Bryan and Emma McDowell

Bryan & Emma at 2008 IBMA Songwriters Showcase

Bryan and Emma McDowell were honored to be featured as one of ten artist selected to perform two of their original songs at the 2008 IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Associations) Songwriters Showcase at the World of Bluegrass Event held in Nashville, Tennessee, September 30, 2008.

2008 Galax's 1st Place Bluegrass Band

More exciting news! Out of 172 bluegrass bands registered to compete, 4 Fret Kord wins 1st Place Bluegrass Band at the 2008 73rd Annual Old Fiddler's Convention.
"4 Fret Kord" is a hot group of young musicians consisting of Bryan McDowell on fiddle, Eric Hardin on banjo, Tracy Burcham on bass and harmony vocals, Melissa King on lead vocals, Chase Joyner on mandolin and harmony vocals, and Brandon Davis on guitar. You can catch their winning performance currently on www.youtube.com and by seaching on "2008 Galax First Place Band." They are on stage there, left to right, in the same order listed in this news flash.

Check our website in the near future for more pictures and video from Galax 2008!

The McDowell Family Band is no longer performing on a regular basis, but we (Bryan and Emma) are performing as a duet this season.

If you have followed us for very long, you will remember The McDowell Family's web site, www.mcdowellfamilyband.com . The family site is currently undergoing reconstruction. When finished, not only will it have a new look, but it will contain the history and many memorable photos of The McDowell Family Band. For the most recent news, schedules, CDs, bios, and pictures, we recommend you use this site, www.BryanandEmmaMcDowell.com. This is a NEW site so you will want to check back often as we continue to expand, revise, and update the content.

Be sure to "Join our mailing list," see box below. You can also email us from our Contact Us page. We'd love to hear from you and will always appreciate your feedback about our new site. And we'd like to invite you to become a member of our new Guestbook on the Contact Us page and look forward to your comments.

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Last year, we had the priviledge of recording a CD with our long-time fiddle teacher and mentor, Arvil Freeman. "The Triple Fiddle Album" now has airplay on several radio stations and is receiving great reviews. Two of the albums songs, "Jerusalem Ridge" and "Sweet Hour of Prayer", are currently being featured on our website for your listening pleasure.
You can click on CD Liner Notes (a subpage of the "Home" page) to review the cd liner notes from The Triple Fiddle Album or see the cd song lists and more album details on our Merchandise page. You can also make your selections and purchase directly from our Merchandise page or listen to cd song cuts or make purchases from our personal cdbaby web page at www.cdbaby.com/all/bryem1619 . If you prefer purchasing by check, you can email us from our Contact Us page to place your order. Thank you for your continued support.

"You guys have a great record on your hands...something to be proud of. I'm very impressed with the quality. The playing is clean and thoughtful. All the instruments sound great. Way to go!" -Bryan Sutton

"If (Bill) Monroe was recording today, he would snap up this synergisitc group of triple fiddles and feature them prominently. And he would be glad he did!" -Laura Boosinger

Bryan and Emma McDowell (now 16 and 19) have been performing in the southeast with their family band, The McDowell Family, for eight years. They began in churches, and were soon invited to play at multiple venues, including bluegrass festivals, state fairs, family theme parks, the well-known Renfro Valley Barndance of Kentucky and Carter Family Fold of Virginia, as well as private weddings, receptions, anniversaries, reunions, and corporate events.

During this time, the siblings were mentored on fiddle by Master Fiddler Arvil Freeman, of Weaverville, NC. Many will remember Arvil as the long running house fiddler with The Marc Pruett Band at the famous Bill Stanley's BBQ in Asheville, NC. From the same era of bluegrass fiddlers, Arvil's style is markedly similar to that of Kenny Baker. And while you hear that strong influence in the fiddlin' of Bryan and Emma, they have both gone on to develop their own separate styles of fiddlin' based on their individual interests and other musical influences. They have also received occasional vocal instruction from Dale Ann Bradley (2007 IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year). Bryan and Emma are now award-winning musicians in the field of bluegrass music, and while they have a style and repertiore all their own, they have been likened to such acts as Alison Krauss and Union Station, Nickel Creek, Sonya Isaacs, Bryan Sutton, and Aubrey Haynie.

Now performing as a duet, they have kept their feet planted firmly in the traditional bluegrass music of the Blue Ridge Mountains, but many of their performances include contemporary and progressive bluegrass, traditional jazz, Celtic, folk/Americana, and gospel. While the pair provide live acoustic music for a variety of events, much of their performances are private. Please visit the Schedule page for their public concerts and festival performances. Bryan and Emma offer private music instruction and they provide studio work both on and off site.