It’s no secret that the Infamous Stringdusters love Colorado, and let’s be serious, who can blame them? While Virginia is their home base, bassist Travis Book grew up here, and Andy Hall and Chris Pandolfi now spend their days along the Colorado Front Range. It seems to be a home away from home for the band, with highly responsive crowds always eager for some high altitude, innovative bluegrass.

The Parish is completely empty when I arrive.  Austinites haven’t adjusted to the near-freezing temperatures yet, so it’s not surprising that rosy-cheeked audience members only start trickling in during the opening act.  After I buy a whiskey on the rocks, the only respectable drink order for this winter weather, I take a look around.  I’ve never seen this venue, really, because the last time I was here was for Thom Yorke and people were sta

This is John Schumm with the Grateful Web, and joining me is Mr. Andy Hall, who plays dobro and sings with The Infamous Stringdusters, preparing for an upcoming tour called The Road to Boulder, starting in Columbus, Ohio, December 4th, and moving through the Midwest to Boulder for shows on December 7^th and 8^th.

GW: How’re you doing Andy?

The Infamous Stringdusters will embark on a winter tour starting in the Midwest, leading them to Boulder, Colorado and back east while raising the profile of the devastating floods that took place in Colorado in September. Additionally, The Infamous Stringdusters will release their first new single in nearly two years aptly named “Road To Boulder” written by the band’s Andy Hall while he was deciding whether to move from Nashville to Charlottesville, Virginia or Boulder, Color

Unlike the Martha White “self-rising” flour, it takes more than one ingredient, or individual, to lift the spirits of communities affected by natural disasters. On a brisk night in Boulder, Hot Rize brought together a closely linked ensemble of local musicians to do just that. Recognized as a bluegrass-haven, Boulder County hosts an array of talented musicians.

ON October 26^th I got the honor of seeing Yonder Mountain String Band for their Halloween party at the House of Blues in Chicago. It was a beautiful night out in the city. The House of Blues is nestled right downtown among all of the stately buildings and bright city lights. The interior of the building is just as impressive as its stately surroundings. Every wall is painted and decorated differently and the balconies that are stacked three high are decorated with filigree, which is illuminated by color changing lights.  It is truly a beautiful building.

Take one little mountain valley, mix in some mandolins, mud, master brewers, musicians, and some local towns named Roseland and Lovingston and what you get is a well organized and highly enjoyable musical event known as The Festy.  Greeted with road signs pointing out Walton’s Mountain, the Patrick Henry Highway and Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest while passing through classic Americana towns on curvy mountain roads; folk’s attitudes were appropriately adjusted before hearing the first song.

Beginning with an Infamous Stringdusters show in August, 2009 at the Brew Ridge Music Festival located at Devils Backbone Brewery in Nelson County, The Festy was born.  The Stringdusters and Friends created a festival of their own design located just south of the village of Nellysford in Nelson County, Virginia.

A side project of The Infamous Stringdusters, The Founding Fathers, Andy Falco and Chris Pandolfi combine their strings, pedals and whatever instrument is within reach to form as impressive of a duo as is out on the road today.  Their set:

Have A Cigar, Sitting on Top of the World, Ravi Shankar Jam>Listen To The Wind Blow>Ravi Shankar Jam, Fork in the Road, While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Well, it wouldn’t be NedFest without a little rain and a lotta Vince Herman. As the first hopeful few sauntered on to the grounds last Friday, we dared the sky to open up wider and keep pouring down on us. It hadn’t stopped us Nedestrians before (we’re no fair-weather fans) and it certainly was not going to now that Whitewater Ramble, leaving tradition behind, plugged in and opened up the weekend with some lively tunes.