Bluegrass Journey

The story below is from our May/June 2024 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you! 

Photos Courtesy of The Brothers Young

The Brothers Young blend youthful energy with timeless bluegrass, preserving tradition while carving out their unique musical path. 

In the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where the sounds of traditional music echo through the valleys, two brothers have woven their musical talents into a dynamic bluegrass duo known as The Brothers Young. Ayden, 17, plays the Scruggs-style banjo, while 13-year-old Blane plays the mandolin. The journey of The Brothers Young began in August 2020, as their shared love for music evolved into a harmonious blend of bluegrass melodies.

The Brothers Young story began early in life for the boys. Ayden began playing piano at age eight and banjo at 11 while Blane started playing piano at age seven, mandolin at eight and drums at 11. With their combined passion for music, it is no surprise that these lessons naturally led to joint performances. The inspiration to form a bluegrass duo stemmed from their love for the genre and a desire to share their talents with the community. Growing up in the mountains of Roanoke, Virginia, surrounded by the rich tapestry of traditional music, and residing close to the Crooked Road played a pivotal role in shaping their unique musical style.

Like all talented musicians, Ayden and Blane draw inspiration from many bluegrass legends such as Earl Scruggs, Ricky Skaggs and Bill Monroe. Their love for classic artists like Flatt & Scruggs, Stanley Brothers and Osborne Brothers fuels their commitment to preserving the timeless sound of bluegrass. While their inspiration is drawn from some of the greats in the bluegrass genre, the brothers focus intently on their creative process, which involves putting their own twist on classic bluegrass songs while staying true to the genre’s roots.

As a young brother duo in the music industry, The Brothers Young acknowledge the challenges of establishing themselves among seasoned musicians. Despite their age, their talent has garnered recognition, including Ayden’s victory in the adult bluegrass banjo competition at the Sparta Fiddlers Convention at only 16 years old, and Blane getting his mandolin signed by Ricky Skaggs. In their experience, Ayden and Blane say it can be a challenge to get their name out there. “Sometimes we feel we are not taken seriously because of our ages, but attending a performance of ours will change your mind!” says Ayden. Those who have had the opportunity to see the Brothers Young perform live already know firsthand how talented and entertaining the Brothers are. Their live performances create an atmosphere of joy and nostalgia and are filled with toe-tapping classic bluegrass, as well as some brotherly banter.

Performing at places like The Floyd Country Store holds a special place in their hearts. Ayden shared, “It is where we first got our start performing on the stage. The atmosphere and the people really make it seem like a second home to us.” Not only does performing at venues like this help the Brothers progress their career and get their name out there, but also helps to build lasting connections with the community.

As their journey progresses, the opportunity to play at even bigger venues and for more people continues to present itself. The boys have played at venues and festivals including MerleFest, Bristol Rhythm & Roots, Biltmore Estate (Antler Hill Stage) and Woodsong Kids.

Recording experiences have been memorable for The Brothers Young, from recording singles with the Junior Sisk Band to Ayden’s home studio creations. Their albums, “Christmas in The Hills” and “B Is for Bluegrass,” showcase their commitment to quality and authenticity.

One of the main goals of The Brothers Young is to introduce classic bluegrass to younger generations and encourage them to explore their musical talents. Ayden believes that “everyone has been gifted with a talent, and many have the talent for music, they simply have to discover it; the great thing about music is you can play it your whole life!”

Engaging with the community is one of the most important aspects of The Brothers Young journey. Performing regularly with around 20 activities directors for Roanoke and Salem retirement communities is one way that the boys achieve this, as the residents love the bluegrass music!

When asked why creating this music is so important to him, Ayden shared, “seeing the joy on people’s faces when they hear the music that has such a rich heritage in this part of the country and knowing that the older generations grew up on this kind of music makes us really put on a show for the older folk in the retirement homes and elsewhere. I also feel like the youth of today have not been exposed to this kind of music and I want them to hear what shaped the music of today.”

Looking ahead, The Brothers Young plan to keep classic bluegrass alive. “We want the next generation to enjoy it as much as we do, what goes around comes around and we want to be a part of that.”

They also plan to continue playing at various venues and possibly exploring jazz with their new project, 610 Jazz Duo, where they will showcase their talents on the jazz piano and jazz drum kit.

As brothers, Ayden and Blane acknowledge the evolution of their relationship while also navigating the challenges of working together by learning as they go. Ayden shared that it is easier “when we see eye to eye…but that comes with wisdom and time.” By navigating this musical journey, the brothers have learned a lot, and even shared some advice for aspiring musicians, “if you are looking to play bluegrass music and are looking to find a spot in Nashville someday, to take words from a country song, ‘if you’re big star bound, let me warn you, it’s a long hard ride.’”

As The Brothers Young step into the upcoming year, their focus remains steadfast on delivering raw, authentic music that resonates with the community. Stay tuned as the brothers explore uncharted territories in music and leave their imprint on the local music scene.

Follow The Brothers Young on Facebook and YouTube to keep up with news and events.

The story above is from our May/June 2024 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!