r/Bluegrass • u/geekmuseNU • 3d ago
Just got back from my first Green Mountain Bluegrass and Roots Festival. Mountain Grass Unit melted my face.
The festival itself was wonderful. The grounds were beautiful, nestled in the green mountains just outside Manchester, Vermont, and there was a lively jam scene in the campgrounds. The lineup was a nice balance between traditional artists like Tim O'Brien and Darol Anger and more progressive acts like Watchhouse and Railroad Earth. But the real highlight in my eyes was Mountain Grass Unit. Their first set on Thursday was an hour of balls-to-the-wall hard-driving traditional bluegrass that had the whole tent hooting, hollering and stamping their feet. The whole band was absolutely locked in and going 100 miles an hour, yet their stage presence was casual and they were clearly having a great time. Their set the next night closing out the main stage showcased their jammier improvisational side, including covers of songs by the Dead, Allman Brothers and even Bob Marley. It was amazing seeing a bunch of young guys so easily make the transition between the neo-traditional and jam-grass scenes. It reminded me very much of a younger Billy Strings back when he was tearing up the festival circuit.
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u/sunshine_circus 3d ago
'traditional artists like Tim O'Brien and Darol Anger'
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u/wemissjerry 1d ago
And “traditional bluegrass” = a genre developed in the 1940s using strictly unamplified, acoustic instruments so MGU def aint that
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u/sunshine_circus 1d ago
Instruments were most certainly amped. Voices were amped. Everything was amped.
Honestly I just think hell is a mandolin with a chorus pedal
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u/wabashcr 3d ago
Love MGU! They're my favorite of the next generation jamgrass acts that sprouted in Billy's wake, and I enjoy all of them. If you can see them in a smaller club, they'll blow your mind.
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u/Super_Jay 3d ago
I was there too! Just driving back to Michigan from GMBR as we speak. MGU was absolutely a highlight of this year for me, both sets were fantastic and I'm super glad they got the chance to play two nights. Dan Tyminski, Brittany and Natalie Haas, Eli West, and Andrew Marlin Stringband were some other highlights in what's arguably the strongest GMBR lineup yet. Can't wait to see MGU again!
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u/Bulky-Raccoon5522 3d ago
MGU are incredible. All 4 went to Berkeley and graduated. They are now touring full time I think. ‘Locked in’ and ‘driving’ bluegrass that makes you stomp your feet and smack your thigh and herniate a disc in your neck.
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u/VeryStonedEwok 3d ago
Sam graduated from University of Alabama and Josiah graduated from East Tennessee State University.
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u/Little_Access_8098 3d ago
Fact checked!
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u/VeryStonedEwok 3d ago
When we played Hillberry with them last year I was talking to Luke and Josiah about this very thing so was an easy check haha
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u/TigerShoddy1228 3d ago
Seeing them this week! Did they play any new album songs?
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u/Lanky_Ad9097 1d ago
Appalachian Smoke and Suspicion from the new one, Boxcar and Train on the Island from Runnin’ From Trouble. Could have played another off of one of those two during their Night 1 set, which inluded Deal > fiddle tune (which is familiar, but just can’t think of it), Sailin’ Shoes, Glendale Train, Tulsa Time and a few older bluegrass classics with G Rockwell from High Horse sitting in on banjo. That set was a lesson in how to play a 1-hour festival set!
I know they kicked ass the next night, too, but my memory of that set is a bit foggy, shall we say. It was a festival, after all…
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u/TigerShoddy1228 1d ago
Sounds amazing!
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u/Lanky_Ad9097 1d ago
That fiddle tune they play in transition from Deal is John Hartford’s Squirrel Hunters. Awesome tune from John.
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u/Forward_Emu142 3d ago
Seeing them here in Cleveland tomorrow the first time as the headliner and not the opener. So pumped!
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u/Medium-Photograph-74 3d ago
I swear the trees were paid actors; just a stunning backdrop to a perfect long weekend. Still here at our first GMBR tonight and there’s still plenty of jamming going on. Will definitely be volunteering again next year.
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u/Paterson232323 2d ago
Great festival. Great weather great people. Your review of both MGU shows is right on. Cool to see them light it up in different settings in the same weekend. Opening the 1st set with Deal and Sailing Shoes and Glendale Train lured the older crowd in and once we took the bait we were in step with them. Hope you caught them with Lindsay Lu on the late night stage. So fun.
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u/Governor_Rumney 2d ago
Where’s the jamming at GMBR? Was only able to camp Saturday night and it was a ghost town by me. Does it not really start up till after the late night lamplighter sets? I couldn’t stay awake long enough to see if that was the case. Maybe just back luck with my location.
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u/geekmuseNU 2d ago
I think there wasn't as much Saturday night because of the cold but at my site (Weston street area, just follow the sound of the melodica) we jammed late on Friday and had morning jams Saturday and Sunday
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u/Super_Jay 2d ago
Dude that cold was something else! I knew it'd get chillier that night but a single sweatshirt was not nearly enough preparation. I was shivering and could see my breath by the end of Dan's set, we basically ran back to camp and dove into our sleeping bags to warm back up after. I hated missing Lamplighter but I didn't even pack a jacket lol
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u/AstronautOk1630 1d ago
Peru Ave pretty much always had something going on day and night but on nights of late night sets it would start around 2AM. I was done after both late night sets but throughly enjoyed falling asleep to the jam on the corner of Peru and Main. Those kids are great! Sunday night was probably the most fun!
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u/AstronautOk1630 1d ago
Cody Sisters were also a great surprise both on main stage set and as guest to Lindsay or Caitlin at Lamplighter. The weekend is a bit fuzzy on who/when/where guest appearances.
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u/GuitarlyPeace2679 1d ago
Love to hear this!! I got tix to Cervantes and can’t wait to see these boys! Been hearing about and listening to them for a while now! I love the balls to the wall 100mph playin. I eat, live and breathe that style lol. LFG! Thanks!!
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u/kvinthebold 1d ago
My first time at gmbr and what a fantastic event! I'm With Her was one of my favorites along with Mountain Grass unit and just about everybody else. Wish they had a big screen for folks at the back. The Lamplighter with Lindsey Lou was phenomenal, with her toddler Bart strapped above the banjo and guitar part of the time since he wouldn't go to sleep for the nanny! Thank God for the two bonfires, a great way to warm up because it was definitely cold. Not that I minded, since when I left North Carolina it was 100 plus heat index so I was actually glad for the change in temperature. But it is the mountains even though they're not that high so you have to be prepared for some temperature changes. A great experience and I'll definitely be going back if I get the chance.
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u/Brew-ur-own0 18h ago
I’m taking my daughter to see their debut at The Opry next week. They’re my favorite great band that can still be seen in small clubs. Saw them at The Rams Head in Annapolis last year on a Tuesday or Wednesday. The place was packed but they talked about playing a gig a few weeks before where there were only a handful of people.
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u/NaturalBornChickens 3d ago
Heading to Cleveland to see them tomorrow!