Bryan Elijah Smith - Jay Austin

Jay Austin

Fiddle, Mandolin & Backing Vocals

Jay Austin started playing violin 12 years ago after watching a VHS tape his parents had made of Peter Ostroushko performing on Prairie Home Companion in ’86. After 8 years of playing mostly classical music (including two years playing with The Danville Symphony Orchestra), he spent the next two years going back to his roots in folk, bluegrass and old time fiddle playing, while also spending time playing classical guitar and mandolin and playing in several bands through the years. After meeting Bryan somewhat by chance after seeing him perform at the Mockingbird in Staunton, VA in March 2010, Jay and Bryan began working together immidately.