Born and raised in West Virginia, Isaac McCarthy celebrates Appalachia through his modern interpretation of traditional music. His holistic approach to Appalachian tradition blends dance, song, and tune to create music for the 21st century — as a writer, dance caller, and multi-instrumentalist specializing in three-finger banjo, he can be found playing on stage with groups such as The Bear Essentials Trio and The Sweaty Hands String Band. 

In addition to his musical background, McCarthy is an award-winning educator, speaker, and writer; his projects have been supported by Bluegrass Pride, the International Bluegrass Music Association Foundation, and by the WVU Launchlab. In 2025, McCarthy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from West Virginia University, and was selected as an Order of Augusta Recipient. He is currently pursuing a PhD in musicology at The Ohio State University, where his research focuses on queer Appalachian experience, three-finger old-time banjo, and neo-traditional music. When not playing banjo, Isaac McCarthy is normally found hiking in the woods, sipping a maple latte, or square dancing. His debut recording, Everywhere You Were, is available now on all streaming platforms.