Go to a Della Mae show and you will not find anyone named Della Mae on stage. The name comes from a character in the classic song Big Spike Hammer, a signal that this band is rooted in traditional bluegrass. This deep dive charts the Grammy-nominated group's evolution from Boston's conservatory-driven acoustic scene in 2009 to a projected 2026 release, Magic Accident, on Compass Records.

We follow their 2010 acoustic EP, the 2011 lineup shift that brought Celia Woodsmith and her washboard into the mix, the self-released debut I Built This Heart, and the rapid rise to Rounder Records and a Grammy nomination for This World Oft Can Be at the 2014 awards. We also examine why they returned to self-releasing with Family Reunion in 2021 and how founding fiddler Kimber Ludiker has anchored a constantly changing collective.

• Why building a ...