Visit Owensboro and Owensboro Times are partnering to present a series of exclusive interviews, ranging from behind-the-scenes content to heartfelt stories. This installment features Dan Tyminski.
Dan Tyminski has touched nearly every corner of the music industry, but he’s best known for playing alongside Alison Krauss in her band Union Station. Tyminski — who has received 14 Grammy, one CMA and 11 IBMA awards — will perform shows at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. on April 10. (A limited number of tickets are available here.)
To watch Tyminski’s full interview – and to find out who his hero is and get a peek at what his upcoming shows will look like — click here
Tyminski said the upcoming performances will include music from a variety of past and current projects, but will be “straight-up classic bluegrass.” Tyminski will be joined by Adam Steffey, Jason Davis, Maddie Denton, and Grace Davis.
Tyminski has experimented in many genres and musical outlets, including classic southern bluegrass — what some call “Tyminski mashgrass” — and even Hollywood cinema and electronic dance music.
His most iconic works include his role as the singing voice for George Clooney in the movie “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou” and his collaboration with EDM artist Aviicii titled “Hey Brother,” which has been streamed over 1 billion times.
“Throughout my career there’s always been a different type of music to play, but my heart continues to go back to bluegrass. It’s what I cut my teeth on, it’s what I grew up on,” Tyminski said. “This is a band that shines at what we’ll call ‘my kind’ of bluegrass.”
Tyminski said the pandemic impacted his plans for the new year and the typical recording process.
“The original plan was to come out with a bang this year,” he said. “But there is so much new music getting ready to come out, I promise.”
While his sound has strayed in the past, Tyminski said traditional bluegrass fans are going to be happy with the projects he’s worked on during quarantine. Like most people, musicians have had to get creative during the pandemic.
Bands sometimes talk about “synergy” while recording. Due to social distancing, it became increasingly hard to find that synergy.
“If you don’t have the opportunity to play in the studio with everybody recording at the same time, it’s paramount that you get together so that you can hear where the energy is,” Tyminski said. “Get some ideas so that If you have to record separately, you have an idea of how.”
Owensboro has claimed the title as the “Bluegrass Capital of the World,” and Tyminski said he wouldn’t have it any other way. Tyminski has spent some time in the city between performing at ROMP with Allison Krauss and filming the PBS special Bluegrass Now! at the Hall of Fame. He was set to perform at ROMP 2020 before the festival was cancelled due to the pandemic.
“I don’t know of anyone who plays (bluegrass) or is into the music that doesn’t immediately think of Owensboro,” Tyminski said. “You feel the spirit of bluegrass when you go there.”
