thomas cassell | bluegrass omagh 2024

Thomas Cassell is one of the most coveted musicians in the bluegrass music sphere today, already among the highest rank of modern bluegrass mandolinists. 

Originally from the sacred bluegrass mountains of southwestern Virginia, Cassell is now residing in Nashville, Tennessee. Thomas is much revered among his peers and although still in his twenties, he has already amassed quite the haul of industry accolades. Among them the 2021 National Mandolin Champion, the 2020 Momentum Mandolin Instrumentalist of the Year from the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association), 2021 FreshGrass Mandolin Champion and 2016 Rockygrass Mandolin Champion. He’s also a two-time alum of the prestigious Acoustic Music Seminar in Savannah, Georgia, where he collaborated with artists including Darrell Scott, Bryan Sutton, Mike Marshall, Aoife O’Donovan, Kaia Kater, and Julian Lage.

A founding member of respected progressive group Circus No. 9, Cassell is now cultivating new and original music, always respectful of the great traditions and protagonists that preceded him. Following on from his acclaimed 2018 release, the instrumental album Voyager, and 2022’s What You Need to Prove, his first collection of original vocal material, Cassell is currently touring extensively in promotion of his forthcoming album release, due for release on Mountain Fever Records in October 2024, a tour that will take him all the way to Ireland and the stage of Bluegrass Omagh 2024. 

As bluegrass music is rarely a solo venture, Cassell will be joined at Bluegrass Omagh by the competent supporting trio of Karl Smakula (guitar, vocals), Evan Winsor (bass, vocals) and Justin Alexander (banjo, vocals).

Learn more about Thomas Cassell on his website.