Old & In the Way
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Bluegrass music albums, live performances |
Old & In the Way was a bluegrass ensemble established in 1973, composed of Peter Rowan (guitar, vocals), Vassar Clements (fiddle), Jerry Garcia (banjo, vocals), David Grisman (mandolin, vocals), and John Kahn (string bass). Although John Hartford was originally slated to play fiddle, his scheduling conflicts and Clements' strong standing in bluegrass led to Clements taking the role.
Their repertoire included classic pieces such as "Pig in a Pen," along with bluegrass renditions of the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses" and Rowan's composition "Panama Red." The group’s short-lived activity encompassed about 50 concerts throughout 1973 and a reunion performance at a festival in 1974. All official albums are sourced from live recordings captured in San Francisco during October 1973.
The band's self-titled debut album, released in 1975, ranks among the top-selling bluegrass records of all time. In 2002, the group reunited for an album called Old & In the Gray, which did not feature Garcia or Kahn.
On July 31, 2015, remaining members Peter Rowan and David Grisman joined forces with the String Cheese Incident, Chris Pandolfi (banjo), and Blaine Sprouse (fiddle) at the 20th annual Gathering of the Vibes, performing numerous Old & In the Way tracks alongside other covers and original songs.
Old & In the Way
- Jerry Garcia – banjo, vocals
- David Grisman – mandolin, vocals
- Peter Rowan – guitar, vocals
- Vassar Clements – fiddle
- John Kahn – bass
- Richard Greene – fiddle (initial fiddler during first three months)
- John Hartford – fiddle (substituted Greene during rehearsals)
2002 reunion: Old & In the Gray
- David Grisman – mandolin, vocals
- Peter Rowan – guitar, vocals
- Vassar Clements – fiddle
- Herb Pedersen – banjo, guitar, vocals
- Bryn Bright – bass
Discography
| Year Recorded | Year Released | Album | Chart Positions | Label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Bluegrass | US Country | ||||
| 1973 | 1975 | Old & In the Way | 99 | Round Records | ||
| 1973 | 1996 | That High Lonesome Sound | Acoustic Disc | |||
| 1973 | 1997 | Breakdown | ||||
| 2002 | 2002 | Old & In the Gray | 9 | 72 | ||
| 1973 | 2008 | Live at the Boarding House | 3 | Acoustic Oasis | ||
| 1973 | 2013 | Live at the Boarding House: The Complete Shows | Acoustic Oasis | |||
| 1973 | 2025 | Live at Sonoma State – 11/4/73 | Round Records | |||