By Michelle Childress Osterhoudt | MC Writes and Snaps

I was fortunate enough to sit down with the Davisson Brothers Band on Bob Durkin’s tour bus during Barefoot Country Music Fest in Wildwood, New Jersey—a setting as real and laid-back as the band itself. As part of my Five Fast Tracks series, I asked them five quick, candid questions. What followed was a laugh-out-loud, heart-tugging ride full of family stories, Appalachian pride, and a whole lot of love for country music.

🏖️1. The Jersey Shore has its own vibe—what’s your favorite part about playing BCMF and being by the beach?

Chris Davisson didn’t hesitate:

“The people here—it’s like going back in time. It feels like 50 years ago, in the best way.”

The band shared how the hospitality at the Jersey Shore reminds them of home in West Virginia.

“It’s not corporate—it’s mom-and-pop, family-run. Everyone’s so kind, down-to-earth. It’s like Southern hospitality… in New Jersey. Which is wild!”

They laughed about beachside tractor rescues, pink flamingos, and vintage motel vibes, but kept coming back to the same point:

“It’s the people that make this place special.”

🎤2. Country music has exploded in recent years—why do you think it’s drawing more people in?

“Because it’s finally free,” Chris explained. “Streaming lets people find real, independent artists. Radio used to control it all, but not anymore.”

They shared stories of artists like Sierra Ferrell, who used to open for them back home in Appalachia and just won four Grammys. They also shouted out Radio WV, the platform helping unknown artists go viral overnight.

“If you’re authentic and real, people will find you.”

🎤3. What’s the one song in your set that always hits different when played live?

Without missing a beat, they said:

“Chicken Train!”

“That one gets everybody moving—young, old, you name it. I’ve seen grandmas back there cheesin’ and dancing like it’s nobody’s business.”

Chris added:

“Our dad had us performing that one since we were kids. We’ve never done a show without it. It’s tradition—and it’s chaos in the best way.”

🎤4.  If fans remembered just one thing about your set—what would you want it to be?

Donnie leaned in with sincerity:

“That they smiled. That they forgot what was going on in life for a little while.”

“Music should lift people up. Whether it’s 10 people or 10,000, for that moment, it’s just us and them.”

🎤5. What role does family play in your music—and your journey?

“Everything. It’s who we are.”

Their band is built on five generations of musicians. On stage, you’ll find their dad, their sons, their nephews—sometimes three generations playing the same song.

“We just played our hometown theater with my brother, my son, my nephews, and my dad. That may never happen again, but it’s what we’ve always dreamed of.”

They even shared how they met Chris Janson—before the fame, before the hit records—when they found him stranded and took him back to West Virginia. The rest, of course, is country music history.

➡️The Takeaway?

The Davisson Brothers Band aren’t chasing a trend—they are the tradition. With roots deep in West Virginia and hearts wide open on every stage they hit, they remind us what country music is truly about: stories, soul, and family.

And yes—if you hear “Chicken Train” at one of their shows, don’t fight it. Get up and dance. Grandma would.

Check out The Davisson Brothers Band here.