup announcement

The influential progressive bluegrass quartet Hot Rize will reunite in July at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival for a 30th anniversary celebration. Formed in 1978 by Tim O'Brien, Pete Wernick, Charles Sawtelle, and Nick Forrester, the band performed regularly at all the major roots music festivals throughout the 1980s, and have come back together on many occasions since.

After Sawtelle's passing in 1999, several other guitarists have had stints with the band. Most recently, Bryan Sutton played with the band with it played a series of dates in 2002 and 2003. Since then, Hot Rize has made few appearances, but last July the three regulars and guitarist David Grier played at the wedding of actor Steve Martin, with the groom sitting in for several songs on banjo.

It is unknown if the Grey Fox booking is a one-time occasion, or if Hot Rize is undertaking a reunion tour with stops at other festivals this summer. The band's alter-ego, Red Knuckles & The Trailblazers, will also appear at Grey Fox in a separate set.

The partially announced Grey Fox lineup also includes David Grisman Bluegrass Experience, Del McCoury Band, Jerry Douglas Band, Sparrow Quartet, The Grascals, Uncle Earl, The Infamous Stingdusters, The Greencards, Adrienne Young & Little Sadie, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper and more. As always, Dry Branch Fire Squad serves as the host band. The full details are here.

As earlier noted on this blog, Grey Fox might also see the beginnings of a new collaboration, when David Grisman and The Infamous Stringdusters are both set to appear on Friday at the festival. Two weeks ago, Dawg and the 'Dusters played together for the first time at Freight & Salvage in Berkeley CA.