North Georgia is known for its treasure trove of mountain and bluegrass music. So bringing a contemporary bluegrass act to the area just seems like a no-brainer.

Bluegrass sensation Dailey & Vincent will kick off the UGA Performing Arts Center's 2010-11 Traditions series at 8 tonight in Hodgson Concert Hall.

Dailey & Vincent's most recent albums, "Brothers from Different Mothers" and "Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers," have each hit No. 1 on the Billboard Bluegrass charts.

The duo swept the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards in 2008 and 2009, winning 10 awards including Entertainer of the Year both years and Album of the Year in 2008.

Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent became the most heralded new act in the bluegrass music in 2008 as their debut album, "Dailey & Vincent," went to No. 1 on Billboard's Top Bluegrass Albums chart, as well as the Bluegrass Unlimited and Bluegrass Music Profiles album charts.

The album yielded three No. 1 singles - "By the Mark," "More Than a Name on a Wall," and "Sweet Carrie" - and was named Album of the Year, one of seven awards the group took home at the 2008 International Bluegrass Music Awards.

Although new as a duo, Dailey & Vincent's path to acclaim began many years ago.

Both men were raised in musical families and began playing bluegrass at the age of 3, Dailey in Tennessee and Vincent in Missouri. They apprenticed with some pretty legendary acts - Dailey with Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver and Vincent with Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder.

Dailey and Darrin met in 2001 and discovered an uncanny harmony in their vocal blend.

"Although we're not brothers, we found that our voices blended pretty naturally. We've worked on vocal phrasing and pronunciation to make the blend even stronger, " said Vincent.