OFOAM talks to Ronnie McCoury about the Grateful Dead’s bluegrass roots, growing up surrounded by music legends, and more, in the days ahead of The Travelin’ McCourys’ Grateful Ball at Ogden Music Festival on Saturday night.

Music News

The Travelin’ McCourys are bringing their Grateful Ball from Nashville to Ogden Music Festival on Saturday night, this time with The Brothers Comatose, to play familiar old Dead tunes in a bluegrass-style tribute.

“A lot of you folks found out about bluegrass music through a band called Old & In the Way that Jerry Garcia was in,” Ronnie McCoury, mandolin player of The Travelin’ McCourys tells audiences at the Grateful Ball.

People who attend a Grateful Ball with The Travelin’ McCourys get to hear beloved Grateful Dead tunes played live from a family of musicians — the sons of the iconic Del McCoury — who grew up surrounded by bluegrass legends, including Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, and the “Father of Bluegrass” Bill Monroe. 

Last week, Ronnie McCoury talked to OFOAM (Ogden Friends of Acoustic Music) about the inspiration behind the first Grateful Ball in 2016 with the Jeff Austin Band, which started out as just a group of friends who enjoy Grateful Dead music. “I always liked their songs,” says McCoury, who discovered the Grateful Dead through Old & in the Way. “One of my heroes and friends is David Grisman.” 

Considering Garcia’s roots, the McCourys’ strings-style rendition of Dead tunes makes sense. “Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter were bluegrass musicians first,” McCoury says.

The show’s popularity led them to take it on the road in the following years, reinterpreting the music of the Grateful Dead with different artists. While it’s no longer on tour, Ogden Music Festival attendees will be treated to a special stand-alone Grateful Ball with The Brothers Comatose, raucous bluegrass rockers of the West Coast who are joining the McCourys for the first time.

Every Grateful Ball is unique, with guest artists bringing their chosen Grateful Dead songs. 

McCoury mentioned some of his favorites: the old mountain song “Cold Rain and Snow,” “Loser,” “Cumberland Blues,” and the tune “Dark Hollow” that was popularized by Bill Monroe. 

It was the early influence of Marty Stuart, and later seeing Bill Monroe play when it clicked for 13-year-old McCoury — “I said, ‘I want to play the mandolin.’” Six months later, Ronnie would be the mandolinist in Del McCoury Band with his father. His brother Rob McCoury picked up the banjo at age 9.

The brothers formed The Travelin’ McCourys in 2009 out of the Del McCoury Band, in which they still continue to play, and currently includes fiddler Jason Carter, bassist Alan Bartram, and Cody Kilby on guitar, along with Ronnie and Rob on mandolin and banjo, respectively. 

McCourys advice for young musicians is to “find an instrument you feel is your voice” and to try to play music with someone who inspires you.

The Travelin’ McCourys Grateful Ball will be held on Saturday night during Ogden Music Festival this weekend, starting at 9:45 p.m.

This year’s lineup also includes a slew of other celebrated musicians: Sam Bush, Amy Helm, Flor De Toloache, The Brothers Comatose, Missy Raines & Allegheny, Carolyn Wonderland, AJ Lee and Blue Summit, Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton, Big Richard, Stillhouse Junkies, The Proper Way, and David Burchfield & The Fire Guild. 

The 14th Annual Ogden Music Festival  will be held June 3–5 at Weber County’s historic Fort Buenaventura. In addition to nationally recognized music on the main stage, there are music workshops hosted by the artists, jam sessions, instrument petting zoo, kids' activities, on-site camping, and more. 

Single day tickets for Friday and Saturday ($45), Sunday ($25), weekend passes ($99), and optional camping add-ons are available for purchase online or at the gate. 

Visit OFOAM.org and the OFOAM Facebook page for details and tickets.

Author’s Note

Deann Armes is the founder of The Ogdenite, a freelance journalist, and Marketing Director for this year’s Ogden Music Festival. This article was first published as a press release written by Deann Armes based on her interview with Ronnie McCoury about the Grateful Ball on behalf of OFOAM.