Forrest OConnor was born in 1988 in Nashville. He picked up the mandolin at age 13 while living in Missoula, MT and taught himself bluegrass and fiddle tunes. After enrolling at Harvard in 2006, he teamed up with accordionist Dan Gurney, fiddler Duncan Wickel, and bassist Nicky Schwartz to form The Hay Brigade, a progressive bluegrass band that performed on Public Radio International and WGBH as well as in venues throughout Boston. After graduating in 2010, OConnor began writing, singing, and performing on a regular basis, both solo and as a member of the David Gallagher Band. In 2012, he performed with Melissa Ferrick at Club Passim as well as with his dad Mark, the Carrie Rodriguez Band, and Cia Cherryholmes to several sold-out crowds throughout the eastern U.S. This group will tour again later in 2013.