The Stray Birds begins its CD release tour, 8 p.m. Oct. 24, Godfrey Daniels, 7 E. Fourth St., Bethlehem.

The trio of classically-trained musicians grew up in Lancaster and boasts an impressive roots-based repertoire of three-part vocal harmonies, banjo and fiddle.

"NPR Music" named the Stray Birds' self-titled 2012 debut "one of the 10 Best Folk-Americana Albums of the Year." The band has performed at the Philadelphia, Kerrville and Falcon Ridge folk festivals.

The Stray Birds is Maya de Vitry, Oliver Craven and Charles Muench. De Vitry and Muench met in middle school orchestra. After college, Craven and Muench played in a band called River Wheel. Eventually, the three formed The Stray Birds and began playing venues in Lancaster.

After 2012's self-titled independent release, a steady stream of radio play gave The Stray Birds the exposure they'd hoped for. Their increasing popularity led to performances at venues like Nashville's famous bluegrass club, The Station Inn, and an appearance on "Mountain Stage" radio, which helped them gain attention in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

In an interview from her home in Asheville, N.C., de Vitry says the musicians' influences range from the Beatles, to Lucinda Williams, to Levon Helm, Doc Watson and Billie Holiday.

"In the periphery, there's a lot of people. We've been compared to Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. They are a huge influence.

"We enjoyed Nickel Creek in the festival scene. They were young and accessible."

The three bandmates tour extensively, but reside in different states, "Charlie [Muench] is the only one who lives north of the Mason-Dixon Line." He stayed in Lancaster. Craven now calls Nashville, Tenn., home.

The group's second full-length studio album, "Best Medicine" (Yep Roc Records), was released Oct. 21.

"This album is much closer to the way we perform onstage." A majority of the material was recorded live in the same room. "No glass windows, no headphones. Just singing, each of us with our own mic."

"Best Medicine" includes songs reminiscent of Woody Guthrie's Dust Bowl ballads. "It's an intimate and energetic album, with nuances and energy that comes from getting through a whole take."

The Stray Birds strives to emphasize sincerity in their live shows, and they wanted to impart that on the album. "[Recording live] was a big move. We let go of precision. It was challenging."

After Godfrey's, the group tours up and down the East Coast. "We're playing the Appalachian Trail, Maine to Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and Ohio."

In February 2015, in quintessential "ceaseless troubadour style," they'll tour the West Coast and Pacific Northwest. Then it's on to Denmark's Americana celebration, the Tonder Festival.

Tickets: godfreydaniels.org, 610-867-2390