Old Crow Medicine Show — still going strong after 25 years — to play at Belly Up

Old Crow Medicine Show started busking on street corners from New York state to Canada in 1998, attracting fans through its rich harmonies within its version of traditional folk, bluegrass and old-time music.

Since then, it has become one of the most influential string bands, winning two Grammy Awards and RIAA’s Double-Platinum certification for selling over 2,000,000 copies of “Wagon Wheel.” OCMS has also been inducted as members into the Grand Ole Opry.

Friday, it plays at Belly Up.

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In the past 1.5 years, the band has gone through some major changes; Mason Via and Dante’ Pope have left the band. And Chance McCoy, whose first album with OCMS in 2014 helped earn the band a Grammy, has rejoined. But despite lineup changes over the years, the band has continued to evolve, while still remaining true to its roots.

“Chance is from West Virginia, so we’ve got West Virginia back in the band. It’s great to have him back,” said bassist Morgan Jahnig. “One of the great things about Old Crow Medicine Show is that we take all kinds. We’ve been moving and shaking in different configurations for over 25 years now, so when a new face comes in — or an old face — they bring a perspective that changes things a little bit and keeps things interesting. We can do songs we couldn’t do before, or it inspires us to do songs we haven’t done yet, so the constant, ever-involving and flowing river that is Old Crow Medicine Show is only made stronger every time a new fish comes up to the surface.”

After its release of “Jubilee” in August 2023, the musicians are now working on a Christmas record, as well as other projects in their Nashville-based Heartland Studios. Meanwhile, albums like 2008’s “Tennessee Pusher,” 2014’s “Remedy” and 2018’s “Volunteer” remind listeners of the band’s uncanny ability to add a contemporary twist to old-time music.

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The band also likes to bring current matters to the forefront. For instance, in 2022, “Paint This Town” reflected on themes of our nation’s history, resilience, and working-class struggles.

“I think the artist’s job is to dip their quill into the reservoir of the now, and for Old Crow that reservoir is deep: We might end up pulling up some Lead Belly colors, some Gene Austin colors, or some Paul Robeson,” said front-man Ketch Secor. “So as long as these things keep happening in our world, and as long as banjos are around to be plucked and fiddles are there for us to drag a bow across, you can bet we’ll still be interested in making this kind of music. At this point, it’s just our second nature.”

To celebrate 20 years of the release (2004) of its self-titled, first album, “O.C.M.S.,” the record’s original producer, David Rawlings has remastered it on vinyl. And, as Jahnig assures fans: “They’ll be more exciting things to come.”

The band delivers foot-stompin’, energetic live performances that pay tribute to the past while bringing folk and Americana onto a modern stage.

“In a lot of people’s minds, folk music seems to be relegated to a place of supposed purity, but we’ve always wanted our folk music to be the soundtrack to real living rather than something stuck behind the glass in a museum,” Secor said. “We’d much prefer to smash that glass and take those instruments back to the street corners, maybe break some strings and bleed on them a bit. To us, music works best when you sing it loud and hard and lusty until your throat gets sore — it’s meant to hurt when it comes out right.”

Especially this year, “when things feel a little uncertain out there in the world,” Jahnig said, “to be able to come together and sing some songs of hope and some songs a tragedy (shows) the healing power of music. It’s a powerful thing, so we’re hoping to bring that and circle the wagons, as it were, and get everybody together. (We) look forward to having a really good time — you know, an Old Crow show is never a sleepy thing.”