For twenty years, Yonder Mountain String Band has brought thousands of fans to the bucolic setting of Horning’s Hideout in Oregon for the multi-day Northwest String Summit. The festival was always bluegrass-centered, but over the years it gradually expanded to include funk, rock and roll, folk and other music that might fit under the jam band umbrella. Its reputation built over time based on the beautiful setting, small but well-curated lineup, and friendly, communal atmosphere that felt particularly unique compared to other festivals. On July 21-24, Yonder Mountain String Band and the festival organizers hosted the twentieth and final String Summit. Inviting some of their closest musical compadres – many of whom have played the festival numerous times throughout the years – as well as a handful of new acts, Yonder presided over one big party that was as much a bittersweet goodbye as it was a heartfelt celebration.
Though there were tons of musical moments and impressive sets to savor throughout the weekend, these are eight that stood out:
Keller and the Keels Getting Nostalgic
Having played String Summit several times throughout the years as well as with Yonder, Keller and the Keels fit right in with their late afternoon Friday set. In this case, the trio seemed to be dabbling in nostalgia as they opened with Keller’s classic tune “Breathe” that showcased lovely trio harmonies and sharp acoustics. The band would also tackle songs that were sure to please the crowd and had the desired effect, including Weezer’s “Island In The Sun” and “Hashpipe” that led into the Keller favorite “Freaker By The Speaker” and a Tom Petty sandwich of “Last Dance for Mary Jane” with “Breakdown” served up in the middle. But they saved the best for last when they invited Kyle Tuttle (definitely MVP of the weekend) to the stage to cover Jeff Austin’s “New Horizons.”
Del McCoury Keeping Traditional Bluegrass Alive
In a weird twist of events that can only be explained by the current travel nightmare we are all dealing with, Del McCoury’s band started as a trio due to his bass player and fiddle player being stuck in traffic. This actually made for a spontaneous bit of showmanship as band members slowly joined in, adding layers to the sweet bluegrass sounds. The band played love songs and ballads drawn from Del’s decades of experience. In terms of traditional bluegrass, it truly doesn’t get better than Del McCoury, and the living legend was in fine spirits as he eased the crowd into the evening festivities.
Railroad Earth Scaling Up Their Sound
Maybe it was the fact that Anders Osborne produced their last album and it was recorded in New Orleans, but Railroad Earth’s set was filled with soulful sounds that showed a new dimension to the jamgrass stalwarts. The addition of Mike Robinson on pedal steel guitar and other instruments and Matt Slocum on keyboard and organ added a lot to depth to their sound, at times bringing to mind Little Feat. Their set found the band expanding and contracting as they stretched out and really seemed to embrace the moment, playing old songs like “Bird In a House” alongside new material, including the brand new “Showers of Rain.” The set also had the crowd dancing and braced them for the rock and roll explosion that followed.
JRAD Delivering the Most Explosive Rock and Roll of the Weekend
Starting off slow and building up, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead played one of the biggest sets of the weekend on Friday night with their mixture of Grateful Dead and Dead-adjacent material. When the band hit “Playing In the Band,” they were firing away at full force with sprawling guitar jams, solid group harmonies, and a level of energy that wouldn’t relent for the entirety of their two-hour set. Compared to the snoozy approach of Dead & Company, JRAD presents the music of the Dead in a fresh light while cranking up the momentum of the music to make every song more danceable than the next. There were loads of highlights throughout their set, but some of the finest moments included a “Friend of the Devil” with a bluegrass edge courtesy of Greensky Bluegrass’ Paul Hoffman, a group happy birthday sang to Marco Benevento, a rousing “Scarlet Begonias,” a monstrously jammed “Jessica” (Allman Brothers Band), a soul-stirring “Black Muddy River,” and Benevento laying into a vicious piano solo on “Not Fade Away” to close the set. Through it all, the band barely broke for a second between songs, keeping the psychedelic vibes flowing until the end.
One More Saturday Night with Leftover Salmon
It’s always a part when Leftover Salmon plays and their early evening set was no exception. Their set started easygoing and bouncy as they got the crowd dancing and kicking up dust. With their bluegrass-meets-zydeco-meets-rock sound, the band kept a steady stream of old favorites flowing while conveying the kind of sentiment that showed how much String Summit has meant to them. They also invited a slew of guests out, including Jennifer Hartswick, Lindsay Lou, Kyle Tuttle, and Larry Keel to make for the kind of party that only Leftover Salmon can throw.
Yonder Mountain String Band Going All Out on Saturday Night
Few fans could argue that Yonder was never the same following the departure of Jeff Austin, but the band’s Saturday night set manifested the kind of energy that brought back memories of the old days when they were on top of the jamgrass world. The band would invite numerous guests to the stage, including Jennifer Hartswick on trumpet and soulful vocals, Larry Keel, Kyle Tuttle and more. The whole set was basically one giant sit-in as the band invited guest after guest to join in the fun and even pay tribute to Jeff Austin. Members of Greensky Bluegrass helped them take on a Jeff-era cover of the Rolling Stones’ “No Expectatations” while mandolin player showed his chops with a wonderful cover of Split Lip Rayfield’s “Used to Call Me Baby,” and the Jeff song “Raleigh and Spencer” proved to be one of the best moments of the entire festival. All of this came to a massive conclusion when the band staged a big production with butterflies, caterpillars and lots of trippy lights and summer vibes to send us off with love that reminded many why they have been following this band for so damn long.
Polyrhythmics Embracing the Late-Night Party
Those looking to keep the party going following Umphrey’s McGee were treated to the powerfully cool sound of Seattle’s Polyrhythmics, who put down some serious Afrobeat vibes amidst a backdrop of colorful lights. The band’s in-the-pocket grooves were funky and exotic, making for a set that offered a worldly departure from the bluegrass and jam bands dominating the lineup. During a set that stretch past the 3AM mark, Polyrhythmics proved why they are one of the most dance-friendly groups out there right now with a tight sound that would fit right in on Daptone Records.
Molly Tuttle Charming the Hell Out of the Sunday Crowd
It may have been Molly Tuttle’s first time playing String Summit but her Sunday afternoon set made it seem like she had always been there. Backed by her incredibly sharp band Golden Highway, the young guitar picker played a set that dwelled heavily on her latest album Crooked Tree. Opening with the country-inflected and infectious “She’ll Change,” Tuttle and her band proceeded to lay down the kind of bluegrass chops and lyrical strength that would be impressive in a band much older than them. Tuttle shared heartwarming stories of going to festivals while she was a kid, and even remarked on the welcoming feeling of the crowd only to follow it up by removing her wig (she has had Alopecia Areata since she was a child). Besides playing nearly all of the bluegrass-meets-country sounds on Crooked Tree, the band also knocked a handful of unexpected covers out of the park. These included the Rolling Stones’ “She’s a Rainbow,” a bluegrass take on Rancid’s “Olympia, WA,” John Hartford’s “Up On The Hill Where They Do The Boogie,” and Townes Van Zandt’s “White Freightliner Blues,” all of which showed the diverse influences of this rising star. By the time they closed with the charming “Big Backyard,” they had made fans out of the entire crowd.
Additional reporting by Nate Plante
Photos courtesy of Northwest String Summit
