Ever since Tim O’Brien, Pete Wernick, Nick Foster, and Charles Sawtelle first appeared onstage together in 1978, Hot Rize has been one of bluegrass music’s most beloved and critically-acclaimed bands punctuated by winning the IBMA’s first Entertainer of the Year Award. Although it’s been almost 25 years since their last studio album, the foursome – with guitarist Bryan Sutton taking the place of the late Sawtelle – hasn’t lost a step, as they prove on their new record, When I’m Free.