The ‘Billboard’-charting bluegrass band comprised of Dominican friars discusses their new album and tour, marking the feast of St. Dominic.
Between ministering to their communities and traveling down the southern interstate from Macon, Georgia, to Birmingham, Alabama, the Dominican friars of The Hillbilly Thomists are balancing full-time religious life with the whirlwind of a regional tour.
Their latest project, Strange Land, was released as a surprise drop just a couple of days into their summer tour, offering listeners a blend of deep theological reflection and traditional Americana music.
The surprise-drop decision was driven largely by their demanding schedules. After writing and recording the tracks a year prior, the post-production process had to fit around their primary duties as “hounds of the Lord.”
“The post-production process just takes a while because we are all full-time preachers and teachers and chaplains and pastors,” said Dominican Father Justin Bolger, who spoke with the Register along with his band brothers while on the road. “After this kind of two-week stint that we do in the summer, the music takes a backseat to that … So it kind of came out when it came out.”
