Acclaimed Irish bluegrass artist Danny Burns teams up with American bluegrass legend Dan Tyminski on “Brother Wind,” a riveting reimagining of Tim O’Brien’s beloved folk anthem. The track is a haunting and reflective ballad that captures themes of restlessness, resilience, and the search for peace. Infused with Burns’ Celtic soul and Tyminski’s Appalachian fire, the track soars with longing and quiet redemption. Their voices — gritty and golden — intertwine like old friends on a dusty road, breathing new life into a beloved folk anthem.
“Brother Wind” marks the second glimpse into Burns’ upcoming album Southern Sky, out August 22 (via Bonfire Recording Co.).
STREAM “BROTHER WIND” FT. DAN TYMINSKI HERE.
With warm acoustic guitar, steady banjo, and a driving beat, the instrumentation creates an evocative soundscape. Burns is joined by instrumentalists Cody Kilby (guitar), Billy Contreras (fiddle), Matt Menefee (banjo), Ethan Burkhardt (upright bass), and Jerry Roe (drums), while Tyminski’s unmistakable harmonies bring a weathered depth to the lyrics.
The song quickly caught the attention of The Bluegrass Situation, which featured the track and its official music video in their “You Gotta Hear This” roundup. Reflecting on the collaboration, Danny Burns shares, “‘Brother Wind,’ by the mighty Tim O’Brien, has long been a favorite of mine since coming across it on the Transatlantic Sessions. I couldn’t have been more delighted when my musical brother Dan Tyminski agreed to sing with me — he brought his iconic golden voice to this track.”
Southern Sky has already begun making waves, led by the breakout success of its lead single, “Blue Ridge Blue.” Released on February 12, the track — written by acclaimed songwriter Jim Beavers and featuring bluegrass luminaries Sam Bush and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes — quickly climbed to #1 on both the Bluegrass Today Airplay Chart and the Grassicana Chart, spending multiple weeks at the top. The single has also earned consistent rotation on SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction, where it remains one of the station’s most played tracks. With its strong chart performance and widespread airplay, “Blue Ridge Blue” stands as Danny Burns’ most successful single on bluegrass radio to date.
Southern Sky is a nine-track journey where Irish roots meet Southern soul, driven by fiddles, dobros, and rich storytelling. Joined by musical legends like Vince Gill, Tim O’Brien, and Ricky Skaggs, Burns crafts soaring melodies that echo the warmth and texture of the American South. “It takes a village,” he says, likening the album’s spirit to Allen Toussaint’s “Southern Nights,” where Appalachian tales blend with deep Southern twang.
Born and raised in Donegal, Ireland, his unique blend of bluegrass, country, Celtic, and folk music has captured the attention of some of Americana’s biggest names, many of whom have joined him on various projects. For the first two decades of his career, Burns honed his craft as a traveling folk singer, sharing the musical traditions of his native Ireland across the United States and captivating audiences with a tapestry of stories and melodies.
About Danny Burns:
Danny Burns is an Irish-born, Americana singer-songwriter whose genre-blending sound fuses bluegrass, country, Celtic, and folk traditions. Raised in Donegal, Ireland, Burns has collaborated with icons like Vince Gill, Tim O’Brien, Ricky Skaggs, Sam Bush, and Steve Earle, earning acclaim from Rolling Stone, CMT, American Songwriter and Billboard. His critically acclaimed 2019 debut North Country and 2021’s Hurricane established him as a rising force in roots music. In 2022, he scored his first #1 on the Grassicana charts and held the top spot on the Gospel Bluegrass chart for thirteen weeks. His forthcoming LP Southern Sky (out August 22 via Bonfire Recording Co.) continues his tradition of cinematic songwriting and all-star collaborations, led by the chart-topping single “Blue Ridge Blue.”
