The Volcano Brothers

A Nashville string band exploring the hot Hawaiian swing of the early steel guitar era

The Volcano Brothers are a Nashville-based band devoted to the sizzling, jazz-fueled sounds of Hawaiian music from the 1920s and ’30s, the era when steel guitars ruled the airwaves, island musicians became international celebrities, and hot swing rhythms swept across the mainland. Born when Steve Dawson and Fats Kaplin discovered a shared, slightly obsessive love for early Hawaiian music, a style they were pretty sure no one else on earth still cared about, the group set out to bring this vibrant, long-overlooked sound back to life. Turns out they were wrong about the “no one else” part.

It didn’t take long for others to jump on board. The core of The Volcano Brothers features Steve Dawson on National tricone lap steel and weissenborn, Fats Kaplin and Richard Bennett on ukuleles, and Dave Jacques on upright bass, longtime collaborators whose combined résumés read like a master class in American roots, country, rock, and beyond. Dawson is one of the most acclaimed guitarists and producers from Canada. Jacques spent almost three decades holding down the low end for John Prine, while Bennett’s storied career includes years with Neil Diamond, an ongoing role in Mark Knopfler’s band, and producing classics like Steve Earle’s Guitar Town (he’s also an obsessive collector of vintage Hawaiian records and instruments). Kaplin has logged serious miles with John Prine as well, while bringing his multi-instrumental magic to projects with Jack White, Mitski, and countless adventurous artists.

More recently, the band expanded its sound with the addition of Andy Reiss on archtop guitar. A highly regarded Nashville session player, Reiss has worked with Marty Stuart and Vince Gill and has been a member of Nashville’s celebrated western swing supergroup The Time Jumpers for over 20 years. Frequent collaborator Jim Hoke adds clarinet in live performances when he’s not in the studio or on the road with artists like Jason Isbell and Paul McCartney, bringing a splash of New Orleans-style swagger to the band’s vintage Hawaiian sound.

Inspired by pioneers like Sol Hoʻopiʻi, King Bennie Nawahi, and Sol K. Bright, the band celebrates the era when Hawaiian musicians embraced blues, jazz, and popular song, creating a fearless, swinging style that helped fuel a worldwide Hawaiian craze in the late 1920s and ’30s. Their repertoire reflects that adventurous spirit, sophisticated, joyful, and full of surprises.

The Volcano Brothers play regularly in Nashville, where their blend of vintage Hawaiian swing, deep musicianship, and off-the-beaten-path repertoire has sparked a growing local buzz and a devoted following. Their performances are equal parts history lesson, tropical daydream, and joyful throwback party, honoring the musicians who made steel guitar a worldwide sensation while keeping the spirit playful, swinging, and very much alive.

The Volcano Brothers Are:

Steve Dawson — Tricone, Weissenborn
Fats Kaplin — Ukulele, Fiddle
Richard Bennett — Ukulele
Dave Jacques — Bass
Andy Reiss — Guitar

And sometimes featuring: Jim Hoke — Clarinet

Check the Tour page for upcoming dates. (Volcano Brothers shows are marked accordingly in Steve’s upcoming tour dates)

Want to book the Volcano Brothers for a gig, event or festival?
Feel free to reach out here and let’s make it happen!