In between the obvious and ever growing pop culture environment, stand the unique conceptions of content that more closely resemble and take from earlier musical roots like blues, folk and bluegrass that keep our instrumental background just as strong as it once was. And although these groups and contributors may not get the more broad recognition they deserve, they are serving as some of the most influential artists of our time.
At the top of this list is two-time Grammy nominated and winning band The Infamous Stringdusters, a progressive bluegrass group that has managed to bridge the difficult gap between popular culture and traditional sound.
Maintaining a die-hard fan base since their formation in 2006, The Infamous Stringdusters have found the perfect solution to equating as large of an audience as they have. Often featuring an impressive production behind their fiddle and banjo leads, the band has managed to take a more modern approach to a typically much simpler arrangement.
However, don’t us wrong; The Infamous Stringdusters are rooted in their musical composition through and through. Taking advantage of a rock influence throughout most of their repertoire, the guys have created a standout sound that is difficult to find in any genre of music.
And that’s just it. Despite a successful attempt at reeling in a broad crowd, their music will always remain as the standout component that lends so perfectly to such a rare band. With all that in mind, it’s no surprise that they made a statement on opening night of their co-headlining tour with Yonder Mountain String Band.
Kicking off The Future is Now Tour in Ashland, Oregon, The Infamous Stringdusters displayed their distinct vision from the opening track all the way through the encore. Playing a sixteen-song setlist, the bluegrass revolutionaries managed to touch on a fair majority of their most recent record Rise Sun (2019) over anything else.
Fortunately, the band was cognizant of their popularity beyond their recent hits as well. From newer tracks such as “Rise Sun,” “Walk the Dead,” “Comin’ Again” and “Last of the Lucky” to a handful of covers likeThe Allman Brothers Band’s “Jessica,” the Nashville natives were sure to spread their performances, appealing to both familiar and new fans alike.
Holding the crowd in the palm of their hand, The Infamous Stringdusters ended off an already overly impressive set with a one-song encore surprisingly featuring another cover song of ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man.” Talk about a clever way to keep fans on their toes up until the final note.
See the full setlist from night one in Ashland here!
With nineteen dates still remaining on the co-headlining tour, there is still plenty of time to catch these unbelievable, and sometimes unpredictable, performers live. Check out a complete list of The Future is Now Tour dates below and don’t forget to grab your tickets at LiveNation!
The Infamous Stringdusters 2020 The Future is Now Tour Dates
01/17 — Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
01/18 — Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
01/19 — Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theater
01/21 — Bend, OR @ Midtown Music Hall
01/23 — Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst
01/24 — San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
01/25 — Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
02/06 — Grand Rapids, MI @ St. Cecilia Music Center
02/07 — Chicago, IL @ VIC Theatre
02/08 — Kimberly, WI @ Tanner’s Bar & Grill
02/09 — Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
02/11 — Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre
02/12 — Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre
02/13 — Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue
02/14 — Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s
02/15 — Athens, GA @ Georgia Theatre
03/05 — Bakersfield, CA @ Buck Owen’s Crystal Palace
03/07 — Telluride, CO @ Sheridan Opera House
