Cornmeal have announced that fiddler Phillip Roach will be joining the group as a full time member. The news comes two years after longtime fiddler Allie Kral left the band (she has frequently been on the road with Yonder Mountain String Band since Jeff Austin left the band). Roach, who played The Giving Tree Band until early 2014 and is also an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, sat in with Cornmeal on a few occasions last year before finally coming on board for good.

“Through my time with The Giving Tree Band, I had the pleasure of opening for Cornmeal on many shows, and took every opportunity to watch in awe as they performed their sets,” says Roach. “When the opportunity arose to perform alongside these musicians, I was not only inspired to elevate my playing to their level, but was inspired at the transition from being a fan to being a member. I have such admiration and love for the body of work as well as the community of fans that Cornmeal has cultivated, and I am humbly motivated to honor both entities with my genuine love for this band. I always wanted to be in a band like this, and though my time here is still new, it feels like home.“

Cornmeal wil celebrate their 15th anniversary this year with a new album and a national tour. Their next show will take place at Chicago’s City Winery on February 7 as part of the Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival.