A singer of unusual clarity and originality, a self-taught multi-instrumentalist of rare ability, and an incisive songwriter, Tim O'Brien has, over the last 20 years, made a lasting mark on what some are calling Americana music through his innate musicianship and his wide-ranging tastes. Whether it's the reinterpretation of an old fiddle tune, a revitalized honky-tonk shuffle from the 1950s, or an original, bluegrass-inflected folk song, O'Brien's music feels familiar and comfortable while never lapsing into the predictable. The Wall Street Journal called him "a player who updates and clarifies classic repertoire without stripping it of its earthy essence, and who writes classic-sounding material stamped with his own perceptive personality." He describes what he's been doing all these years more concisely: "making something new out of something old."

The Tim O'Brien Band is comprised of Tim O'Brien (on mandolin, fiddle, & bouzouki), Dirk Powell (on accoustic bass guitar & accordion), Casey Driessen (fiddle), and John Doyle (guitar & vocals). This will be Dirk Powell's third appearance at OFAM.