Rooted in the heart of Appalachia, the ETSU Old Time Ramblers are a student-led string band from East Tennessee State University’s renowned Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Program. Under the guidance of Roy Andrade, the group channels the raw energy and soulful grit of 1920s and ’30s mountain music, blending fiddle, banjo, guitar, and vocals into a foot-stomping celebration of tradition.
The Ramblers are more than a band—they’re a living archive. Their repertoire draws from early stars like Clark Kessinger, Doc Roberts, and Arthur Smith, while their performances reflect the immersive, hands-on ethos of ETSU’s old-time curriculum. Whether on stage at the Lincoln Theatre or in a campus barn dance, they bring history to life with every tune.