Pioneers. Innovators. These are but a few of the monikers that Yonder Mountain String Band has worn since its inception. From the first Yonder shows in the fall of 1998 to their drive-in tour in 2020, this touring force has brought their adventurous musical spirit to countless cities and venues for nearly a quarter-century. You can experience it all this summer when they land in Greenville, South Carolina.
Fueled by a desire to create a sound distinctly their own, Yonder Mountain’s take on traditional bluegrass is informed by members’ diverse musical influences ranging from punk rock to the Grateful Dead. These unique perspectives and personalities, combined with their jam band fan culture and collaborative approach to writing and arranging original songs, has brought a whole new generation of Bluegrass fans to light. Of course, no band has stood the test of time without transformation, and Yonder Mountain has had its fair share of change. Today, Yonder Mountain String Band is comprised of founding members Adam Aijala (guitar), Ben Kaufmann (bass), and Dave Johnston (banjo) alongside the 2015 addition Allie Kral (fiddler) and multi-instrumentalist newcomer Nick Piccininni (mandolin, second fiddle, anything stringed – wow!).
Yonder Mountain String Band is a quintessential ensemble honing its craft night after night. The result? Music that is continuously progressing and breaking unprecedented ground. We can’t wait to see where they take their sound on their ninth studio album set to release later this year.