Gary Brewer turns a childhood mountain legend into a driving bluegrass story on “Ripshin Mountain,” available now through Pinecastle Records.

Brewer wrote the song from stories passed down by his father and grandfather near Roan Mountain, Tennessee. Their tales centered on Scratch, a nine-foot, Bigfoot-like figure said to guard the land.

‘Ripshin Mountain’ Brings Scratch to Life

Brewer remembers Scratch as something between folklore and a warning. In the family stories, the creature was not simply a monster hiding in the woods. Instead, it protected the mountain.

Scratch “ain’t man nor beast, but somewhere in between,” Brewer said.

That mystery gives “Ripshin Mountain” its tension. A deep groove and darker atmosphere support the story without turning the creature into a novelty.

Brewer handles lead vocals and guitar. Wayne Brewer contributes harmony vocals and upright bass, while Mason Brewer sings harmony and plays mandolin. Andy Hall adds resophonic guitar.

Gary Brewer Builds Toward a 2027 Album

“Ripshin Mountain” is the second preview of Brewer’s forthcoming album. It follows “I’m Just Ramblin’,” which reached No. 1 on the Roots Music Report Top 50 Kentucky Song Chart.

The new project will be Brewer’s first full-length bluegrass album since 40th Anniversary Celebration. That record spent 16 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Albums chart. The forthcoming release will also mark his first album through Pinecastle Records.

Brewer founded Gary Brewer & The Kentucky Ramblers in 1980. As a fifth-generation musician, he has carried his family’s musical tradition forward while continuing to write from his own Appalachian experiences.

Listen to Gary Brewer & The Kentucky Ramblers’ “Ripshin Mountain.”