Bud Dillard Music

Bud Dillard is a seasoned singer and multi-instrumentalist based in Sebastopol, California. Best known for his dynamic mandolin playing, Dillard is  skilled on the guitar and brings a versatile approach to his music, drawing from a broad palette of genres including bluegrass, country, folk, rock, Celtic, jazz, and classical.

Born in Alabama, and raised in Northwest Florida, Dillard was immersed in a cultural tradition that spanned the swamp-grass Americana of the Gulf Coast to the high lonesome sound of Appalachian bluegrass. Inspired early on by local legends like Balder Saunders and national icons such as Sam Bush, he honed his craft by studying the masters—both onstage and on record. His influences run deep, from bluegrass pioneers Bill Monroe, the Stanley Brothers, and Flatt & Scruggs, to contemporary innovators like Chris Thile, Andrew Marlin, and again, Sam Bush.

Currently, Dillard plays mandolin with the acoustic outfit Late for the Train and sings and plays guitar in Electric Tumbleweed, a psychedelic outlaw country group. Another current project Dillard plays mandolin with is Grassomoxoa, a high-energy Grateful Dead inspired jamgrass outfit. His past collaborations include performances and recordings with California-based groups One Grass Two Grass, The Cherry Pickers and The Get Down Boys, as well as Florida’s WaCo Ramblers.

Whether on stage or in the studio, Bud Dillard brings a deep reverence for tradition paired with a spirit of exploration, creating music that bridges eras, genres, and geographic roots.