They’re an unlikely, but popular band that just released a third record earlier this month and like the previous two, it’s doing well on the Billboard Bluegrass chart.
What’s unique about the Hillbilly Thomists is they are a group of Dominican friars. And they’re coming to Cleveland for a special performance in a free concert at 7 p.m. Aug. 4 at St. Wendelin Parish, 2281 Columbus Road, Cleveland.
But music isn’t their full-time vocation. There are eight members of the collective. Seven are participating in the band’s first tour, The Old Highway Tour. They performed July 23 in New York City and will have performances July 28 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; July 29 in Chicago, Illinois; July 31 in Cincinnati, Ohio; Aug. 1 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Cleveland concert will be their final stop. They perform in their distinctive long, white, flowing habits with a large rosary on the side.
Five of the Thomists took a break from rehearsing to share thoughts about the band, their music, their vocations and the tour.
All band members are priests and their vocations have placed them in different locations. Father Timothy is a campus minister and chaplain at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. Father Justin and Father Peter Joseph are chaplains at Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island. Father Joseph is based at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. and Father Thomas Joseph White is the rector at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome. All are affiliated with the St. Joseph or Eastern Province, the Dominican province that extends from New England to Virginia to Ohio.
The band’s roots date to 2006 when Father Thomas Joseph and Father Austin Litke began playing music together. “Others joined later to ‘professionalize’ it,” said Father Timothy.
While all the band members have some background in music, one -- Father Justin -- had a career in music before answering the call to his Dominican vocation. He grew up in the Maryland area and was in bands, including one with his sister. He has experience in indie, rock, pop and country music. Father Justin also had experience in the recording industry, including producing albums, which was helpful as the Thomists formed and recorded their first record.
Before focusing on the bluegrass genre, the friars recorded an album of chants and sacred, liturgical music performed by their schola (choir) at the House of Studies in Washington.
Their first album, released in 2017, was mostly bluegrass standards and Americana favorites. It reached No. 3 on the Billboard Bluegrass chart. Their second album, “Living for the Other Side, was released on the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, the original Thomist, in 2021. The third record, “Holy Ghost Power,” was released July 7. Proceeds from album sales, donations and merchandise sales support the formation of friars at the House of Studies in Washington, Father Timothy said.
A Steubenville area native, Father Timothy said several of the friars played bluegrass and Irish music, so we put our hearts and hands together” and the Hillbilly Thomists evolved.
The Dominicans go through formation at the House of Studies in Washington, so they crossed paths there and began playing together. “Our weeknight sessions turned into performances and then recordings,” Father Timothy explained. The band played at festivals, parishes and special events in the East Coast area during the early years.
For their first tour, the friars rented a large van. The seven of them, their instruments, CDs, merchandise and shirts fill the vehicle. “But there is room for the Holy Ghost,” he added, referring to the title of their newest record.
As they travel, the band stays at Dominican parishes when possible. Although they do not have a parish in the Diocese of Cleveland, the Dominicans have ministries in Columbus and Youngstown. The order founded the first parishes in Ohio – in the Cincinnati area -- Father Timothy said. During their novitiate, he said the men travel around to familiarize themselves with the province.
During the two-hour concert, he said the audience will hear new and old compositions. “We perform Americana,” he said. Among the instruments band members play are percussion -- washboard, spoons, and cowbell -- resonator guitar, banjo, keyboard, dulcimer, mandolin, regular guitar and Dobro guitar.
“We pride ourselves on good harmonies,” he said.
Father Damian Ference, diocesan vicar for evangelization and director of Parish Life and Special Ministries, met Father Timothy as a college student and he connected with Father Thomas Joseph while pursuing his doctorate at the Angelicum in Rome. Father Ference returned to Cleveland a year ago but remained in touch with him.
The Thomists said they are looking forward to the Aug. 4 concert here. Local musician Tom Evanchuk will perform before the band takes the stage. In addition, there will be a beer tent, food trucks and ice cream. Those attending the concert should bring a lawn chair.
Bishop-elect Michael Woost, who will be ordained that afternoon, will lead the group in evening prayer in St. Wendelin Church after the concert.
“It’s going to be a great evening,” Father Ference said.
For more information on the Hillbilly Thomists, their music, merchandise and more, click here. Watch and listen to samples of their music videos here.