From the hollers of the Blue Ridge Mountains to stages shared with bluegrass royalty, the Wildmans have been steadily building something special. And with their new album Longtime Friend, the Virginia-born sibling duo steps fully into their own light. Led by sister and brother Aila and Eli Wildman, the group traces its roots back to early jam sessions in their childhood home, where fiddle and mandolin were as familiar as bedtime stories. By the time they were preteens, they were gigging around the region with their mom, Deb, on bass, under the name the Blackberries. But Longtime Friend feels like the Wildmans’ true coming-of-age moment. a finely tuned yet unfiltered showcase of virtuosic chops, lived-in harmonies, and a willingness to stretch tradition.

The album, their most ambitious yet, honors the core of Appalachian music but never treats it like a museum piece. There’s reverence, sure, but also rebellion. The Wildmans lean into the improvisational spirit of their influences, taking mandolin runs and fiddle lines for joyrides without ever losing sight of the song. Whether they’re covering a classic, picking through an instrumental whirlwind, or delivering one of their own heartfelt originals, the band radiates a rare chemistry built over a lifetime of playing together.

The title track, “Longtime Friend,” captures the essence of their sound, it’s tender, timeless, and rooted in emotional honesty. Elsewhere, songs veer into more daring territory, echoing the spirit of modern string band innovators like Billy Strings and Molly Tuttle, both of whom the band has shared stages with. But make no mistake, the Wildmans aren’t looking to simply chase trends. They’re following their own trail, one tread by grace and an abiding love of the music that raised them. You can hear the mountains in their melodies, but there’s also the pulse of the road, the sound of young artists carrying the old ways forward in their own way.