In his formative years, highly-regarded, old-time musician Riley Baugus often played with and learned from elders of the tradition in North Carolina and Virginia. Earnest study - and total immersion in the wealth of knowledge available to him by virtue of being an insider from the region - gave Baugus access to experience that positioned the North Carolina native as standard-bearer and direct link between the art's pre-commercial beginnings and today. On Long Steel Rail, Baugus continues to embrace his role in this lineage: singing, fiddling, and playing banjo with absolute love and respect for the humanity and tradition that brings music into his life. Produced by Tim O'Brien and Dirk Powell.