The Yonder Mountain String Band is based in Nederland, Colorado, and currently comprises Nick Piccininni, Adam Aijala, Ben Kaufmann, and Dave Johnston. They have now released 13 albums and four music videos, as well as several live recordings.
The band had its beginnings in Urbana, Illinois, where Dave Johnston met Jeff Austin. They both relocated to Nederland, Colorado, where the two met Ben Kaufmann and Adam Aijala. The four formed Yonder Mountain String Band. Austin left in 2014, and Piccininni joined in 2020. Yonder Mountain released their album “Get Yourself Outside” in 2022 and won a nomination for “Best Bluegrass Album,” to be considered at the 2023 Grammys.
The group is billed as a “progressive bluegrass” band. Bluegrass originated in the Appalachian region, and has fairly rigid standards that were shaped by the band often associated with this music, Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys. Traditional bluegrass uses only acoustic instruments and musicians play largely folk tunes. Progressive groups build on this tradition but add influences from other genres, including rock. A concert review says:
“. . . Yonder Mountain String Band grows more polished, more dynamic, more adventurous and more commanding every year.”
The Yonder Mountain String Band will appear at the Mission Ballroom in Denver on Friday, January 13. When events like this pop up on the schedule, organizers can use poster printing to spread the word and encourage people to attend.