Tim May and Steve Smith

Mandolinist/vocalist Steve Smith and Nashville guitarist/vocalist Tim May bring to Focal Point an evening of original and traditional Bluegrass, Roots, Americana, and Swing music. The two musicians have collaborated in studio and on stages nationwide and now bring their acoustic brand of fire on the strings to your town. Smith and May originally met while on staff at Camp Bluegrass in Levelland, Texas and quickly discovered many common musical threads for exploration honoring tradition and improvisation. Their latest CD The Hillsboro Hay Incident (March, 2024) follows on the heels of A Tribute to the Carter Family (Sept.18, 2020) (July 2016) Murder of Crows and the acclaimed Tim May and Steve Smith CD. All of their recordings reflect upon this acoustic music force the duo has become and includes original and traditional works. Their shows include tight vocal harmonies, dazzling guitar, mandolin, octave mandolin and twin mandolin works throughout a broad range of styles. “It’s well known that mandolin and guitar duets played a lively role in homegrown entertainment and later shaped the sound of bluegrass and early country music (as witness the Monroe Brothers, the Blue Sky Boys, and others). In recent years, David Grisman has celebrated this wonderful sound in albums with Tony Rice, Martin Taylor, and others. Now, Tim May (guitar and vocals) and Steve Smith (mandolin, octave mandolin, and vocals) are also honoring this tradition—and even advancing it.” – Bluegrass Unlimited