I posted last week that I'd seen the Zac Brown Band headline the opening day at Merlefest 2011, and playing a version of Van Morrison's Into the Mystic. They were terrific, and played a 2 hour set that suggested they were a road-hardened unit who are currently at the top of their game

They are playing a few UK dates in June; Hyde Park with the Kings of Leon, and a show at the Shepherds Bush Empire

Just look at how easy they make this cover version seem, played considerably faster than the original hit. Guest fiddler Casey Dreissen (in the red suit) is a phenomenal player but regular fiddler Professor Brian Cox ain't no slouch either. The band boasts 2 very good electric guitarists, both of whom can play keyboards to an impressive standard. Zac occasionally plays a Les Paul but mostly plays a nylon strung guitar. But he can hold his end up, so to speak; watch him tear off a few breakneck runs towards the end of this