Greensky Bluegrass on Tour

It might not be out of line to call Greensky Bluegrass the Grateful Dead of the progressive bluegrass scene. Like the Dead, they combine several strands of American musical tradition into a sound that’s best experienced in concert and leaves plenty of room for jamming, and, true to form, their live recordings are as enthusiastically received as their studio albums. In fact, members of the Dead have collaborated with Greensky at various points. And while their repertoire contains powerful original material, Greensky have also become known for transforming popular tunes from disparate genres into something all their own. Amid a batch of their own tunes, in concert they might tackle The Allman Brothers Band’s “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More,” Prince’s “1999” or Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” But whatever enters their set, and no matter the source, it ends up definitively Greensky.

Greensky Bluegrass in Concert

Kalamazoo, Michigan, is the birthplace of one of the most unique bands in progressive bluegrass. It was in 2009 that banjo player Michael Bont, mandolinist Paul Hoffman and guitarist Dave Bruzza formed the first incarnation of Greensky Bluegrass in Kalamazoo. By the time they released their debut album, Less Than Supper, in 2004, dobro man Al Bates and bass player Chris Carr had come aboard as well. Personnel changes have occurred since then, and while the original trio remains at the core of Greensky Bluegrass, they were eventually joined by bassist Mike Devol and dobro player Anders Beck in a lineup that has developed a musical language all its own. Naturally, that language draws most strongly from Greensky’s bluegrass roots, but it also incorporates elements of rock, folk, jazz and more. Not only has the band long been a mainstay of the biggest bluegrass festivals, their knack for improvisational excursions has also earned them a place of honor on the jamband circuit. But then, Greensky’s ability to engage a multitude of audiences has always been at the heart of the band’s appeal. Previously, Greensky Bluegrass has sold out venues to capacity, like Tabernacle and House of Blues.