Old Crow Medicine Show is an Americana string band based in Nashville that has been recording and performing since 1998. Discovered by bluegrass legend Doc Watson while busking outside a pharmacy in Boone, North Carolina, in 2000, the group combines old-time string instrumentation with punk rock energy to create a distinctive sound rooted in pre-World War II blues and folk traditions. Their blend of original songs and traditional material has made them influential figures in the contemporary Americana movement, inspiring acts like Mumford & Sons and sparking a broader revival of banjo-driven string bands.
The band's discography spans nine studio albums, beginning with Eutaw (2002) and progressing through O.C.M.S. (2004), Big Iron World (2006), Tennessee Pusher (2008), Carry Me Back (2012), and Remedy (2014) — the latter earning a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album. They also released a tribute album, 50 Years of Blonde on Blonde (2017), before arriving at Volunteer in 2018, which marked their 20th anniversary as a group. The band's breakout track, "Wagon Wheel," co-written by Ketch Secor with Bob Dylan, achieved platinum certification in 2013 and became a cultural phenomenon through covers by artists including Darius Rucker.
Old Crow Medicine Show was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on September 17, 2013, cementing their status as keepers of an American musical tradition. They received the 2013 Trailblazer Award from the Americana Music Association and were featured in the Grammy Award-winning documentary Big Easy Express alongside Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and Mumford & Sons. The group's frequent appearances at major festivals — including Bonnaroo, MerleFest, Newport Folk Festival, and Telluride Bluegrass Festival — alongside their residencies at venues like The Ryman and Red Rocks Amphitheatre underscore their enduring influence on contemporary roots music.
